What's Next for ESG?
As ESG continues to evolve, leading companies are rethinking how purpose is embedded in strategy and operations. In this session, Barbara Spiegel, Partner and Sustainability Lead at EY Switzerland, and Dr. Chitkala Kalidasshare, SVP and Head of ESG at Bayer, share their perspectives on what’s next for ESG and organisastions passionate to maintain a purpose-driven ethos.
Speakers
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Barbara SpeigelPartner, Sustainability LeadBarbara Speigel
Speaker
Partner, Sustainability Lead
EY SwitzerlandBarbara brings over 20 years of experience in change management, transformation, and organizational design, with a specialization in sustainability strategy and transformation since 2013. Before joining EY, she served as Group Head of Sustainability for Zurich Insurance Group, where she developed and implemented the company’s ESG strategy, embedding sustainability into product performance, stakeholder engagement, and reporting. She also held the role of Managing Director at Quantis, a BCG company, where she led the Sustainability Strategy & Transformation practice, helping companies integrate environmental performance into their operating models. Barbara’s approach to sustainability emphasizes the tangible value it creates for businesses and their stakeholders. She has extensive experience leading Net Zero strategies and recognizes the critical role of automation and digitization in driving sustainability performance. Over her career, she has worked across multiple sectors, including food & beverage, textiles, cosmetics, chemicals, and finance, spanning Europe, North America, and South America. She holds a B.S. in Marketing and International Business from the University of Maryland, a DAS in Sustainable Business from the Business School Lausanne & University of St. Gallen, and a CAS in Renewable Energy Management from the University of St. Gallen.
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Dr. Chitkala KalidasSenior Vice President & Global Head of Environment, Social & Governance, Bayer Executive DirectorDr. Chitkala Kalidas
Senior Vice President & Global Head of Environment, Social & Governance, Bayer Executive Director
Bayer FoundationChitkala Kalidas, PhD, is the Senior Vice President and Global Head of Environment, Social & Governance (ESG) at Bayer, and serves as Executive Director of the Bayer Foundation. She leads Bayer’s global ESG strategy, overseeing sustainability, governance, reporting, business insights, and occupational health and safety. As Executive Director of the Bayer Foundation, she drives initiatives in science education and social innovation, focusing on the intersection of health, food security and climate resilience. Previously, Dr. Kalidas served as Global Head of Oncology Regulatory Affairs and Oncology Sustainability at Bayer, where she led regulatory strategy and secured global approvals for multiple cancer therapies. She has also spearheaded public-private partnerships across India, Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, and Ukraine to strengthen health systems and expand access to cancer care. Dr. Kalidas holds a PhD in Microbiology from Cornell University and works at the nexus of science, business, and sustainability to advance Bayer’s vision of “Health for All, Hunger for None.”