Ron Ainsbury

Ron explores how to encourage entrepreneurs and small businesses to embrace environmental and societal risks. Entrepreneurs can be inspired by these risks to generate innovative solutions and start new businesses, social or for profit. Managers need to understand that these risks can affect business value and embed their response into business strategy.

Ron earned two Masters degrees from Oxford before gaining over 30 years international business experience across four continents: from standing up himself, working with and in startups, helping others to scale up, as well as being CEO of a public company. In addition to his research interests, Ron lectures graduate students in Managing Sustainability and Entrepreneurship.

Education

• M. SC, M. Phil Oxford University (1973.10 — 1976.06)
• B Sc University of Cape Town (1969 — 1973)
• B Sc University of Cape Town (1969 — 1972)
• SC Pinelands High School (1964 — 1968)
• Junior St George's Grammar (1960 — 1963)
• HA HA Mowbray Primary (1957 — 1959) HA Mowbray Primary (1957 — 1959)

Companies

• Executive Chair Ecadame Group Limited (2020)
• Business Development Advisor, Mentor Sanico Group (2019)
• Strategic Advisor ETribe energy LLP (2019)
• Member, Advisory Panel No Pay No Cure (2018)
• Senior Fellow, Research Centre Business Innovation Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences (2018)
• Independent Director, Mentor, Advisor GoJacaranda (2018)
• President Jacaranda Limited (2008)
• Visiting Fellow Cranfield School of Management (2008 — 2018)
• Associate Applied Research Professor Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences (2015 — 2018)

Research

Being a responsible business and mindful of the impact that one’s business has on the environment and society is no longer a ‘nice-to-have’, an ‘optional extra’, in the 21st Century. Nor is having a CSR Department or CSR Manager that ‘takes care of these matters’ an acceptable approach. Businesses need to embed responsible and sustainable business practices in their strategy and operations across the whole value chain.