Practical Sustainability Strategies, 2nd Edition

PREFACE OF NIKOS AVLONAS

As you set out for Ithaka

hope your road is a long one,

full of adventure, full of discovery.

My journey to sustainability was anything but linear. It started off with an interest, and then a job in Quality Assurance, passed through the challenging environment of Total Quality Management to finally reach its destination. Every step of the journey added to my knowledge of the field, offered insight, understanding, and experience.

Coming from a small town of fewer than 20,000 inhabitants and a small country of less than 12,000,000, I am still in awe of the journey so far. I founded the Centre for Sustainability and Excellence (CSE), a global Sustainability Strategic Advisory and Training organization with activities in North America, Europe, MENA, and Asia regions and had the honor of receiving recognition for my work (one of the “Top 100 Thought Leaders in Trustworthy Business Behavior” by Trust Across America in 2010, CSR Professional of the Year by PR News in 2017, and Sustainability Professional of the Year Award by the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, in 2018). I have enthusiastically passed the flame of Sustainability on to others through teaching (among others DePaul University, University of San Francisco, Athens University of Economy and Business), speaking at conferences and, in keeping with the times, through the creation of the online Sustainability Academy platform.

On this journey I have had the opportunity to meet and work with people ...