Program

BAUM Conference 2026

Confiance en Europe – Confidence in Europe.
Overcoming Risks, Seizing Opportunities

The BAUM 2026 Conference is more than just a conference. It is a space for solutions for companies and bright minds who are actively shaping Europe. In dialogue with the business community, policymakers, and civil society, we ask: What does a values-based EU single market need—and who is shaping it?

The program will be updated on an ongoing basis over the next few weeks.

Wednesday, September 9, will be all about the BAUM | Environment and Sustainability Award. Stay tuned to find out who our five award winners are!

On Thursday, September 10, the Solutions Lab & Inspiration Festival will take place. This won’t be a series of lectures where you can just sit back and relax, but rather a structured space for thinking—for anyone who comes with genuine questions and solid knowledge and wants to go home with concrete ideas and new partnerships.

Three thematic sections. Twelve curated Pecha Kucha presentations. And following each of the twelve themes, up to ten parallel 45-minute solution labs. This allows for up to 120 working groups to form over the course of the day—spaces where companies and organizations can present their specific challenges, share experiences with proven solutions, and collaboratively develop ideas, measures, and projects.

Venue:

Europa-Park Dome at the Confertainment Center
(right next to the main entrance of Europa-Park)
Europa-Park-Straße 2
77977 Rust

Book a ticket now

Bookings are made through Digital BAUM.
First, you’ll need to register there—it’s quick and easy.

Bring your kids

Tuesday, September 8

08:15	until 15:00: side event “Guided Roller Coaster Rides” with Yvonne Zwick (chairwoman, BAUM) – meet at the Spanish-themed area of Europa-Park

18:30	Side event: Ecumenical service at St. James Chapel (30 minutes)
19:30	till 22:00: Informal pre-event gathering for early arrivals at Bar Colosseo (at your own expense— please register by September 7)

Wednesday, September 9

12:00	Side Event: Ecumencal Service at St. James Chapel (30 minutes)
13:00	Registration & Networking with a light lunch
14:00	Welcome and warm-up by the BAUM Board, opening remarks, and speeches
15:30	Coffee Break & Networking (15:45–16:15 Speed Networking)
16:30	Presentation of the award winners and award ceremony hosted by Yvonne Zwick (chairwoman, BAUM) and Tobias Sudhoff (former head chef at a Michelin-starred restaurant, musician, cabaret artist, and expert on the food transition)
	Category: Transformation Leader – Large Company: Uwe Bergmann (Corporate Director of ESG Reporting & Business Integration, Henkel AG & Co. KGaA) interviewed by Nicola Tanaskovic (Head of Corporate Responsibility, REWE GROUP, and member of the jury for the BAUM \| Environment and Sustainability Award) Category: Transformation Leader – SME: Eva Danneberg (Managing Partner, WERKHAUS Design + Produktion GmbH) interviewed by Dr. Jens Wichtermann (Director of Corporate Communications, Sustainability Management, and Public Policy, Vaillant Group, and member of the Business Advisory Board at BAUM e.V., as well as a member of the jury for the BAUM \| Environment and Sustainability Award) Category: Transformation Leader – SME: Boris Voelkel (Managing Director of Purchasing, Voelkel GmbH) interviewed by Charlotte Beck (Managing Director, ECOSPEED Deutschland GmbH; Spokesperson for the Business Advisory Board, BAUM e.V.; and member of the jury for the BAUM \| Environment and Sustainability Award) Category: Transformation Leader – Science: Prof. Dr. Ottmar Edenhofer (Co-Director of Research, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) interviewed by Gabriele Hässig (Managing Director of Communications and Sustainability for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland at Procter & Gamble, and member of the jury for the BAUM \| Environment and Sustainability Award) Category: Driver of Transformation – Democracy: Claudine Nierth (Spokesperson for the Federal Executive Board, Mehr Demokratie e.V.) Interviewed by Aysel Osmanoglu (Board Member, GLS Gemeinschaftsbank eG, and member of the jury for the BAUM \| Environment and Sustainability Award)
18:00	Keynote Address
18:15	Musical Interlude: Ludwig van Beethoven’s“Ode to Joy” with lyrics from “Hymn to Nature” by Georg Winter, accompanied by an ensemble from Ichenheim and featuring a tribute by Ludwig Karg (chairwoman, INEM – International Network for Environmental Management)
18:30	Dinner & Networking (open to accompanying family members after the park closes)
22:00	End of the first day of the event
	Followed by an optional networking event on a self-pay basis (location to be announced)

Thursday, September 10

What, specifically, is holding us back—and what would be the key to truly overcoming sustainability risks and capitalizing on the opportunities ahead?
The second day of the BAUM conference, which we’re organizing as an interactive workshop, is dedicated to this question. Short presentations in the Pecha Kucha format will alternate with solution labs, peer consultation, and speed networking. In this way, challenges and ideas will give rise to concrete approaches, collaborations, and next steps that strengthen sustainable business practices in Europe.

08:00	Side Event: Ecumencal Service at St. James Chapel (30 minutes)
08:30	Registration & Networking
09:00	Welcome & Warm-up
09:30	Economy & Value Creation – What Will Tomorrow’s System-Wide Value Creation Look Like? Sustainability by Design Input: Christian Eichenberger (CEO, Rent.Group) Sustainable Purchasing & Procurement Input: Verena Jasper (Head of Corporate Responsibility, bonprix) Circular Construction in Existing Buildings Input: Christiane Roth (Managing Director, Herzog & Roth, Architect and Consulting Engineer PartGmbB, and Member of the Executive Board, BAUM) Accounting for Climate- Input: Prof. Dr. Jochen Pampel (Adjunct Professor of Controlling, University of Potsdam, and Spokesperson for the Academic Advisory Board, BAUM)
11:00	Coffee Break & Networking (11:15–11:45 Speed Networking)
12:00	Infrastructure, Culture & Mobility – What Supports and Moves Us? Sustainable Event Mobility & Logistics Input: Mario Scheerer (Digital Marketing Manager, raumobil GmbH) Gastronomy & One Health Input: Tobias Sudhoff (former head chef at a Michelin-starred restaurant, musician, and comedian, as well as an expert on the food transition) Work with a Future Input: Christine Schmidt (Executive Committee, Association for Research on Workplace Education (ibbf) e.V.) Health & Well-being Input: Regina Hertlein (Chairwoman of the Board, Caritasverband Mannheim e.V.)
13:30	Lunch & Networking
14:30	Continuation in the plenary session
14:45	Society & Narratives – How Can We Inspire People to Embrace Sustainability? Sustainability in Sports Successful Narratives Input: Domitila Barros (Sustainability Strategist, Author, and Speaker, ESG Leaders of the Future Academy) Democracy, Inclusion, Diversity Input: Johannes Eisele (Partner Manager, AfB Social and Green IT) European Perspective
16:15	Statement of Confidence & Outlook
16:50	Networking (with coffee and cake)
17:30	End of the event
	Starting at 17:00, you can visit Europa-Park for free (until closing time).

Friday, September 11

09:30	Open-Air Side Event: Nature Leadership Walk: Regenerative Management Inspired by Nature. An interactive walk & talk with Rainer Kant (Senior Project Manager, BAUM). Duration: 3 hours