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GrowZA Think Tank is honored to be invited to the Les Ateliers International Workshop on Energy, Resources, and Sustainability, taking place in January 2025 in Paris La Défense, Europe’s largest business district and one of the world’s top four most attractive business hubs. This global gathering will bring together experts, visionaries, and changemakers from around the world to co-create sustainable solutions for urban energy and resource management.
Why Paris La Défense?
Paris La Défense is more than a business hub—it is a global innovation district. Located northwest of Paris in the Île-de-France region, this iconic urban area has transformed over the past 60 years into a dynamic and internationally recognized center for economic and social innovation.
Home to over 500 global companies, 180,000 employees, and 45,000 residents, Paris La Défense thrives at the intersection of business, culture, and technology.
The district’s striking skyline, including landmarks like the Grande Arche and futuristic skyscrapers, stands as a symbol of human progress and sustainability. Its smart city infrastructure, eco-friendly buildings, and integrated transport networks make it the perfect setting for rethinking how major urban centers can balance economic growth with environmental responsibility.
GrowZA Think Tank
As an impact-driven think tank with a deep focus on sustainability and socio-economic transformation, GrowZA will contribute a Global South perspective to the workshop’s explorations of future energy systems, sustainable urban living, and resource management.
Drawing from its work in Africa’s renewable energy and sustainability sectors, GrowZA will share real-world experiences of building adaptive capacity in resource-constrained environments.
This approach is rooted in GrowZA's Executive Director, Craig Kensley’s experience leading community-focused development initiatives. His previous role as a Board Member of The Greater Tygerberg Partnership (GTP), which oversees aspects of Bellville’s urban renewal, built on lessons learned from his leadership of the Soweto Community Engagement Programme with Redefine Properties.
The Soweto programme, worked on integrating socio-economic development into urban infrastructure through public-private partnerships and an asset-based community development (ABCD) approach. This method prioritized local talent and community-driven solutions to catalyse job creation, entrepreneurial growth, and SMME development.
These experiences have shaped GrowZA’s think tank offering, emphasizing community-centered innovation, multi-stakeholder collaboration, and adaptive development models.
The integration of local expertise with global sustainability frameworks forms the foundation of GrowZA’s approach. This perspective aligns directly with the goals of the Les Ateliers International Workshop on Energy, Resources, and Sustainability, where innovative, inclusive, and scalable solutions are key.
The invitation to participate reflects how GrowZA’s track record in socio-economic transformation—grounded in real-world, complex urban contexts—positions the organization to contribute meaningfully to shaping future-ready urban systems at a global level.
Workshop Focus Areas
The Les Ateliers workshop will explore how business districts like Paris La Défense can become sustainability leaders through:
Decarbonizing Urban Energy Systems: Strategies for net-zero energy integration.
Circular Economy Innovations: Maximizing resource efficiency through reuse and waste reduction.
Resilient Infrastructure Planning: Designing cities that adapt to climate and socio-economic shifts.
Community Engagement Models: Involving residents, workers, and students in shaping the future.
As a business and innovation hub with unparalleled global influence, Paris La Défense offers GrowZA an opportunity to connect local African innovations with global best practices. From its skyscrapers powered by renewable energy to its eco-friendly transport network, La Défense serves as a living laboratory for the future of sustainable cities.
“The future of sustainability requires collaboration between global leaders and local innovators,” Craig Kensley emphasized. “We’re excited to bring the energy and pragmatism of African creativity and resilience to Paris La Défense and return with new tools and insights to apply in our projects back home.”
Follow GrowZA’s journey as we participate in this transformative global conversation. We’ll be sharing behind-the-scenes stories, project highlights, and future-forward solutions coming out of the workshop sessions.
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