Expanding Membership, Expanding Leadership, Growing Responsibility – Attila Chikán Jr. Re-elected as President of BCSDH

Irén Márta will continue to serve as BCSDH’s Executive Director. After nine years of dedicated work, Dr. Ágnes Fábián, Managing Director of Henkel Hungary, is stepping down from the Board of BCSDH.

 The re-elected members of the Supervisory Board are Orsolya Pallaghy, Dr. Orsolya Fazekas, and János Kocsány, CEO of Graphisoft Park SE. Their mandate, like that of the presidency, lasts for three years.

“The current geopolitical and policy landscape presents significant challenges for both sustainability and businesses. As climate change accelerates, the negative impacts are also intensifying—we cannot bury our heads in the sand. The level of mitigation we achieve, the conditions we must adapt to, and the costs and damages we face all matter greatly. Immediate action is required. If no one else takes the lead, companies must spearhead systemic change and take the necessary steps. At BCSDH, we are acting accordingly,” said Attila Chikán Jr., BCSDH’s newly re-elected president, in his review of the past three years. “Our organization is on the right path—BCSDH has become an essential player in the business world when it comes to sustainability. Not only has our recognition grown significantly, but our activities also have an increasingly widespread impact. Over the past years, our organization has gained significant visibility and recognition among the public and policymakers due to our professional activities and successful communication.”

BCSDH aims to introduce more companies to sustainable business practices and encourage action. Over the past decade, it has hosted nearly 500 professional events, engaged nearly 300 corporate leaders in its initiatives, and showcased nearly 200 business practices that provide real solutions to sustainability challenges. The Circular Economy Platform reached 102 members last year and has been doing invaluable work. Additionally, the Net Zero Advisory Board, established in 2021, brings together outstanding representatives from regulatory, scientific, and business sectors committed to sustainability, helping to accelerate Hungary’s transition to carbon neutrality by 2050.

“It is a great honor for us that our ‘Future Leaders’ program received the national award in the ‘Encouraging the Sustainable Transition’ category of the European Enterprise Promotion Awards (EEPA) in 2024,” added Irén Márta, Executive Director of BCSDH. “So far, 348 talented leaders have participated in our ‘Future Leaders’ program, while more than 290 experts from civil, scientific, and corporate sectors have joined our Action 2020 and Time to Transform 2030 Hungary programs.” For the eighth time, the Sustainable Future Award—established in 2017—was presented, recognizing outstanding corporate, leadership, and personal achievements in sustainability.

While the ESG working group and new ESG training programs help member companies understand environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) information, BCSDH also showcases corporate sustainability initiatives as a permanent invitee to the National Council for Sustainable Development (NFFT). These efforts now extend far beyond reducing greenhouse gas emissions—the Hungarian business sector is increasingly focused on sustainability challenges such as biodiversity conservation and reducing social inequalities, recognizing that there is no business or future without nature and people.

“Looking ahead, we must shift our ambitions and actions into a higher gear at both the corporate and national levels. We cannot afford to let geopolitical tensions divert our focus. At BCSDH, we are committed to continuing and strengthening our work with the same determination in the coming years,” emphasized Attila Chikán Jr. “We are in the era of action. Our goal is to further reinforce BCSDH’s leadership role as the voice of responsible and proactive businesses. We will continue supporting our member companies in achieving their ambitious, science-based sustainability goals. Together with them, our shared objective is to deliver measurable results by 2030.”

Both the newly elected Board and Supervisory Board members expressed their strong commitment to supporting BCSDH with their expertise, insights, and efforts, helping companies take the necessary steps in sustainability, accelerate systemic change, and initiate truly value-creating processes—whether these concern ESG, climate goals, and adaptation, or the circular economy.