Signals from the Deep: Data Bunkers, UN & the Future of Shipping with guest Øistein Jensen Chief Sustainability Officer Odfjell

Elephants in the Boardroom

Episode Overview

Graeme Codrington (Johannesburg) and Dean Van Leeuwen (South of London) explore fresh “grey elephant” signals—from subterranean data centres and living with a >2°C world, to UN reform rumblings—then sit down with Øistein Jensen, Chief Sustainability Officer at Oddfjell, to unpack how a 110-year-old global chemical shipping company is tackling decarbonisation, supply-chain due diligence, and industry-wide collaboration.

Key Topics Discussed

Grey Elephants Radar

• Converging, high-impact forces post-COVID; a once-in-a-century transformation.
• Strategy lens: identify weak signals early; turn risk into opportunity.

Subterranean Data Centres

• Old mines/bunkers reimagined as “underground data fortresses.”
• Strategic logic: protect critical data; manage cooling, power, and resilience.
• Side bet: cooling technology becomes a shovel-in-the-gold-rush play.

Living with >2°C

• Move beyond “prevention only” to adaptation + resilience at scale.
• Practical mindset shift (as with COVID): learn to operate in new conditions.

UN & Multipolarity Weak Signals

• Calls for African representation; scrutiny of Security Council veto power.
• Diplomatic flashpoints as indicators of a shifting geopolitical order.
• Boardroom takeaway: model tariff shocks, sanctions, supply-route rewiring.

BANI World & Grey Elephants

• Today’s reality: Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear, Incomprehensible.
• Build antifragile strategies before the stampede starts.

The Quiz

• First military “drone” use: Austrian incendiary balloons over Venice (1849).

Interview — Øistein Jensen, CSO, Oddfjell

• Decarbonisation now: efficiency first; multiple fuels/tech—no single silver bullet.
• Regulation & level playing field: strong IMO rules to avoid “go-bankrupt green.”
• Holistic value chain: avoid offloading emissions upstream; measure Scope 3.
• Data & transparency: rising customer expectations across the full chain.
• Partnerships: industry bodies, local forums on human rights, technology co-dev.
• Supplier due diligence: shared platforms (e.g., Achilles) cut duplication and lift standards.
• Embedding sustainability: company-wide incentives tied to climate trajectories.

Featured Guest

Øistein Jensen — Chief Sustainability Officer, Oddfjell (global leader in chemical shipping). Oversees sustainability, compliance and strategic safety. Former submarine commander in the Royal Norwegian Navy; prior experience at PwC.

Connect with Graeme and Dean

• Connect with Graeme Codrington on LinkedIn
• Email Dean Van Leeuwen: [email protected]
• Explore the 7 Grey Elephants: www.tomorrowtodayglobal.com/greyelephants
• General enquiries: [email protected]

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Keywords

grey elephants, BANI, multipolarity, UN reform, underground data centres, mines to data fortresses, climate adaptation, >2°C world, shipping decarbonisation, Oddfjell, Øistein Jensen, IMO regulation, Scope 3, supplier due diligence, Achilles, human rights, transparency, energy efficiency, antifragility, strategic resilience