Paul Salinger’s primary work at Oracle revolves around strategic communications, creative marketing, and event design, but he may be best known for his secondary role as the unofficial leader of the Silicon Valley company’s sustainability efforts since 2007. The company’s OpenWorld conference—which had more than 50,000 attendees in 2012—received the highest rank for an event of its size in the MeetGreen Calculator, a sustainability measurement tool.
Salinger’s strategy has involved working with suppliers and venues to track and reduce waste and energy usage, seeking local food sources, reusing signage, and educating attendees on topics such as carbon offsets. The company is meticulous about collecting data and using it to create continuous improvement year after year, working toward a long-term goal to make OpenWorld the first zero-waste conference.
Along with spearheading these initiatives, Salinger, 62, has become an evangelist for the green movement within the industry, sharing what Oracle has learned in comprehensive reports and also serving as past president of the Green Meeting Industry Council. “Paul has been more than a leader for most of us in G.M.I.C.,” says current president Michael Luehrs. “He’s also somebody who can contextualize the very real benefits of sustainability for events. He has been a wellspring of inspiration for the entire community.”
