Expert conference
Details
Corporate Social Responsibility, or CSR; has been popularized into a buzzword bar to none, emanating sustainability and ethical conduct in the private sector. However, CSR should not merely be regarded as a philanthropic means to improve the image of businesses. Instead, the concept of CSR has, in recent years, entered a ‘maturing process’ and can be interpreted as a fundamental component for developing business strategies, especially in employer-branding as well as product-positioning. CSR has therefore become an indispensable tool for businesses on the capital market.
Managers are well aware of the potential power in implementing CSR-measures in order to increase the company’s market share or to attract new investors, and are keen on presenting CSR-projects as appealing to the public as possible. Yet, if the project at hand is presented in an overly ‘glossy’ manner, suspicions of deliberate ‘green-washing’ easily arise among external stakeholders, including consumers, non-governmental organisations and the media. Especially in Asia, the lack of trust in the private sector stems from omnipresent issues of corruption, as well as ineffective or absent regulations pertaining to safety and environmental standards. Hence, CSR is a very intricate issue and the success of projects stands or falls with the ‘right’ motivation and communication thereof.
This is where the media should take up its role as the ‘people’s advocate’ by utilizing a ‘carrot and stick’ approach. On the one hand, absolute impartiality and critical thinking has to be maintained by the news agencies, when communicating with private enterprises. On the other, the media should by no means be reluctant in acknowledging successes of companies in implementing sustainable CSR-projects. Thus, finding the right balance and approach in reporting on CSR is of utmost importance to the media.
With representatives from the private-sector, the media as well as experts on CSR issues, this conference aims to connect the expertise and experiences from numerous stakeholders involved in designing, implementing and finally communicating Corporate Social Responsibility to the public in Asia.
Venue: The Pan Pacific Orchard, Singapore
Language: English
Programme:
Conference, Tuesday, 7th April 2015
09:30Registration of participants
Venue: Picasso 1-2 (level 3)
10:00Welcome Remarks
•Paul Linnarz, Regional Representative for Economic Policy, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), Tokyo office
10:10Opening Statement
•Thomas Thomas, CEO, ASEAN CSR Network, Singapore
10:20Keynote Speech 1
•Prof. Wendy Chapple, Deputy Director of the International Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility at Nottingham University Business School, United Kingdom
"CSR - From Nice to Necessary"
10:45Keynote Speech 2
•Gerard Forlin (QC), Cornerstone Barristers in London, Maxwell Chambers in Singapore, Denman Chambers in Sydney
"Good Governance as the Foundation of CSR"
11:10Coffee Break
11:30Podium Discussion 1: From Philanthropy to Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility
Panellists:
•Zainun Nur Binti Abdul Rauf, Executive Director for Group Corporate Affairs, Nestle (Malaysia) Bhd.
•Margit Kunz, Deputy General Manager, Singaporean-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce
•Lala Rimando, Journalist, Philippines
•Itthiporn SaeTan, Journalist/Editor, The Nation, Thailand
Moderator:
•Alastair Carthew, Journalist, Thailand
(followed by Q&A)
13:00Lunch Break
Venue: 10 at Claymore restaurant
14:00Podium Discussion 2: People Imperatives of CSR
Panellists:
•Alex Mavro, Chief of Operations, Sasin Centre for Sustainability Management of Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
•Jolovan Wham, Executive Director, Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (H.O.M.E)
•Ruhi M. Ahmed, Head of CSR, PR & Communication, BSRM Group of Companies
•Noriyuki Suzuki, General Secretary, International Trade Union Confederation – Asia and Pacific
Moderator:
•Sam Lee, CEO, Inno CSR, China
(followed by Q&A)
15:30 Coffee Break
16:00Podium Discussion 3: Environmental Imperatives of CSR
Panellists:
•Kelvin Ng, Managing Director, Siloso Beach Resort, Singapore
•Christopher Ang, Executive Director, Singapore Compact
•Elaine Tan, CEO, World Wide Fund for Nature, Singapore
•Shihar Aneez, Correspondent, Thomson Reuters, Sri Lanka
Moderator:
•Chhay Sophal, Editor-in-Chief, Cambodia News, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
(followed by Q&A)
17:30 Closing Remarks
•Torben Stephan, Director Media Programme Asia, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), Singapore
17:40 End of Conference Day 1
18:00 Networking Reception
Venue: Van Gogh 1-2 (level 3)
Workshop, Wednesday, 8th April 2015
09:00 Registration of new participants
Venue: Picasso 1 (level 3)
09:30 Welcome Remarks
•Paul Linnarz, Regional Representative for Economic Policy, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), Tokyo office
09:40 Lecture 1: How to get started with CSR as a mid-size company?
•Francisco L. Roman, Jr., Executive Director, RVR Center for CSR, Asian Institute of Management, Philippines
10:10 Lecture 2: How to write professional sustainability reports?
•Rajesh Chhabara, Director, CSRWorks International, Singapore
10:40 Lecture 3: How to engage media?
•Edi Utama, Senior Journalist, Antara News Agency, Indonesia
Moderator:
•Kim Ying Pung, Magazine Editor and Publisher, Malaysia
(followed by Q&A)
11:50 Closing Remarks
•Jerry Bernas,Programme Director, ASEAN CSR Network, Singapore
12:00Lunch Break
Venue: 10 at Claymore restaurant
14:00 End of Conference
