2.22.2008 - 09:35am ET

(CSRwire) February 22, 2008 - SustainAbility, a top strategic business consulting and research center with a growing presence in Washington, D.C., will hold a symposium with experts on what the future looks like for sustainability and corporate social responsibility over the next 20 years, now that these concepts have achieved wide recognition in the business world.

The symposium will take place at the Willard InterContinental Hotel, 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C., from 3-5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 27, followed by a cocktail reception from 5-7 p.m. Both events are open to the media.

During the symposium, SustainAbility will release findings from a new GlobeScan survey of sustainability practitioners worldwide. Active participants in the sustainability field -- including business, university and NGO leaders -- have been asked to identify drivers and obstacles to the global sustainability agenda.

SustainAbility, founded in 1987, counsels industry leaders such as Unilever, Nestle, Ford Motor Company, Shell, DuPont, and BP on how to navigate the global business environment and the mounting challenges to the sustainability of present-day business plans. SustainAbility worked closely with Starbucks to define an international strategy for meeting sustainability requirements across far-flung global markets, and helped propel Shell to a global leadership position by developing a strategic approach to corporate responsibility reporting and accountability.

Speakers at the symposium will include:

-- Mark Lee, CEO of SustainAbility, an expert in corporate sustainability strategy development and implementation. Lee has worked with companies like Ford and Nike, and is growing SustainAbility’s presence in North America.

-- John Elkington, founder of SustainAbility and an early pioneer of corporate social responsibility since the 1970s. He is author of a book just published by Harvard Business School Press, called The Power of Unreasonable People, which describes the role of social entrepreneurs in creating change in the world.

-- Sophia Tickell, Chairperson of the SustainAbility board of directors, who provides research-based challenge and strategic counsel to senior multinational corporate executives, while continuing her years of work helping focus the public agenda across a range of critical sustainability challenges.

-- Linda Fisher, Chief Sustainability Officer and Vice President of DuPont. She is responsible for advancing DuPont's progress in achieving sustainable growth, DuPont environmental and health programs, the company's product stewardship programs, and global regulatory affairs.

-- Keith Schneider, New York Times writer and former National Environmental Correspondent, will moderate the session.

These speakers will drive a dynamic conversation with other participants on corporate sustainability and responsibility, featuring question and answer throughout. During the symposium, Mark Lee and John Elkington will make a significant announcement regarding the firm’s business and its plans for growth, as well as Mr. Elkington’s plans in the field. Mr. Lee and Mr. Elkington will be available for interviews before and after the symposium.

The Willard Hotel's General Manager, Hervé Houdré, is also available for interviews. Using SustainAbility’s triple bottom line practice, Houdré has become well-known as a stylish environmental advocate among the InterContinental hotel chain. His efforts include Willard Project Blue, aimed at reducing hotel water use and reviving the Anacostia River.

Please contact Patricia Charles at 440-506-9564, or patricia@kelleycampaigns.com, to attend the event or arrange an interview. For more information about SustainAbility, please visit www.sustainability.com.

About SustainAbility

Established in 1987, SustainAbility is a strategy consultancy and independent think-tank that specializes in the business risks and market opportunities of corporate responsibility and sustainable development. With offices in Europe and the United States, it works with leading companies, nongovernmental organizations, and key players around the world. Representing over 10 nationalities, it multidisciplinary team works to clear rules of engagement to achieve traction and change. For more information, visit www.sustainability.com

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