2.06.2003 ET

(CSRwire) Leading European companies and investors will meet on April 10-11 in London to discuss practical steps to improve corporate responsibility management. Among the speakers scheduled are some of the worlds leading brands and largest investors. More than 300 business managers, strategists and corporate executives will attend the conference, which is part of Ethical Corporation's global series of business conferences on the subject of "Managing Corporate Responsibility". Other conferences and training days in 2003 take in the US (June 10-11) and Singapore (September 23-24).

Corporate keynote speakers will address how companies should be assessing their impact in 2003 and what they can do to improve their management of corporate responsibility and sustainable development issues. MTV Networks President Bill Roedy will open the conference and his address will be followed by a keynote speech from James Smith, Executive Vice President, Technology, Portfolio and Sustainable Development, Shell Chemicals.

Colin Melvin, director of corporate governance at Hermes Pensions Management, is one of the scheduled speakers. He notes the wide-ranging changes in European and international laws on corporate governance over the last year. Hermes is considered to be the UK's largest ethical investor. 'We take a proactive stance on transparency and ethical issues, since we consider this to be in the best interests of our clients,' affirms Melvin. 'This type of conference is important in that it encourages and helps companies to make further advances in the development of best practice,' Melvin continues.

Among the companies and organisations speaking at the two day, discussion-based conference are:

Coca-Cola, 3M, HSBC, Rio Tinto, GlaxoSmithKline, Standard & Poor's, Anglo American, BAT, Hermes Pensions, Shell Chemicals, MTV Networks International, Morley Fund Management, HSBC, BNP Paribas, HP, Premier Oil, BAA, Bayer, WWF-UK, Innovest, FTSE, Co-operative Insurance Society, Chiquita, BHP Billiton, Dow Europe, Marks & Spencer, National Grid Transco, Storebrand Investments, Skanska, British Telecommunications, Warwick Business School, The Body Shop, Henderson Global Investors, Johnson & Johnson, ERM, BPRI and others.

The event is preceded by a day of executive training workshops on April 9 on important management issues in corporate responsibility - The Global Compact, The AA1000(s) Standard, and Social Leadership.(See: http://www.ethicalcorp.com/content.asp?ContentID=380) for details.

Through April 10-11 keynotes speeches and interactive panel discussions and breakout workshops will take place for attendees to get their questions asked and for leading experts from European companies to discuss best management tactics and strategies.

Issues to be addressed at the conference include:

Corporate governance and investment, risk and brand management, the limits to CSR, Community relations in developing countries, corporate reporting and assurance, supplier relationships, stakeholder dialogue, CSR and Innovation, tackling corruption and external Communications.

Gold Event Sponsors are leading consultancy ERM, (www.erm.com) and workshop sponsors leading a session on reputation measurement are BPRI (www.bprigroup.com)

The full programme and speakers can be viewed at: http://www.ethicalcorp.com/europe2003

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