3.04.2004 ET

(CSRwire) Vancouver B.C - When it comes to industry sustainability, Travis Engen has a lot to say on the topic. The President and CEO of Alcan Inc. will join Federal Minister of Industry Lucienne Robillard to speak at GLOBE 2004's Sustainability Plenary on Innovation in the 21st Century.

Engen also chairs the World Economic Forum Water Initiative, a partnership of public and private organizations with the aim of improving watershed management. The Water Initiative will bring together public-private partnerships to improve the management of watersheds. Their goal is to improve the quality and quantity of water for both business and communities by sharing best practices and partnering in the maintenance and management of watersheds around the world.

"Reliable access to fresh drinkable water is one of the most important and fundamental issues for many communities", Engen says.

With a century of history in managing water basins, water flows and hydro-electricity operations, water represents a core business consideration for the Company. Alcan owns and operates watershed and hydro generation resources on three continents that supply 62 percent of its significant aluminum smelter energy needs.

BC Premier Gordon Campbell will make opening remarks for the Sustainability Plenary on March 31 and the moderator will be Maurice Strong, who is President of Council, University for Peace, San Jose, Costa Rica and Special Advisor, Secretary General, United Nations.

As with past GLOBE conferences, GLOBE 2004 will provide a vast array of topics covered by the world's most informed and leading experts in urban planning, policy and technology. GLOBE will also tackle the major issues of corporate sustainability and climate change. Participants will be able to round off their visit to Vancouver with an array of informative and interactive presentations which will provide them with the latest and most advanced concepts and solutions in the field of urban sustainability, tailored to their own field of responsibility.

GLOBE 2004 will be held from March 31 to April 2, 2004 at the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre. For further information visit: www.globe2004.com

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