CSR Press Release

The Conference Theme

Three days after the last EABIS Colloquium (Cranfield, Sept 2008), Lehman Brothers collapsed, unleashing a financial, economic and – increasingly – socio-political and governance crisis. The financial crisis especially has highlighted deep flaws in past approaches to the governance of the firm and of economic systems. The 2009 Colloquium will therefore focus on: “The Role of Business in Society: Challenges and Issues for Global and Corporate Governance”.

• How is the role of business in society likely to change?
  
• To what extent can governance mechanisms foster Corporate Responsibility at Global, company and individual levels?

These are the central issues which, among others, the EABIS 2009 Colloquium will address in high-level debates:

• Social, Political and Economic Perspectives on the Failure of Governance in the Global Economy
  
• The Governance of the Firm and Managing Sustainable Value Creation in Markets & Society
  
• Future Implications for Executive Development and Learning in Business Schools, Companies and Corporate Universities

Keynote Speakers and Conference Highlights

Among the leading speakers are: Peter Löscher - President and CEO, Siemens; Baldomero Falcones - Chairman and MD, FCC; Prof. Lutgart Van den Berghe - Vlerick Management School; Prof. Jan Aart Scholte - University of Warwick; José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs - Deputy Director-General, ILO.

The programme highlights include:

• New EABIS Research Exchange to broker corporate knowledge needs with latest academic research activities and thinking
  
• Interactive multi-stakeholder debates to explore critical dimensions of governance in theory and practice
  
• Dedicated networking events for corporate participants
  
• Presentation of 70-80 papers and case studies by top scholars and managers
  
• Book launch events for new EABIS member publications
  
• Gala Dinner in Barcelona's Opera House - El Gran Teatre del Liceu

The Annual Colloquium

The EABIS Colloquium is one of the world’s largest multi-stakeholder conferences to explore Corporate Responsibility issues in management practice, research and education. The Colloquium attracts each year an audience of 300+ high level executives, researchers, professors, policy-makers and other stakeholders. The 2009 highlights include:

• Thought leadership from renowned international figures in business, academia, policy and civil society
  
• Exchange of best practice and case studies promoting new, innovative and socially responsible styles of management
  
• Networking opportunities to meet informally with leading academic researchers and practitioners to gain insights relevant to your business’ circumstances
  
• Access to new knowledge, development and learning projects
  
• Gala dinner and international awards ceremony

Each year, the Colloquium is followed by a PhD conference – this year on September 23, hosted by ESADE. EABIS PhD Conference brings together doctoral candidates from across Europe to share their research experience, their findings, and the challenges they face in their studies on corporate responsibility.

Contacts & more information

Conference Website: www.iese.edu/eabis2009 

IESE Business School – Estefania Sort eabis2009@iese.edu
EABIS – Claudia Kipka claudia.kipka@eabis.org

For more information, please contact: