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BSR Conference to Prepare Business Leaders for 'Reset World'

BSR Conference to Prepare Business Leaders for 'Reset World'

Published 07-08-09

Submitted by BSR

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - July 8, 2009 - Answering the call for direction in a world that's been "reset" by a trio of global crises-the sharp worldwide recession, accelerating climate change, and a collapse of trust in business-the BSR Conference 2009, "Reset Economy. Reset World.," will provide business leaders with strategies for delivering business value and embracing long-term sustainability trends. The Conference takes place October 20 to 23, 2009 at the Grand Hyatt in San Francisco.

"The implications and opportunities for business in this 'reset economy' are enormous," said BSR President and CEO Aron Cramer. "Now more than ever, companies need to think big and create innovative sustainability strategies to deliver business value and successfully meet the greater challenges ahead. The BSR Conference is an essential opportunity for business leaders to learn how to leverage resources, implement changes, and succeed in a world where business as usual is no longer viable."

Speakers for the BSR Conference 2009 include:

Ben Verwaayen: As CEO of Alcatel-Lucent, Verwaayen is committed to building "significant and sustainable value" for his company's shareholders, customers, and employees. He is also confident in the power of sustainability to carry us through uncertain times. "We are not going to rebuild what has been in the past, but build what is sustainable for the future," he has said. Prior to joining Alcatel-Lucent in 2008, Verwaayen held leadership positions at BT Group, Lucent Technologies, KPN, and ITT.

Fadi Ghandour: For the past 27 years, Ghandour has held the positions of Founder and CEO of Aramex International, a logistics and transportation company based in the Middle East that was the first Arab firm to go public on the NASDAQ stock exchange. Since its beginnings, Aramex has been well known in the Middle East for its focus on sustainability, and as the company has grown, Ghandour has aligned his firm's corporate responsibility efforts with global standards. In 2006, Aramex was the first company in the region to publish an annual sustainability report, and last year, the company joined the United Nations Global Compact. In addition to his role at Aramex, Ghandour is a Founding Partner with Maktoob.com, the world's largest online Arab community, and he founded Ruwwad Development, a regional corporate social responsibility initiative.

John Kao: Dubbed "Mr. Creativity" and "a serial innovator" by the Economist, Kao is the Chairman and CEO of Kao & Company and the author of the books Innovation Nation (Free Press 2007), which describes the challenges America faces in reinventing its innovation edge, and Jamming: The Art and Discipline of Business Creativity (Collins Business 1997), a BusinessWeek best-seller that has been published in a dozen languages. He is considered a leading authority on the subjects of innovation, organizational transformation, and digital media.

Sylvia Earle: Time magazine's first "Hero for the Planet" and a 2009 recipient of the TED Prize, Earle is an internationally renowned oceanographer, explorer, author, and lecturer, whose worldwide field experience includes leading more than 70 expeditions and logging more than 6,500 hours under water. She is an Explorer in Residence of the National Geographic Society, Leader of the Sustainable Seas Expeditions, Council Chair for the Harte Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Founder and Chairman of the Deep Search Foundation, and formerly the Chief Scientist of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Earle also has founded three companies and has served on various NGO and corporate boards, including the Aspen Institute, Dresser Inc., Kerr-McGee, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and more.

Ernst Ligteringen: As Chief Executive of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Ligteringen directs the activities and operations of the GRI secretariat and network of stakeholders with the overarching mission of making sustainability reporting as relevant and mainstream as financial reporting. Before joining GRI, Ernst had a 23-year career in various nongovernmental and international organizations, including postings and missions in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. His posts included Executive Director of Oxfam International, Director of Program Coordination of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and Consultant to the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization at the International Labour Organization.

Recently named one of the top 12 influential executive gatherings for 2009 by Forbes.com, the BSR Conference has been revamped this year to feature an exciting program allowing participants to customize their agenda with the topics, level, and length of sessions that are right for them.

Read updates on BSR Conference speakers and sessions at www.bsr.org/conference, or contact Eva Dienel for information about attending the Conference as a member of the media: edienel@bsr.org.

About BSR
A leader in corporate responsibility since 1992, BSR works with its global network of more than 250 member companies to develop sustainable business strategies and solutions through consulting, research, and cross-sector collaboration. With six offices in Asia, Europe, and North America, BSR uses its expertise in the environment, human rights, economic development, and governance and accountability to guide global companies toward creating a just and sustainable world. Visit www.bsr.org for more information.

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BSR

Since 1992, Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) has been providing socially responsible business solutions to many of the world's leading corporations. Headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in Europe and China, BSR is a nonprofit business association that serves its 250 member companies and other Global 1000 enterprises. Through advisory services, convenings and research, BSR works with corporations and concerned stakeholders of all types to create a more just and sustainable global economy. For more information, visit www.bsr.org.

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