The BSR Conference 2009 plenary sessions will provide attendees with new ways of thinking in a "reset world." The Conference takes place October 20 to 23 in San Francisco.

BSR's newest plenary speaker, Ambassador Elizabeth Frawley Bagley, is the U.S. Secretary of State's Special Representative for Global Partnerships. From 1997 to 2001, she served as Senior Advisor under a former Secretary of State, in which capacity she established and headed the Office of Media Programming Acquisition for the newly independent Balkan states. Bagley also served as a Senate liaison for NATO Enlargement. From 1994 to 1997, she was the U.S. Ambassador to Portugal, where she received meritorious awards from the Portuguese Navy and Air Force, as well as the "Grand Cross of Prince Henry the Navigator," the President of Portugal's highest civilian commendation. As an attorney specializing in trade and international law, she was Adjunct Professor of Law at Georgetown University in Washington until January 1993. Ambassador Bagley will speak from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday October 21.

BSR's plenary panel sessions will also equip participants with the ideas and tools required to succeed in this new era:

Sustainability Issues in the Reset World: This panel discussion-featuring global sustainability experts such as BSR's Aron Cramer, as well as the Ethos Institute's Ricardo Young and the Global Reporting Initiative's Ernst Ligteringen-will examine the most important trends confronting companies in the reset world. Focusing on the trio of challenges we face most acutely now-the sharp worldwide recession, accelerating climate change, and a collapse of trust in business-the debate will bring unique and probing insight to the most vexing questions companies face today. This open dialogue will focus on climate change and preparations for Copenhagen, how companies can reestablish trust with citizens through improved transparency and accountability, the role of government-private sector partnerships, and the solutions needed for a sustainable future. This is BSR's opening plenary session, taking place from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday October 21.

Integrating Sustainability into Corporate Innovation: This panel-featuring BSR's Diane Osgood, as well as Harvard Business School's Rosabeth Moss Kanter, "serial innovator" John Kao, and Nike's Hannah Jones-will explore the urgent need to incorporate sustainability strategies into corporate innovation efforts. By integrating strategic and practical approaches into corporate sustainability programs, progress on the world’s biggest problems is possible. This session takes place from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday October 22.

Other plenary speakers at the BSR Conference 2009 include eBay President and CEO John Donahoe, Aramex International Founder and CEO Fadi Ghandour, Alcatel-Lucent CEO Ben Verwaayen, and BROAD Air Conditioning Chairman and CEO Zhang Yue. Visit www.bsr.org/conference to register and learn more about all BSR Conference 2009 sessions and speakers.

Members of the media may request a press pass by emailing Eva Dienel at 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.

BSR

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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