The newest speakers to join the lineup for the BSR Conference 2012 include Brazil’s Native Organic Products Executive Vice President Leontino Balbo Jr., Social Finance CEO Tracy Palandjian, and ManpowerGroup Corporate and Government Affairs President David Arkless.

The 20^th anniversary Conference, “Fast Forward,” takes place October 23 through 26 in New York. The advance registration opportunity—the last chance to receive a registration discount—ends September 21.

Leontino Balbo Jr., Executive Vice President, Native Organic Products: As head of Native Organic Products since 2011, Balbo has helped the Brazil-based organic food and beverage company become the world’s largest organic sugar cane producer. He first joined Native, his family’s business, in 1984. With a strong conviction to take the company’s production system to a higher level of sustainability, he developed the Green Cane Project, which realized the ecological potential of the sugarcane crop. Since 1995, when Native’s sugarcane fields were converted into an organic production system, the use of all synthetic chemical pesticides and fertilizers has been stopped. The Green Cane Project has been recognized by the World Economic Forum, the United Nations, and U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Tracy Palandjian, CEO and Cofounder, Social Finance: Inspired by her work with a sister organization in the U.K., Palandjian cofounded Social Finance in January 2011 to mobilize investment capital to drive social change. Social Finance uses social impact bonds to raise private capital to fund prevention and early-intervention programs that reduce the need for expensive, crisis-driven services. The government repays investors only if an independent evaluator determines that the pre-defined outcomes have been achieved, such as reducing homelessness. Prior to Social Finance, she was a Managing Director at the Parthenon Group, where she established and led the consulting firm’s nonprofit practice. Prior to Parthenon, Palandjian worked at Wellington Management Co. and McKinsey & Co.

David Arkless, President, Corporate and Government Affairs, ManpowerGroup: Arkless, a world-renowned expert on labor-market trends, has widespread experience helping countries develop their labor-market strategies. As well as serving as a regular advisor to the U.S. State Department and various EU departments, he is Vice President of Ciett, the international confederation of private-employment agencies. Arkless serves as an advisory board member of both the International Organization for Migration and the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and he is President of the End Human Trafficking Now movement. He also serves as a board member with the Hague Process on Refugees and Migration and with the Education for Employment foundation.

The BSR Conference 2012 will feature more than 75 speakers in 35 diverse sessions that will address the need for business to fast forward progress toward a more just and sustainable world.

To register and receive updates on speakers, sessions, and more, visit www.bsr.org/conference. Members of the media interested in a complimentary press pass should contact Communications Manager Eva Dienel at edienel@bsr.org.

About BSR

BSR works with its global network of nearly 300 member companies to build a just and sustainable world. From its offices in Asia, Europe, and North and South America, BSR develops sustainable business strategies and solutions through consulting, research, and cross-sector collaboration. Visit www.bsr.org for more information about BSR’s more than 20 years of leadership in sustainability.

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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