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Business Leaders Convene in Israel to Discuss Impact on Inclusive Growth

Tel Aviv to Host Corporate Social Responsibility Conference on "Innovation for Good Life". Event Includes Immersive Field Tours and Speakers from, MasterCard, TripAdvisor, Barclays, and more

Business Leaders Convene in Israel to Discuss Impact on Inclusive Growth

Tel Aviv to Host Corporate Social Responsibility Conference on "Innovation for Good Life". Event Includes Immersive Field Tours and Speakers from, MasterCard, TripAdvisor, Barclays, and more

Published 11-15-18

Submitted by Maala - Business for Social Responsibility

Click here to watch video by ILT

The third Maala International Con(fair)ence, the main annual arena for the thriving CSR and sustainability community in Israel, will be held on November 28-29 in Tel Aviv’s Hangar 11. This year’s theme is “Business Impact on Inclusive Growth”. The conference serves as a platform for dialogue between the Israeli and Global CSR communities, and will showcase Israeli excellence in social and technological innovation answering acute global challenges as defined by the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The conference’s speakers represent some of the world’s largest enterprises, from fields of innovation and sustainability within the Israeli and global business community.

Among the speakers:

  • Shamina Singh, EVP, Sustainability at MasterCard and President of the MasterCard Center for Inclusive Growth

  • Steven Berkenfeld, Managing Director, Investment Banking Division at Barclays Capital

  • Amra Balic, Managing Director, Head EMEA Investment Stewardship Team at BlackRock

  • Hugh Wheelan, Managing Editor at Responsible Investor

  • Ulrika Hasselgren, Global Head of Sustainability and Impact Investment at Danske Bank

  • Sigal Shelach, CEO at JDC Israel

  • Naama Sikuler, Chief Editor at Globes

And many more speakers from TripAdvisor, Unilever, Bank Hapoalim, SodaStream, Intel, Proctor & Gamble, Strauss, Teva Pharmaceuticals and more.

The conference will see the launching of a new Israeli SRI forum, will host the annual Israeli Diversity Award and will announce the beginning of work on a comprehensive project on sharing Israeli practices with the global CSR communities.

As in previous years, the conference serves as a platform for dialogue between the Israeli and global CSR community and ESG investors. This year's theme, Business Impact on Inclusive Growth, is an area that has always been at the center of Israeli CSR, and the conference will showcase best practices answering global needs defined by the UN SDGs, such as goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, goal 10: Reduced Inequalities, and goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. Major topics include Value-Based Marketing to Increase Trust, the future of Work, Hot Trends in Food & Health, and more. Many speakers from the global CSR arena will participate in the conference, along with representatives from world leading ESG analysis bodies, and leading foreign investors that integrate ESG considerations into their investments. Complementing this is the Israeli Forum for Sustainable and Impact Investment which will be launched at the conference.

Momo Mahadav, CEO of Maala: "We're very encouraged by the interest that the conference draws both locally and internationally, and the dialogue that it enables. This year's focus on Inclusive Economy is an issue that has been high on the Israeli CSR agenda for years, and we hope to be able to share the practices that have developed in Israel."

Over the course of two days, attendees will participate in immersive field tours, brainstorming sessions and talks with insights into Israeli strategies on CSR.

The first day of the conference will revolve around eight different themes, with talks on diverse subjects such as empowering employees in a changing world of work, engaging communities and customers in the digital era, reducing food waste, and a snapshot of the LGBT community and the labor market in Israel.

The second day of the conference, Thursday, November 29th, offers a variety of field tours to sites of social and sustainable innovation around Israel. Participants will connect with local market-leaders in different sectors, providing intimate insights into Israeli businesses' pioneering practices, including visits to Arab and Haredi (Jewish ultra-orthodox) employment centers.

This year’s conference is being held in collaboration with the Israeli Ministry of Strategic Affairs and Public Diplomacy alongside some the Israeli market’s biggest names.

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Maala - Business for Social Responsibility

Maala - Business for Social Responsibility

Maala is a non-profit corporate membership organization promoting ESG and corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Israel. Founded in 1998, Maala is considered as the ESG standards-setting organization in Israel. Presently, the membership organization is comprised of some 130 members, Israel’s largest companies.

Maala publishes the Maala ESG indexes annually on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, and as of 2016 organizes an annual international conference in Tel Aviv.

Our Mission

Helping companies increase their social and environmental impact

  • Sharing practices & mutual learning
  • Flagging priorities & developing joint initiatives
  • Setting voluntary standards for business in Israel

Driving Change through

  1. A network of 120 member companies, Israeli and global companies operating in Israel 2. A hub for sustainable business practices, solutions and cross-sector collaboration.
  2. An annual CSR index rating 153 companies, also traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.

Maala ESG Index Facts & Figures

  1. Over 150 companies rated. (vs. 47 when the index was launched in 2006)
    - Approx. half are of Israel’s large companies, rated on the Maala Advanced Index
    - Approx. half are of Israel’s mid-size companies, rated on the Maala Basic Index
  2. Aggregate revenue: $137 billion; over 350,000 employees
  3. TA Maala Index includes half of the total market value traded on the TASE.

Maala ESG Index Main Features

  1. National based index – a prestigious Israeli business club
  2. Local adaptation of global ESG and sustainability standards
  3. A guidebook for local expectations and priorities
  4. Reflects local market business culture

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