Get the latest delivered to your inbox
Privacy Policy

Now Reading

International Corporate Social Responsibility Experts Scheduled to Speak at Dubai “Summit”

International Corporate Social Responsibility Experts Scheduled to Speak at Dubai “Summit”

Published 03-01-04

Submitted by Informa/IIR Conferences

Dubai, UAE - Many of the world’s leading experts on corporate social responsibility (CSR) will be speaking at the Middle East’s first international forum on sustainable development to be held in Dubai on 25 and 26 April 2004. The ground-breaking First International Corporate Social Responsibility Summit, led by the Dubai Development and Investment Authority (DDIA) and Shell, will feature presentations by international and regional business leaders, government officials and NGOs and discussions on best practices in CSR.

UK Public Affairs Campaign Consultant, Simon Bryceson, will open the Summit alongside keynote speaker Salem bin Dasmal, Deputy Director General of DDIA. Salem bin Dasmal oversees all investment activities for the Authority in addition to the research, development and strategic planning activities related to project development and capitalization.

Salem Bin Dasmal said: “This outstanding panel of speakers will help guide us on how to make valuable and lasting contributions to society through support of health, environmental and educational activities. They will tackle the issues of business regulation in the Middle East; of building the skills necessary to achieve CSR goals; and of the increasing pressure on corporations to account for their environmental and social performance.”

The Summit will cover the responsibilities and imperatives of corporate citizenship, promote understanding of the market opportunities created by sound CSR practice and demonstrate how effective CSR communication contributes for positive brand image.

Speakers, amongst whom are CSR specialists from a number of global multinationals including British American Tobacco, Cisco Systems and Shell, will examine international CSR practices by commercial organizations and suggest ways of developing the practice further in the region.

Other topics on the Summit agenda range from the effects of CSR on shareholder value, CSR guidelines and standards, global principles and local implementation. Participants will also have a chance to take part in a workshop aimed at helping them develop a CSR strategy and framework for their own organizations.

“CSR is fast becoming a normal part of a company’s activities,” said Hussain Al Mahmoudi, External Affairs Manager, Shell Markets Middle East. “Shell is delighted to be driving this initiative forward together with Dubai Development and Investment Authority, and we believe it will form a basis for discussion on the topic in this part of the world.”

The creation of the Summit, held under the patronage of H.H. General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defense Minister, underlines Shell’s focus on sustainable development which is about meeting present needs without compromising future prospects. The company supports a range of social and environmental activities in the UAE and is held as a prime example of corporate social responsibility worldwide.

Editor’s notes:
The confirmed speakers to date are:

  • Salem Bin Dasmal, Department Director General, Department of Development and Investment Authority, UAE
  • Dr. Khalid Al Khazraji, Undersecretary for Labour , Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, UAE
  • Matthew Anderson, External Affairs Manager, Merck Sharpe & Dohme, UAE
  • James Blakelock, ME Corporate and Regional Affairs Manager, British American Tobacco, UAE
  • Chris Bray, Head of Environmental Risk Management Unit, Barclays Plc., UK
  • Simon Bryceson, Public Affairs & Political Consultant, UK
  • Tom Delfgaauw, Chair of Council, AccountAbility, UK
  • Peter Diekman, Group Head Internal Audit, ABN Amro, The Netherlands
  • Jim Donaldson, Regional Director ME, Hill & Knowlton, UAE
  • Frederick Dubee, Senior Advisor, The Global Compact, UK
  • Imelda Dunlop, Managing Director, Business Principle, UAE
  • John Elkington, Chairman, SustainAbility, UK
  • Waddah Ghanem, HSE Manager, ENOC, UAE
  • Adrian Godfrey, Director, WW Corporate Social Responsibility, Cisco Systems, UK
  • Dr. Michael Hopkins, Chairman & CEO, MHC International Ltd., UK
  • Colin Le Duc, Head of Research Operations, Sam-Index, Switzerland
  • Ernst Ligteringen, Chief Executive, Global Reporting Initiative, The Netherlands
  • Rick Little, Founder, International Youth Foundation, USA
  • Michael Littlechild, Chairman, The Good Corporation, UK
  • Habiba Marashi, Chairperson, Emirates Environmental Group, UAE
  • Jane Nelson, Director CSR, Kennedy School, Harvard Business School, USA
  • Ghassan Nuqul, Vice Chairman, Nuqul Group, Jordan
  • Will Oulton, Managing Director, CRG Advisory Services Ltd., Strategic Advisor to FTSE Group, UK
  • Adrian Payne, Head of CSR Affairs, British American Tobacco Plc, UK
  • Andrew Pirie, President Asia Pacific, Weber Shandwick, Singapore
  • Arun Singh, MD, Corporate Services, Tata Steel, India
  • Sanjiv Singh, Workplace Internal Regulatory Establishment (WIRE), UAE
  • Chris Sykes, Head of CSR, Standard Chartered Bank, UK
  • Chris Tuppen, Head of Sustainable Development and Corporate AccountAbility, BT, UK
  • Ron Van Den Burg, CEO, EP & Chairman Shell Dubai, UAE
  • Alyson Warhurst, Director Corporate Citizenship Unit, Warwick Business School, UK
  • Ed Williams, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, Marks & Spencer, UK
  • Informa/IIR Conferences logo

    Informa/IIR Conferences

    Informa/IIR Conferences

    IIR Conferences

    More from Informa/IIR Conferences

    Join today and get the latest delivered to your inbox