NEW YORK- May 29, 2007) "“ The United Nations Global Compact will host the third annual World Diversity Leadership Symposium (http://www.wdls2007.com/un), to be held on 4-6 June at UN Headquarters in New York. The WDLS is the world’s premier gathering of senior corporate executives, experts, and policymakers focused on global and local diversity management practices.

Confirmed conference speakers include Michael Lee Chin, Executive Chairman of AIC Limited and Executive Chairman and CEO of Portland Holdings Inc., and Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig. The conference will also honor the contributions of Ambassador Swanee Hunt, Bennett College for Women, The Chicago Sinfonietta Symphony Orchestra, Major League Baseball, Procter and Gamble, HSBC, Adecco, Aviva and MGM Mirage.

This year’s conference, "Globalization and Diversity: Unleashing the Power of Diverse Workers, Suppliers and Customers," will consider the impact of diversity in areas such as academia, global supply chains, major international cities, global workers, customers, and sports. Virtcom Consulting, the global diversity management consultancy which founded the WDLS, will present a case study report of four corporations, mapping the global business case for diversity. The conference will also feature a unique CEO Roundtable, which brings together seven multinational chief executives to discuss their views on global diversity and how it fits into their companies’ goals and strategies.

"Effective Global diversity management should positively influence the impact of globalization on diverse communities, suppliers, governments, workers, and customers", said Douglas C. Freeman, CEO of Virtcom Consulting. "When multinational corporations integrate global diversity management tools into their core business operations, they tangibly improve business performance in diverse markets, and uplift societies around the world."

"Thousands of companies from all regions of the world, along with international labor, and civil society organizations are engaged in the Global Compact, working to advance ten universal principles in the areas of human rights, labor, the environment and anti-corruption", said Georg Kell, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact. "Global Compact Principle Six focuses on anti-discrimination in the workplace which directly aligns with the goals and objectives of the World Diversity Leadership Symposium."

For more information about the World Diversity Leadership Symposium, including a complete schedule and registration information, please visit www.wdls2007.com/un

About the United Nations Global Compact

Launched in 2000, the UN Global Compact brings business together with UN agencies, labor, civil society and governments to advance ten universal principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption. Through the power of collective action, the Global Compact seeks to mainstream these ten principles in business activities around the world and to catalyze actions in support of broader UN goals. With over 3000 participating companies and hundreds of other stakeholders from more than 100 countries, it is the world's largest voluntary corporate citizenship initiative. For more information, please visit www.unglobalcompact.org.

About Virtcom Consulting

Virtcom Consulting is a strategy management consultancy focused on solving complex global diversity management challenges. With global offices in New York City and London, Virtcom offers diversity business solutions in three major areas: Diversity Training, Strategy and Thought Leadership. Virtcom’s global client roster includes blue-chip companies such as Visa, Johnson Controls and HSBC.

United Nations Global Compact

United Nations Global Compact

As the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative, the United Nations Global Compact is a call to companies everywhere to align their operations and strategies with Ten Principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. Our ambition is to accelerate and scale the global collective impact of business by upholding the Ten Principles and delivering the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through accountable companies and ecosystems that enable change. With the UN Global Compact, committed companies achieve sustainable value by delivering measurable impact to the world’s most pressing challenges. 

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