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New BSR Conference 2012 Plenary Speakers: Marks and Spencer Chief Executive, Former East Timor President, More

New BSR Conference 2012 Plenary Speakers: Marks and Spencer Chief Executive, Former East Timor President, More

Published 07-24-12

Submitted by BSR

The BSR Conference 2012 will feature a powerful lineup of plenary speakers, including Marks and Spencer Chief Executive Marc Bolland and former Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta. The plenary program will also feature I3 speakers Global Institute for Tomorrow (GIFT) CEO Chandran Nair, and international photographer Platon. I3 speakers inspire and engage participants with their extraordinary stories and provocative perspectives.

The 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.

Marc Bolland, Chief Executive, Marks and Spencer: Appointed to his current role in May 2010, Bolland began his career at Heineken NV in 1987, occupying several marketing and sales management roles. In 1995, he was appointed Managing Director for Heineken in Slovakia, becoming Managing Director for Heineken Export Worldwide in 1999. Bolland was then appointed to the Board of Heineken NV in 2001, with responsibility for global marketing, as well as responsibility for the regions of Western Europe, the United States, Latin America, and Northern Africa. In 2005, he became Chief Operating Officer and then joined Morrisons as Chief Executive Officer in September 2006. Bolland is currently Non-Executive Director of Manpower Inc. U.S., and has previously held the same role at Hotel de I’Europe in the Netherlands and at Quilmes, Argentina.

José Ramos-Horta, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, and Former President, Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste: From 2007 through 2012, Ramos-Horta was the President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. He also served as Prime Minister and Minister of Defense from 2006 through 2007, and Foreign Affairs Minister from 2002 through 2006. In 1996, Ramos-Horta was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize jointly with Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo "for their work toward a just and peaceful solution to the conflict in East Timor." Born in Dili, East Timor, Ramos-Horta has studied at universities around the world, including Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, the Hague Academy of International Law, the International Institute of Human Rights, and Oxford University’s St. Antony College.

Chandran Nair, Founder and CEO, GIFT: GIFT is an independent, pan-Asian think and do tank dedicated to effecting change by increasing awareness about globalization’s impacts through thought leadership and positive action. Nair is also Chairman of Avantage Ventures, a Hong Kong- and Beijing-based boutique investment advisory company that specializes in high-impact social investing. Until 2004, Nair was Chairman of Environmental Resources Management (ERM) in the Asia Pacific. For more than a decade, Nair has strongly advocated for a more sustainable approach to development in Asia, advising governments and multinational corporations to embrace these principles through their policies and decisions.

Platon, international photographer: Platon began his career with British Vogue and then worked for the late John F. Kennedy Jr.’s political magazine, George. Over the years, he has produced more than 20 covers for Time, including the magazine’s 2007 “Person of the Year” cover of Russian Premier Vladimir Putin, which was awarded the World Press Photo Contest’s top prize."¨As a staff photographer for the New Yorker, Platon has won two awards from the American Society of Magazine Editors and covered themes including U.S. President Obama's inauguration, the U.S military, portraits of world leaders, and the U.S. Civil Rights Movement. Platon has also partnered with Human Rights Watch to highlight human rights defenders from Myanmar as well as the leaders of the Egyptian revolution.

This year, BSR’s 20th Conference 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.

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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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