International CSR Conference 2008 Programme, Day 1 Morning Session

Conference Programme 29th July 2008 (Day 1 - Morning Session)

8.50-9.00 WELCOME AND OPENING REMARKS

9.00-10.15 PANEL SESSION: CSR IN MALAYSIA: BUILDING ON THE FOUNDATIONS

Moderator: Datuk Dr Mohd Tap, President of Institut Integriti Malaysia

Speakers:

Fadilah Baharin, Director General, Standards Malaysia
Shareen Shariza Dato' Abdul Ghani, Vice President (Corporate Responsibility), Khazanah Nasional Berhad
Puvan J. Selvanathan, Executive Director, Caux Round Table Malaysia
Dr Geoffrey Williams, CEO, OWW Consulting, Malaysia & Singapore

Malaysia is emerging as a leader in CSR in Asia. This process has been built on initiatives including the National Integrity Plan, the ISO 26000 Malaysia Mirror Group, the Putrajaya Committee for GLC Transformation and the CSR reporting regulations for listed companies. It has been backed up by tax incentives, private events and CSR Champions from business, government and civil society. Many companies in Malaysia have responded positively to these initiatives and leading examples are now in place from which others can learn. This session will review these developments and put them into context.

What have been the challenges?
How have companies responded?
What are the main drivers of success?
How has the Silver Book helped to promote CSR?
What is the status of the ISO26000 Standard for Social Responsibility?
What are the challenges ahead?

10.15-10.30 BREAK

10.30-11.10 KEYNOTE SPEECH: Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim

This session will provide insights on CSR from Tunku Aziz, a leading member of the Malaysian business community and one of the most respected advocates of ethical business and CSR in Asia.

Title: THE INTER-RELATIONSHIP OF CSR, ETHICS AND INTEGRITY FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE

‘Sustainability' is today a driver of any global business strategy. Being or becoming sustainable requires understanding both how we do business as well what impacts our businesses. This is often a circular reference - do we cultivate a virtuous cycle of growth or become stuck in downward spiral of diminishing returns? Good Governance and Corporate Responsibility are important and complimentary ideas that allow us to determine which course we might follow.

To take the first steps in the right direction, companies must rationalize their intent as corporate citizens, chart how they aim to achieve that intent, and ensure that all their stakeholders are ready for the journey.

Good Governance may be considered as Ethics and Integrity. All enterprises are reflections of the people within. Do they understand ‘right' from ‘wrong'? Can they see conflicts of interest - not only in regard to their business but also society? Good people need well-structured systems, processes and hierarchies. Clear roles and responsibilities for reporting and reward assure that people and practices have greater chances of success and so contribute to overall sustainability.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has moved rapidly to the centre of overall business thinking. Whether or not you practice CSR, it is necessary that you know about it and understand how and why to take a position on the subject to help your business succeed with all its stakeholders. Strategic CSR is about being responsible about competitiveness.

11.10-11.50 SPOTLIGHT PRESENTATION: Mines Advisory Group (MAG)

Title: MAG PARTNERSHIPS FOR DEVELOPMENT

Speakers: Rob White, Director of Operations, MAG
John Lindon, Head of International Partnerships, MAG

MAG is co-laureate of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize, awarded for its work with the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), which culminated in the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty - the international agreement that bans antipersonnel landmines, sometimes referred to as the Ottawa Convention.

MAG moves into current and former conflict zones to clear the remnants of those conflicts, enabling recovery and assisting the development of affected populations. MAG consults with local communities and works to lessen the threat of death and injury, while releasing reclaimed and safe land and other vital resources back to the local population, helping countries to rebuild and develop their social and economic potential.

This session will share insights from MAG on how to build successful partnerships between business and NGOs that deliver real impact and change for the better.

Brief background and history of MAG
The sectors we work in
Where we work including details of our programmes in South East Asia
Our range of partnerships
How companies can get involved

11.50-12.30 KEYNOTE: THE GLOBAL REPORTING INITIATIVE

Speaker: Dr Nelmara Arbex,
Director of Learning Services, Global Reporting Initiative, the Netherlands

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is now in its third generation (G3). The aim of the GRI-G3 is to make CSR reporting as clear and as standardised as financial reporting. This session brings one of the leading figures in the GRI from their headquarters in Amsterdam to give us expert advice on the GRI and how it can be used.

What is the GRI?
What are its main features?
What have been the key successes of the GRI since its establishment?
How are companies using the GRI to report their CSR performance?
How can Malaysian companies benefit from the GRI?
What are the participation levels to help companies use the GRI?
What are GRI Organisational Stakeholders (OS) and how can companies join the OS network?

12.30-13.30 LUNCH