There is no better place for informed reflection on this theme than at La Trobe University’s conference Sustainability: Rhetoric or Reality? (Economic social and environmental sustainability - priorities and choices),to be held in Melbourne on 24 and 25 September.
With a keynote address by State Treasurer, John Brumby, and speakers including National Australia Bank General Manager for Communication, Sponsorship and Communication, Tim O’Leary, and Foster's Group Ltd Director of Government, Industry & Community Relations, Natalie Toohey, it is clear that the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is well and truly foremost in the mind of business and government.
Proponents of CSR argue that businesses should make a positive contribution to society and engage with a wide array of stakeholders. These contributions range from purely meeting regulatory and legal obligations to broader philanthropy, community activities, environmental and social sustainability, organisational justice and ethical governance.
This conference will suggest that CSR is essential to a firm's overall strategy – and has financial benefits. It will provide research, case studies, policy advice and workshops which highlight various sustainability strategies and the decisions that organisations can make in choosing between financial, community and environmental priorities.
· The conference is being held at Rydges Carlton Hotel, 701 Swanston Street, Carlton, Melbourne. It is hosted by the University’s Faculty of Law and Management and organised by the Graduate School of Management, in association with La Trobe’s Public Sector Governance and Accountability Research Centre (headed by former State Labor MP, Adjunct Professor Peter Loney).
The conference is ideally suited to directors, senior managers and policy makers from corporate, government (local, State and Federal departments), NGO’s and not-for-profit organisations and anyone interested in sustainability management and practice.
Wednesday, 11 July 2007Corporate Social Responsibility - Make the move from rhetoric to reality Do you want to embrace a more broadly-focused 21st century business model, but are not quite sure how to go about it? Would you like to uncover the practices that organisations are using to link sustainability and stakeholder engagement to competitive advantage?Contact
Randa Rafiq, Business Development Manager, Graduate School of Management
La Trobe University, Ph: (03) 9479 3108; Email: R.Rafiq@latrobe.edu.au
Conference details on - www.latrobe.edu.au/sustainability