Sri Lanka’s first CSR Conference to take place in October

Saturday, 20 September 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Renowned Dutch CSR Expert Dr. Wayne Visser scheduled to be a key speaker

CSR Lanka, an organisation formed under the alliance of six pioneering partners to propagate streamlined island-wide CSR activities, will be hosting the country’s first ever CSR Conference next month.

Featuring several expert international speakers and a host of renowned local speakers, the event will work towards uniting the numerous CSR efforts made by local companies under one umbrella. The conference will be held on 3 October at the Cinnamon Lakeside. Speaking about the event, CSR Lanka Chairperson Chandula Abeywickrema said, “It is imperative that all the local companies come together to ensure that their CSR efforts benefit the larger community and aids long-term national development. Dr. Wayne Visser who is considered to be the global authority on CSR will be the key note speaker. Along with Dr. Visser, we have several other top-notch speakers who will add value to make this event an excellent start to the country’s collective CSR movement.” The other key international speakers include Microsoft Asia Head of CSR Claire Deevy and Ambuja Cement Head of CSR Pearl Tiwari. Renowned to be one of the world’s most recognised CSR experts, Dr. Wayne Visser has been on the list for the Top 100 Thought Leaders in Trustworthy Business Behaviour (2013), Top 100 Global Sustainability leaders (2012 & 2011), Top 100 CSR leaders (2012 & 2009) and the Top 20 sustainability leader (2012 & 2009). He is a notable speaker on CSR activities, and has addressed over 250 audiences on the subject in 69 countries around the world over the last 20 years. He has authored over 20 books including Disrupting the Future (2014), CSR 2.0 (2013), The Quest for Sustainable Business (2012), The Age of Responsibility (2011) and The World Guide to CSR (2010). Visser is the founder of CSR International and Director of the think tank Kaleidoscope Futures as well as being an Adjunct Professor of Sustainable Development at Deakin University and Senior Associate at the University of Cambridge program for Sustainability Leadership in the UK. Deevy oversees and directs the many CSR activities by the tech giant in the region. Moving between the government, NGO and corporate sector as well as corporate foundations, Deevy has worked in the CSR arena for over 15 years. Her areas of expertise include communications, environmental stewardship and cause-related marketing. With a career in CSR spanning over 25 years, Tiwari has played an integral part in CSR efforts in India, both at Ambuja Cement since joining the company in 2000 and as a member of the prestigious TATA Institute of Social Sciences prior to that. Tiwari completed her executive education with a focus on CSR at the Harvard Business School in 2008. Her focus areas in CSR include those covering the differently-abled, child rights and water and sanitation, as well as numerous activities involving the many communities influenced by Ambuja Cement plants around India. Tickets for the event are priced at Rs. 12,500 and will be available at the CSR Lanka Conference Secretariat (No. 45, Silva Road, Rajagiriya). For more information contact Shiong on 0721 644 969 or Shamika on 0712 644 939 or visit www.csrsrilanka.lk.