The Suliman S. Olayan School of Business (OSB) at the American University of Beirut is proud to announce the first CSR Practitioner’s Conference at AUB on May 4 & 5, 2012. The conference is intended as a platform for regional business leaders to address the emerging challenges and opportunities presented by the ascendancy of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Through the gathering of renowned speakers, panels and interactive discussion forums, the conference will offer a regional platform for practitioners to network and exchange best practices in relation to effective sustainability and CSR management.
Sustainable business is no longer a luxury, but a necessity in a fast-paced and changing global context. Empowered citizens, consumers, and social movements across the globe are demanding that governments and businesses behave more responsibly. There is also a worldwide call to learn from the current failings of the global industrial economy and move towards more creative forms of capitalism, in which companies embrace responsible attitudes and orientations and engage in practices that expand the pie and contribute to social justice and social progress.
Application of these new forms of responsible business practice are especially relevant in the MENA region, where there are growing pressing social ills, including: rampant unemployment particularly for the youth segment, limited access to healthcare, natural resource scarcity, pollution, substandard housing and limited empowerment and participation of females in the labor force. This conference therefore offers an opportunity to brainstorm about the evolution of CSR in the MENA in light of the changing socio-political landscape of the Middle East at this juncture and within the broader Arab Spring context.
A distinguished line-up of international and regional speakers from top performing CSR institutions and corporations will inform an educational and lively debate about the practical applications and implications of CSR for business practice in MENA going forward. Attendees will include an audience of business executives and CSR professionals, who will further add value to the conference by sharing their experiences and providing opportunities to exchange best practices.
Application of these new forms of responsible business practice are especially relevant in the MENA region, where there are growing pressing social ills, including: rampant unemployment particularly for the youth segment, limited access to healthcare, natural resource scarcity, pollution, substandard housing and limited empowerment and participation of females in the labor force. This conference therefore offers an opportunity to brainstorm about the evolution of CSR in the MENA in light of the changing socio-political landscape of the Middle East at this juncture and within the broader Arab Spring context.
A distinguished line-up of international and regional speakers from top performing CSR institutions and corporations will inform an educational and lively debate about the practical applications and implications of CSR for business practice in MENA going forward. Attendees will include an audience of business executives and CSR professionals, who will further add value to the conference by sharing their experiences and providing opportunities to exchange best practices.
