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Corporate Governance and Sustainability Integrating Corporate and Investor Perspectives research working group on Corporate Governance and Sustainability Integrating Corporate and Investor Perspectives Join our distinguished group of leading executives and expert researchers to explore real-world experiences and find solutions to governance and sustainability issues your organization faces. Trusted Insights for Business Worldwide Doing Well by Doing Right It used to be that a company’s financial issues differed from its social issues. But in today’s business climate, an organization’s financial matters are its social matters. Increasingly, companies are being forced to address issues such as climate change, environmental protection, and human rights—and not only by a few fringe shareholder activists. Large investors, public pension funds, and various stakeholder groups are applying extraordinary pressure on organizations to deepen their commitments to a range of concerns that arise at the intersection of business and society. Our research working Companies ignore this “civic market” at their own peril and with loss of opportunity. groups are confidential, By integrating sustainability and citizenship initiatives into your overall strategy, hands-on forums for you not only benefit society, but also your bottom line. This research working group leading executives to seeks to help public and private companies explore the links between Corporate Governance and Sustainability, develop effective programs, and know how best to explore critical issues communicate these efforts to institutional investors and stakeholders. Drawing with knowledge experts on the expertise of The Conference Board’s Corporate Governance and Corporate to gain the insights Citizenship & Sustainability centers, you will examine: needed for more practical The influence of activist institutional investors, private-equity and and effective decision- hedge funds, NGOs, and civil-society on stimulating CSR strategies making. The fiduciary responsibilities of and implications for boards to define corporate practices that generate shareholder value The newest governance and sustainability structures, practices, and trends The importance of transparency, accountability, and reporting the conference board research working group on corporate governance and sustainability www.conference-board.org The Conference Board devised its new Research Working Group on Corporate Governance and Sustainability to maximize benefits for participants, who will have the opportunity to learn from each other, The Conference Board’s expert team of researchers, and best-practice companies. As a research working group member, you will be able to participate in and take advantage of: Meeting One Meetings Two & Three The working group’s inaugural meeting Based on the results of the first meeting, you will will cover baseline financial/sustainability be able to mold the agenda for the next two meet- questions, including: ings. Among the topics you may explore are: How have financial and sustainability issues How climate change demands responses from melded into common stakeholder concerns? business and society; Who are the key players (investors, NGOs, etc.) The potential for dramatic redefinitions of what and leading companies framing the debate? constitutes shareholder value in a carbon-limited business environment; What are the pros and cons of indices that track and rate CSR efforts? The role of sustainability in emerging markets like China, India, and Brazil; The potential for U.S. environmental regulations to transform markets and business strategies. Why Should You Join? By joining The Conference Board Research Working Group on Corporate Governance and Sustainability, you will take an active role in going beyond description of issues by exploring and customizing best practices. In addition to working personally with researchers from The Conference Board to develop approaches vital to your needs, you will be able to draw on knowledge gained from leading global companies and investors that have grappled with issues relating to governance and sustainability. As a group member you will: Discuss the implications of findings for your business with a network of peers and leading experts from The Conference Board Frame issues and develop workable solutions Exchange experiences, ideas, and insights via confidential, frank discussions Increase your ability to contribute to your CEO’s thinking and actions Contribute to improved business strategies and results www.conference-board.org/wgcorpgov1 the conference board research working group on www.conference-board.org corporate governance and sustainability The Conference Board Research Working Group on Corporate Governance and Sustainability offers its participants: A quality learning experience where the cross-sectoral, small-group dialogue settings is conducive for confidential and frank discussion while you may interact with a network of peers, experts and facilitators Webcasts of each meeting, as well as a final webcast summarizing findings, conclusions, and recommendations for further action. A Members-Only Website that will contain executive-action summaries of meetings, an interactive message board, a running blog to keep you informed of key developments in the field, and flash surveys of members. Paul DeNicola Program Information Research Working Group co-Leader The Conference Board Research Working Group on Corporate Governance and Sustainability +1 212 339 0221 will meet three times in person and three times via web conferences over the course of six to [email protected] eight months. In between these meetings, researchers from The Conference Board will perform Paul DeNicola, Ph.D. is Senior Manager studies requested by the working group and prepare mini research reports on each theme. of The Conference Board Corporate Governance Center and Directors’ Inaugural Meeting November 6-7, 2008, The Conference Board, New York, NY Institute, and develops research and continuing education programs for Participation fee $12,500 (includes a one-year membership in The Conference Board corporate directors and senior executives. Governance Center) Fees cover participation of up to two senior executives from your organization and include the cost of administering the program and producing the research, David J. Vidal as well as the meeting facilities and group meals. Members are responsible for their travel Research Working Group co-Leader and hotel arrangements. Members of the Governance and Citizenship & Sustainability +1 212 339 0445 [email protected] Centers are exempt from the participation fee. David J. Vidal is Director of The Conference To join or for more information visit www.conference-board.org/wgcorpgov2 or Board Center for Corporate Citizenship & contact Jeanne Shu at [email protected] or 212 339 0491 Sustainability and is responsible for research and program development in corporate citizenship and sustainability, The Conference Board Related Resources corporate responsibility and corporate philanthropy and community engage- ment. He is a Fellow of the Royal Centers and Councils Publications Society for the encouragement of the Center for Corporate Citizenship & Sustainability The Corporate Governance Handbook 2007: Arts, Manufactures & Commerce and Governance Center & Directors’ Institute Legal Standards and Board Practices a White House Fellow. Council on Sustainability Reputation Risk: A Corporate Governance Perspective Global Council of Investor Relations Executives Matteo Tonello LL.M., Ph.D. is Senior Reducing US Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Research Associate of The Conference European Council on Corporate Responsibility How Much at What Cost? Board Governance Center. Dr. Tonello and Sustainability Managing for a Carbon-Concerned Future: has authored a report on stock market Global Council of Business Conduct A Decision-Making Framework short-termism, a report on emerging Council on Corporate Compliance governance practices in Enterprise Risk Managing Great Expectations: Reshaping Engagement Strategies to Address Management (ERM), and a study of corporate governance best practices in family-controlled corporations. For our full listing of publications and events visit www.conference-board.org Carolyn Cavicchio is Senior Research Associate for Global Corporate Citizenship in The Conference Board Center for Corporate Citizenship & Sustainability. With 20 years of experience in the citizenship field, she is a national expert in corporate community involvement and philanthropic programs, as well as a strategic planner, facilitator, analyst and program developer. www.conference-board.org/wgcorpgov1 The Conference Board, Inc., 845 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022-6600 / Tel +1 212 759 0900 / Fax +1 212 980 7014 / www.conference-board.org The Conference Board Asia-Pacific, 22/F, Shun Ho Tower, 24-30 Ice House Street, Central, Hong Kong sar / Tel +852 2804 1000, Fax +852 2869 1403 / www.conference-board.org/ap.htm The Conference Board China, 7-2-72 Qijiayuan, 9 Jianwai Street, Beijing 100600, P.R. China / Tel +86 10 8532 4688 / Fax +86 10 8532 5332 / www.conference-board.cn The Conference Board Europe, Chaussée de La Hulpe 130, box 11, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium / Tel +32 2 675 54 05 / Fax +32 2 675 03 95 / www.conference-board.org/europe.htm The Conference Board of Canada, 255 Smyth Road, Ottawa ON KIH 8M7, Canada / Tel +1 613 526 3280 / Fax +1 613 526 4857 / www.conferenceboard.ca.
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