Dilemmas and Opportunities in Corporate Transparency
7 August 2002
Invitation to a Workshop
2 September 2002 in Johannesburg
When Trust is Challenged:
Dilemmas and Opportunities in Corporate Transparency
Hosted by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, Novo Nordisk and
The University of Cambridge Programme for Industry
Some are sceptical about the commitment of business to make real changes towards sustainable development. Many businesses, however, have acknowledged the need to adopt more sustainable practices, and to act in a more transparent manner. While some businesses would argue that they have made real progress, distrust of business still persists. The workshop will address:
- Is this “business as usual” in another guise? Why should the public believe what companies say about their sustainable development agenda?
- What challenges does this pose for the corporate world – what are the dilemmas associated with trust building, transparency, inclusiveness and assurance?
- Is the way forward for sustainable development through partnerships and co-operative agreements, or through legally binding frameworks? What is the role of government?
- What opportunities are there for responding constructively to other world views?
The workshop offer invited WSSD participants from business, the NGO community governments and the public sector a forum to discuss these pertinent issues and to contribute to the current debate.
The opening address will be given by Per Stig Møller, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Denmark; currently President of the European Union. This will be followed by a panel discussion with contributors including Rt Hon Rhodri Morgan AM, First Minister, Welsh Assembly Government, The Rt Hon Margaret Beckett MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Craig Bennett, Friends of the Earth, Professor Tim O’Riordan, Professor of Environmental Sciences, University of East Angliaand UK Commissioner for Sustainable Development, Michael Spicer, Executive Vice President of Anglo American plc, Preben J. Sørensen, Global Leader, Environment & Sustainability, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and Lise Kingo, Executive Vice President, Novo Nordisk.
The workshop will take place on 2 September between 10am and 4pm at the Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu offices in Johannesburg. A preliminary programme is enclosed. The finalised programme will be forwarded to you in August. We hope you will accept this opportunity to engage in open dialogue with this broad range of stakeholders. As numbers for this event will be limited please indicate your likely participation on the attached form.
Kind regards,
Preben J. SørensenLise KingoPolly Courtice
When Trust is Challenged:
Dilemmas and Opportunities in Corporate Transparency
Date: 2 September 2002
Venue:
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu
The Woodlands
20 Woodlands Drive, Woodmead, Johannesburg, SA
Programme
9:30Registration
10:00Welcome: Vassi Naidoo, Executive Director, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, South Africa.
10.05Introduction: Professor Tim O’Riordan, Professor of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia and UK Commissioner for Sustainable Development.
10.20 Opening address: Per Stig Møller, Ministerfor Foreign Affairs, Denmark; President of the European Union.
10.30Challenge the Panel on Trust and Transparency
Panel representative from business, politics and the NGO community are invited to comment on the issue of trust and transparency, giving one illustration each. This is followed by the opportunity for the audience to challenge the panel with questions, and to open the debate.
12:30Launch of the Business and the Environment Programme
12.45Lunch
14:00Small group discussions, with participants (including panellists) asked to frame key criteria for building relationships based on trust and transparency.
- What are the signals that things are going wrong?
- How do you build trust?
- How do you rebuild it once it has broken down?
- What are the key success criteria?
- Who and what needs to change?
15:00Groups feedback to plenary, panel invited to comment, followed by general discussion.
16:00Close and network over tea/coffee
Contributors will include
- Rt Hon Rhodri Morgan AM, First Minister, Welsh Assembly Government
- The Rt Hon Margaret Beckett MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
- Per Stig Møller, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Denmark and President of the European Union (tbc)
- Craig Bennett, Friends of the Earth, UK
- Professor Tim O’Riordan, Professor of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia and UK Commissioner for Sustainable Development
- Michael Spicer, Executive Vice President of Anglo American plc
- Preben J. Sørensen, Global Leader, Environment & Sustainability, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu
- Lise Kingo, Executive Vice President, Novo Nordisk
Plus 2 further NGO representatives to be confirmed
When Trust is Challenged:
Dilemmas and Opportunities in Corporate Transparency
Workshop hosted by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, Novo Nordisk and The University of Cambridge Programme for Industry
2 September 2002 in Johannesburg
Expression of interest
Name ______
Organisation ______
No, I am unable to participate ______
Yes, I would like to participate ______
Please confirm email/contact point for the joining instructions
______
Please note: If you are able to join us we will send you a final programme and an admittance card to the contact point you have provided above. For security reasons it will be necessary to produce this admittance card on arrival.
Also, please let us know if you change your plans.
Please return this form by fax or email to:
Ena Pedersen
Communications Manager
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu
Fax: +45 33 76 39 40
Email: