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“Corporate Social Responsibility: Connecting the Private Sector with the Media”
Date:
7th – 8th April 2015
Venue:
The Pan Pacific Orchard Hotel, 10 Claymore Rd, Singapore 229540
Language:
English
Corporate Social Responsibility, or CSR; has been popularized into a buzzword bar to none, emanating
sustainability and ethical conduct in the private sector. However, CSR should not merely be regarded as a
philanthropic means to improve the image of businesses. Instead, the concept of CSR has, in recent years,
entered a ‘maturing process’ and can be interpreted as a fundamental component for developing business
strategies, especially in employer-branding as well as product-positioning. CSR has therefore become an
indispensable tool for businesses on the capital market.
Managers are well aware of the potential power in implementing CSR-measures in order to increase the
company’s market share or to attract new investors, and are keen on presenting CSR-projects as appealing
to the public as possible. Yet, if the project at hand is presented in an overly ‘glossy’ manner, suspicions
of deliberate ‘green-washing’ easily arise among external stakeholders, including consumers, nongovernmental organisations and the media. Especially in Asia, the lack of trust in the private sector stems
from omnipresent issues of corruption, as well as ineffective or absent regulations pertaining to safety
and environmental standards. Hence, CSR is a very intricate issue and the success of projects stands or
falls with the ‘right’ motivation and communication thereof.
This is where the media should take up its role as the ‘people’s advocate’ by utilizing a ‘carrot and stick’
approach. On the one hand, absolute impartiality and critical thinking has to be maintained by the news
agencies, when communicating with private enterprises. On the other, the media should by no means be
reluctant in acknowledging successes of companies in implementing sustainable CSR-projects. Thus,
finding the right balance and approach in reporting on CSR is of utmost importance to the media.
With representatives from the private-sector, the media as well as experts on CSR issues, this conference
aims to connect the expertise and experiences from numerous stakeholders involved in designing,
implementing and finally communicating Corporate Social Responsibility to the public in Asia.
Tuesday, 7th April 2015
Conference – venue: Picasso 1-2 (level 3)
“Corporate Social Responsibility: Connecting the Private Sector with the
Media”
09:30
Registration of participants
10:00
Welcome Remarks

10:10
Opening Statement

10:20
Thomas Thomas, CEO, ASEAN CSR Network, Singapore
Keynote Speech 1 -- “CSR – From Nice to Necessary”

10:45
Paul Linnarz, Regional Representative for Economic Policy, KonradAdenauer-Stiftung (KAS), Tokyo office
Prof. Wendy Chapple, Deputy Director of the International Centre for
Corporate Social Responsibility at Nottingham University Business School,
United Kingdom
Keynote Speech 2 – “Good Governance as the Foundation of CSR”

Gerard Forlin (QC), Cornerstone Barristers in London, Maxwell Chambers
in Singapore, Denman Chambers in Sydney
11:10
Coffee Break
11:30
Podium Discussion 1
“From Philanthropy to Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility”
Panelists:

Zainun Nur Binti Abdul Rauf, Executive Director for Group Corporate
Affairs, Nestle (Malaysia) Bhd.

Margit Kunz, Deputy General Manager, Singaporean-German Chamber of
Industry and Commerce

Lala Rimando, Journalist, Philippines

Itthiporn SaeTan, Journalist/Editor, The Nation, Thailand
Moderator:

Alastair Carthew, Journalist, Thailand
Q&A Session (30min)
13:00
Buffet Lunch, venue: 10 at Claymore restaurant
14:00
Podium Discussion 2
“People Imperatives of CSR”
Panellists:

Alex Mavro, Chief of Operations, Sasin Centre for Sustainability
Management of Chulalongkorn University, Thailand

Jolovan Wham, Executive Director, Humanitarian Organisation for
Migration Economics (H.O.M.E)

Ruhi M. Ahmed, Head of CSR, PR & Communication, BSRM Group of
Companies

Noriyuki Suzuki, General Secretary,
Confederation – Asia and Pacific
International
Trade
Union
Moderator:

Sam Lee, CEO, Inno CSR, China
Q&A Session (30min)
15:30
Coffee Break
16:00
Podium Discussion 3
“Environmental Imperatives of CSR”
Panellists:

Kelvin Ng, Managing Director, Siloso Beach Resort, Singapore

Christopher Ang, Executive Director, Singapore Compact

Elaine Tan, CEO, World Wide Fund for Nature, Singapore

Shihar Aneez, Correspondent, Thomson Reuters, Sri Lanka
Moderator:

Chhay Sophal, Editor-in-Chief, Cambodia News, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Q&A Session (30min)
17:30
Closing Remarks

Torben Stephan, Director Media Programme Asia, Konrad-AdenauerStiftung (KAS), Singapore
17:40
End of Conference Day 1
18:00-20:00
Networking Reception, venue: Van Gogh 1-2 (level 3)
Wednesday, 8th April 2015
Workshop – venue: Picasso 1 (level 3)
“How to Engage with and Report on CSR-Related Issues”
09:00
Registration of participants
09:30
Welcome Remarks

09:40
Paul Linnarz, Regional Representative for Economic Policy, KonradAdenauer-Stiftung (KAS), Tokyo office
Lecture 1

Francisco L. Roman, Jr., Executive Director, RVR Center for CSR, Asian
Institute of Management, Philippines
“How to Get Started with CSR as a Mid-Size Company?”
10:10
Lecture 2

Rajesh Chhabara, Director, CSRWorks International
“How to Write Professional Sustainability Reports?”
10:40
Lecture 3

Edi Utama, Senior Journalist, Antara News Agency, Indonesia
“How to Engage the Media?”
Moderator:

Kim Ying Pung, Magazine Editor and Publisher, Malaysia
11:10
Q&A Session (30min)
11:50
Closing Remarks (End of Conference Day 2)

12:00
Jerry Bernas, Programme Director, ASEAN CSR Network, Singapore
Buffet Lunch, venue: 10 at Claymore restaurant