UN boosts business involvement in development

Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations, will speak at Case Western Reserve University on October 23rd, 2006 to open three day debate on how business can contribute to development, a topic that is picking up more momentum (and also receiving more skepticism--see blog entry on Corporate Bodies and Guilty Minds.)

The three-day conference, Business as an Agent of World Benefit: Management Knowledge Leading Positive Change is organized in partnership by the UN Global Compact, the Academy of Management, and Case’s Weatherhead School of Management, and aims to bring together over 400 top business executives and management scholars from around the world to explore ways in which business can be a leading force in eradicating poverty, enhancing the environment, and advancing peace – while still prospering financially. An additional 3,000 participants worldwide are expected to join the Forum via satellite and Internet links.

Kofi Annan will not be the only heavy hitter.  His keynote speech will precede messages from leading executives and scholars such as C.K Prahalad, University of Michigan; Peter Senge, MIT; Warren Bennis, Founding Chairman, The Leadership Institute; Patrick Cescau, Group Chief Executive, Unilever; and, Bertrand Collomb, Chairman, Lafarge, among others.

Stayed tuned to see what comes out of the event!