Lien Centre and Civil Service College present a Social Conversation with Professor Peter Shergold on:

The Uncertain Future of Corporate Social
Responsibility in a Time of Global Crisis

Date: 24 February 2009
Time: 3-5pm
Venue: Conference Hall, Level 5, Administration Building, 81 Victoria Street, SMU (location map available here )

Synopsis

Does true CSR exist? Can it work? Will it survive?

Until the last twelve months these would have seemed odd questions. The spread of CSR seemed inevitable. In North America, Europe, Australia and Asia, an increasing number of multinational companies had established CSR units and begun to report publicly (and proudly) on their initiatives in area of corporate philanthropy, environmental sustainability and human rights. Corporate citizenship – and the related movements for socially responsible investment (SRI) and ‘philanthrocapitalism’ – seemed to evoke a spirit whose time had come. Triple bottom line reporting appeared to have taken a giant leap forward.

How times have changed. As the global financial crisis metamorphoses into a long slump in economic growth, many are now questioning the depth and persistence of CSR commitment. To critics, both the causes of the financial instability and the response to its consequences, expose CSR as an empty and illusory notion. To enthusiasts, in contrast, the crisis represents an unprecedented opportunity for CSR to meet the public mood for greater state intervention and regulatory control. Corporate belts might need to be tightened but CSR will become an even more important vehicle to exhibit a socially-responsible business reputation.

Underlying this important debate sits a more profound question: How deeply embedded in CSR is the business strategy of the corporate world?

Join us in this Social Conversation with social innovation expert Prof Peter Shergold as he examines not only the economic rationale for the manifold activities undertaken as CSR but also the extent to which the goals of corporate responsibility are reflected in the operating ethos of business.

About the Speaker

Prof Peter Shergold received a B.A (First Class) in Politics and American Studies from the University of Hull, an M.A in History at the University of Illinois and a PhD in Economics from London School of Economics.

Dr Shergold was a CEO in the Australian Public Service for two decades. In 1987 he established the Office of Multicultural Affairs. He went on to lead the agencies responsible for indigenous affairs, employment and education.  He also held the position of Public Service Commissioner.  For five years from February 2003, Dr Shergold was Australia 's senior public administrator serving as a Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. He served four Prime Ministers and eight ministers in both Coalition and Labor governments.

Dr Shergold is now the Macquarie Group Foundation Chair at the Centre for Social Impact. In addition he is a Senior Visiting Fellow of the Singapore Civil Service College. He is actively involved both in the private sector (he is a non-executive Director of AMP Ltd) and in the non-profit sector and is Chair of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation.

For registration:

Open to businesses, organisations and individuals interested in idea generation and discussion to move the social space forward.

Please register by Thursday, 20 February 2009.

For more information:

Prema Prasad
Tel: 6828 0821
E-mail: premaprasad@smu.edu.sg

About Social Conversations:

Social Conversations provides a platform for thought leaders and practitioners in the social space to share their work and to engage in a conversation with the community on ideas and innovations to enable positive social change in Singapore and beyond.

About Civil Service College:

The Centre for Governance and Leadership at the Civil Service College focuses on research and thought leadership in key areas of public policy and governance. It seeks to generate new insights for our policy makers to enhance the quality of policy thinking, leadership and management in the Public Service.

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