Corporations, People and the Planet

Sigourney Weaver, Bob Geldof and David Suzuki headline Melbourne event to discuss the future of the planet.

An extraordinary array of talent headlined by acclaimed actress Sigourney Weaver, scientist David Suzuki and musician/humanitarian Bob Geldof will examine what it takes for businesses to be sustainable over the long term at an event in Melbourne on April 26 this year.

In a major coup for Australia, the event – named Corporations, People and the Planet – aims to bring together businesspeople, environmentalists, academics, young people and scientists for the common cause of ensuring the future of the planet.

Weaver, Geldof and Suzuki will kick start the three-day event with conference style presentations for up to 5,300 delegates. On the two days following, April 27 and 28, RMIT will host the United Nations Global Compact Cities Programme – an initiative that brings mayors from the worldʼs most innovative cities, leaders in the corporate and non-governmental organisation arenas as well as a number of international academics working on the ethics and practice of sustainability.

“The speakers on each of the three days complement each other perfectly,” said Julian Davis, one of the Directors of The Thin Blue Line, the company behind the event. “We want to get sustainability not to be a catch phrase but rather real action that leads to real results in boardrooms across the country.”

Weaver is well known both on and off the screen for her dedication to the conservation movement. She serves as Honorary Chairperson of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International and her work on the Belo Monte dam project in the Amazon saw her win the 2011 Rachel Carson Award.

Bob Geldof is a world-renowned musician and humanitarian who has received a knighthood, the title Man Of Peace and a Nobel Peace Prize nomination for his outstanding contribution to international social justice.

Professor David Suzuki is regarded as a pioneer in getting businesses to think more broadly about how they can help conserve our environment.

The eclectic group will be joined by hand-picked sustainability experts from around the world including Professor L Hunter Lovins, founder of Natural Capitalism Solutions, an organisation that educates senior decision makers in business, government and civil society to restore and enhance the natural environment.

“This will not be another talkfest. We have put an amazing group together to provide totally different yet equal views about topics they have devoted decades of their lives to. This is to ensure that those who attend are provided with some real direction about where they are headed as individuals and as companies,” Mr Davis said.

A trade show will be set up in the foyer of the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre featuring up to 30 trade stands displaying sustainable services and technologies. Other events available during the conference include CEO breakfasts and corporate lunches with Weaver, Geldof or Suzuki and a VIP cocktail party.

“With such a range of experiences in the speaker line-up, the event will have broad appeal to
business leaders, environmental experts, governments, academics and individuals who are keen to explore the joint responsibilities that corporate and popular Australia has in helping to solve the environmental and societal changes of our time,” said fellow Thin Blue Line Director Ben Brazil.

“Social responsibility or corporate citizenship as it is also known is based on the notion that any organisation has social, cultural and environmental responsibilities to the community in which it operates.

“Most organisations already have some form of corporate citizenship program in place, however many companies are still unsure about how to successfully integrate these activities with their fundamental commitment to increasing profitability and shareholder value.

“The ongoing financial and social responsibility challenge faced by so many organisations is one of the main reasons we wanted to bring the Corporations, People and the Planet event to Australia.

“This ongoing fiscal and moral dilemma, along with global sustainability trends and case studies from accomplished business leaders will be the focus for Corporations, People and the Planet.”

The full program with additional international and local experts will be announced soon.

For more information or to book a ticket, visit the Corporations, People & the Planet event website: http://www.cpp2012.com/