Workshop on CSR Reporting and Communications
31st May 2005

Speakers:

• Habiba Al Marashi, Chairperson, EEG
  
• Dr Elizabeth Ness, Director, Sustainable Business Excellence
  
• Mr Gary Foote, Head of Support Services, ABB
  
• Ms Fatima Saleh, Marketing Manager, Dubai Cable Company
  
• Ms. Hope Sherwin, CSR Advisor, EEG

The second workshop of 2005 focused on CSR Reporting and Communications. The workshop addressed the importance of clear transparent methods of communicating CSR activities. CSR Reporting - the publication of an annual report covering a company's non-financial performance - has become an industry in its own right in Europe and North America, but is still in its infancy in the Gulf region.

EEG Chairperson Habiba Al Marashi opened the workshop and set the scene by demystifying some of the perceived barriers to reporting in this region. "I hope that this workshop will show you that sustainability reporting can be undertaken by any organisation, and that in taking the first step you can set your companies apart from others as leaders in the field", she said. Several of the Founding Members of the EEG CSR Network are leaders in the field of CSR Reporting, both globally and locally.

The guest speaker at the event was Dr Elizabeth Ness, an expert in innovation, business development, corporate social responsibility, environment, health and safety. She focuses on working with, and energising, companies and organisations in pursuit of excellence that wish to include sustainable development as an integral part of their business strategy.

Her background includes the position of Director, Materials Technology with BICC General Inc.; Head of Global Environment, Health and Safety with BICC Cables; and General Manager Environment with Pirelli. She currently runs her own business, Sustainable Business Excellence.

During the workshop Dr Ness presented global trends in CSR reporting and explained how reporting and communication are integral parts of an overall CSR strategy. Dr Ness drew on examples from a wide range of companies and reports to illustrate her arguments.

CSR reporting is at its most developed in Europe and North America. Some parts of Asia are now seeing an increase in reporting. Japanese companies are particularly strong on environmental reporting, driven in part by a strong governmental commitment to the environment. Dr. Ness's view was that as countries open up to foreign investment the desire and drive to adopt ethical and responsible business practices increases. This is demonstrated by the rise in interest in CSR in China and Hong Kong since their entry to the WTO.

Mr Gary Foote, Head of Support Services at ABB, was the second speaker of the day. ABB is recognised as a global leader in CSR. The company is also committed locally and was one of the first to join the EEG CSR Network as a Founding Member. ABB published its first global sustainability report in 2000.

Dubai Cable Company (DUCAB), another long-standing supporter of EEG, presented its position on CSR, adding a local company perspective to the event. Ms Fatima Saleh, Marketing Manager at DUCAB presented the company's approach to CSR.

The workshop concluded with an interactive session on how to develop a CSR report led by EEG's CSR Advisor, Hope Sherwin.

The event provided a forum for lively discussion and debate and brought together over 30 delegates from a wide range of organisations across the government and private sector.