Companies' community obligations discussed at UQ forum

A company's values and sense of community are becoming as integral to its reputation as the financial bottom-line.

This is the theme of a joint University of Queensland social work and social policy and economics alumni event to be held at Customs House on Wednesday, July 25, 2001.

Renowned ethicist Professor Noel Preston, Director-General for the Arts Marg O'Donnell, Neill Colledge from the Queensland Investment Corporation and Dahle Suggett from the Allen Consulting Group will address increasing calls for corporations to factor social and environment impacts into their decisions.

'We need to identify and articulate a set of values, which are tied to the ways that corporations and governments do business ethically and wisely,' Professor Preston said.

He said he would briefly discuss his 'Earth Charter Case Study', a project aimed at strengthening global governance through a clearer and integrated articulation of appropriate universal values, at Wednesday's forum.

The first joint initiative between the two alumni groups will cover a range of issues including community service obligations, ethical investment, paying taxes, a concern for human rights and the environment (domestically and overseas), and 'the triple bottom line'.

'The reputation of a company is now gauged not only on its economic performance but also on how well it engages with and responds to local communities and their concerns,' Ms Suggett said.

She said she had worked on a number of projects looking at corporate social responsibility including a study of the growth of ethical investment by a group of philanthropists.

She said the study found ethical investment was poised to move from a niche position into the mainstream.

'People are looking for more ways to exercise their values and choice of investment,' she said.

The forum will also explore the practical implications of corporate social responsibility for organisational design, culture and practice.

It will be held in the Customs House Long Room, Ann Street, the city, between 4pm and 6pm. Bookings are essential and can be made by contacting The University of Queensland's Development Office (telephone 07 3346 3900).

Media: contact Peter McCutcheon at UQ Communications (telephone 07 3365 1088 or p.mccutcheon@mailbox.uq.edu.au).