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Australian Corporate Citizenship Initiative

4 June 2010 at 5:55 pm
Lina Caneva

Australian Business Leaders and Government join forces to promote world’s largest Corporate Citizenship initiative in Sydney.

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Lina Caneva | 4 June 2010 at 5:55 pm

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Australian Business Leaders and Government join forces to promote world’s largest Corporate Citizenship initiative in Sydney.

Some of Australia’s most senior business and government leaders have gathered in Sydney for the Inaugural Annual Meeting of the UN Global Compact Network Australia.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the role of business and the investment community together with government in driving responsible business practice and sustainable development, locally and globally and to vote to formalise the structure of the Australian Network.

Those taking part included included Michael Luscombe (CEO Woolworths), David Atkin (CEO Cbus Superannuation), Jack Percy (Managing Director Accenture Australia), and Bob McMullan MP (Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance).

The UN Global Compact is described as a strategic policy initiative for businesses to align their operations with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption – not as a charitable add-on but as an integrated core business activity.

The Global Compact Network of Australia says that by doing so, as a primary agent driving globalisation, business can help ensure that the sector advances in ways that benefit economies, societies and the environment everywhere – enhancing corporate citizenship.

Signatories of the UN Global Compact stands at over 7700 corporate participants and stakeholders from over 130 countries. The Global Compact celebrates its 10th anniversary at the United Nations later this month.

Addressing the Australian Network meeting in Sydney, Bob McMullan Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance said businesses have an important role in helping to progress the Millennium Development Goals in developing countries around the world.

The Australian Network was launched last year by the former Minister of Superannuation and Corporate Law, Nick Sherry, and the Executive Director of the Global Compact, Georg Kell, in Parliament House, Canberra and is currently hosted by St James Ethics Centre (as part of the Treasury funded National Responsible Business Practice Project).

During the past year the Australian Network has seen a 50% increase in signatories in Australia, including leading Australian and global corporations and a raft of smaller businesses.

The Network says it aims to become Australia’s strongest corporate citizenship movement, engaging Compact signatories through local events and the fostering of a strong, supportive network of like-minded businesses.