On Monday, January 31, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), a network-based organization that pioneered the world’s most widely used sustainability reporting framework, will mark its official launch in the United States with the Focal Point USA meeting held at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Thought leaders on corporate transparency and sustainability will gather at the NYSE for a panel discussion from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. (ET) to address the question, “Why is America letting the world lead in sustainability reporting?” The event will be webcast globally and will open with remarks from NYSE Euronext Head of Corporate Responsibility Michelle Greene and GRI Chief Executive Ernst Ligteringen followed by a discussion chaired by David Vidal, Director, The Conference Board Center for Corporate Citizenship & Sustainability. Panel participants will include the President of Ceres and corporate responsibility officers from several companies including Bloomberg, Avon Products, Marriott and UPS.
8:30 Arrival
9:00 Opening remarks
Ernst Ligteringen, Chief Executive, Global Reporting Initiative
9:20 Panel discussion begins
Chair: David Vidal, Director, The Conference Board Center for Corporate Citizenship & Sustainability
Panel:
Mindy Lubber, President, Ceres
Curtis Ravenel, Director Sustainability Initiatives, Bloomberg
Susan Arnot Heaney, Director, Corporate Responsibility, Avon Products
Mari L. Snyder, Vice President, Social Responsibility & Community Engagement, Marriott
Steve Leffin, Director Global Sustainability, UPS
“This is a dynamic time for the Global Reporting Initiative, with sustainability reporting becoming a vital part of the business strategies of an increasing number of companies, including in the US,” said Mike Wallace, Director of the Global Reporting Initiative’s Focal Point USA. “We’re very excited to be launching the new Focal Point USA at the NYSE and aim to engage more directly with financial and business leaders about reporting activity in the US. We hope our presence will help the US take the lead in sustainability reporting.”
FTSE Mondo Visione Exchanges Index:
Global Reporting Initiative Celebrates Official Launch In The United States With Focal Point USA Meeting At The New York Stock Exchange
Date 25/01/2011
The live webcast can be seen at http://mfile.akamai.com/7096/live/reflector:55769.asx?prop=n.
Event agenda:
Michelle Greene, VP, Head of Corporate Responsibility, NYSE Euronext
10:20 Questions and Answers
10:45 Closing remarks by Mike Wallace, Director GRI Focal Point USA
11:00 Conclusion
“NYSE Euronext welcomes GRI to the NYSE for its first public meeting in the United States,” said NYSE Euronext Head of Corporate Responsibility Michelle Greene. “NYSE Euronext utilized GRI’s standards for reporting its sustainability performance in 2010, and we are thrilled to partner with GRI to bring together thought leaders to address the importance of sustainability reporting.”
The USA Focal Point event at the NYSE is the first of several GRI events planned for its active users and US network. On February 3rd in Washington, DC, The World Bank will host a breakfast meeting gathering the local sustainability community to discuss the latest trends in ESG disclosure and sustainability reporting; on February 4th in Boston, Ceres, the organization where GRI was born, will host an exclusive roundtable event for sustainability reporters. For more information on these events, please visit www.globalreporting.org.
Press interested in covering the USA Focal Point USA event at the NYSE should contact Judy Shaw, NYSE Media Relations at 212.656.4290 or jshaw@nyx.com.
