Conference: SDG’s, ESG’s and their impact on the Business World: European and Asian perspectives'

On the 26th December a joint conference was held between PCU and the Taiwan Philanthropic Study Institution, titled "SDG’s, ESG’s and their impact on the Business World: European and Asian perspectives'".

The focus of the conference was: The United Nations (UN) 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) provide a framework for achieving the goals of creating a more equitable world, based on eradicating poverty, creating inclusive societies which thrive in an environment which supports the goals of and lives of all. Business has a key role to play in supporting and enabling the UN’s SDG’s to be pursued and achieved. Through investing according to initiatives such as ESG’s (Environment, Social and Governance), to rethinking and acting sustainably in the everyday operations of a small or large business, there is an opportunity to act as a force for good. Yet despite our globalised world, initiatives and approaches which are taken by businesses often remain opaque or unknown. Therefore, this conference is to act as an opportunity to share good practice by practitioners, academics and other interested parties to share ideas and practice, allowing for dissemination of good practice and approaches which may have more universal application. 

The keynote address was delivered by Dr.Kenji Tanaka from the University of Tokyo, with speakers from Japan, Taiwan, Poland and the Czech Republic. Four PCU lecturers spoke at the event:

Hon. Prof. Stefano Cavagnetto, Ph.D.: The importance of SDG’s and the key role that business needs to play.

David Gannon, DBA: Upskilling our communities - business and their  commitment to building opportunities for all.

Lucie Rivera, DBA: Empowering the disadvantaged: The case of Westfield Chodov, Prague, Czech Republic

Bruce Gahir, DBA: Implications of New Technology on ESG goals.