7th International Conference on Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility

<strong>7th</strong> 

internAtionAl conFerence 

on corporAte sustAinAbility 

And responsibility 

CSR IN AN AgE OF DIgITIzATION 

humboldt-Universität zu Berlin | September 14–16 | 2016

september 14–16 | 2016 

hUmBOLDT-UNIvERSITäT zU BERLIN 2 

THe cSR cOnfeRence 

SERIES AT hUmBOLDT-UNIvERSITäT zU BERLIN 

JoAchim schwAlbAch 

<strong>Conference</strong> Chair, Professor emer. 

of <strong>International</strong> Management 

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin 

the Advisory committee: 

Tima Bansal 

Ivey Business School, 

network for Business Sustainability 

Archie Carroll 

Georgia University | First awardee of the 

lifetime achievement CSr award 2012 

Edward Freeman 

University of Virginia | awardee of the 

lifetime achievement CSr award 2014 

georg kell 

Vice Chairman of arabesque Partners, 

Founding Executive director of 

the Un Global Compact 

gerhard Prätorius 

University of Braunschweig 

and Volkswagen aG 

michael Spence 

nobel Prize in Economic 

Sciences 2001 

Simon zadek 

Founder of accountability 

welcome to this year’s csr conference 

at humboldt-universität zu berlin, 

The series of cSR conferences has established itself as the 

world’s premier international forum for exploring the global 

themes of corporate sustainability and responsibility in all 

their manifold dimensions. every two years, more than 

500 leading academics, executives, policy makers, and 

representatives from civil society organizations from around 

the world have been meeting in berlin to debate key questions 

from a diverse range of cultural perspectives and professional 

viewpoints. 

The conference will focus on »corporate Sustainability and 

Responsibility in an Age of Digitization« by exploring how 

digitization will change the way how companies do business, 

involve their stakeholders, and contribute to societies’ 

wellbeing. 

committed to a digitized world, this year’s cSR conference 

app gives access to more information than any printed 

material. The app is available before, during, and after the 

conference. 

Looking forward to seeing you in berlin at the conference.

CSR IN AN AGE OF DIGITIZATION 

7 th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY 

3 

The TOPIC 

Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility 

in an Age of Digitization 

This year’s conference will focus on exploring how digitization will change the way companies do 

business, involve their stakeholders, and contribute to societies’ wellbeing, taking in consideration 

that technology innovations empower individuals and organizations. 

The 7 th CSR <strong>Conference</strong> offers leading industry players, top academics, engaged activists, 

committed CSOs, and key decision makers a unique interdisciplinary platform toward finding 

sustainable solutions. Across Plenary Sessions and many Breakout Sessions, a variety of 

interrelated topics of current relevance will be presented and discussed: 

• Innovations in Sustainable Development 

• Circular Economy 

• Innovative Philanthropy and Impact Investing 

• ICT Solutions for the 21 st Century Challenges 

• Aligning the Financial System for Sustainable Development 

»A big and very exciting issue!« 

Georg Kell (Vice Chairman of Arabesque Partners and former founding Executive Director of the 

United Nations Global Compact) 

»Digitalization is changing the world. We have to rethink our basic ideas 

about business, ethics, privacy, and social responsibility. We need to have 

that conversation now.« 

Edward Freeman (Professor of Business Administration at the Darden School of Business at the 

University of Virginia) 

»Digitization can make CSR initiatives much more effective and failure 

to embrace it will reduce the still tenuous role of CSR despite all of the 

current rhetoric supporting it.« 

Robert Eccles (Professor of Management Practice at Harvard Business School and representing 

IIRC – <strong>International</strong> Integrated Reporting Council and SASB – Sustainability Accounting Standard Board) 

»Recent developments mean that the way we communicate CSR efforts 

will inevitably have to change.« 

Richard Welford (Founder and Chairman of CSR Asia)

September 14–16 | 2016 

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin 4 

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS 

Tuesday, September 13, 2016 | Doctoral Workshop – SUPPORTED by 

see page 7 

Wednesday, September 14, 2016 | Program Structure 1 st Day 

Opening Session by Joachim Schwalbach 

Plenary Session 1: Keynote Speeches CSR & Digitization 

»Constant connectivity, social media, big data, and global access to information about just about everything are changing the way that companies operate in 

significant and mostly undetermined ways.« Sandra Waddock 

Keynote Speakers: Timotheus Höttges (Chief Executive Officer, Deutsche Telekom AG), Georg Kell (Vice Chairman of Arabesque Partners and 

former founding Executive Director of the United Nations Global Compact), David Kiron (MIT and Executive Editor MIT Sloan Management Review’s Big 

Ideas Initiatives) 

Plenary Session 2: Executive Panel CSR & Digitization 

»The CSR agenda has evolved over the past two decades. What used to be a moral call is increasingly a material imperative. The most powerful force that is 

shaping this transformation is technology and digital empowerment.« Georg Kell 

Panelists: Jørgen Abild Andersen (Director General Telecom-rtd.-, Chairman of OECD‘s Committee on Digital Economy Policy (CDEP), Ministry 

of Business and Growth, Danish Business Authority), Edward Freeman (Professor of Business Administration at the Darden School of Business at 

the University of Virginia), Georg Kell (Vice Chairman of Arabesque Partners and former founding Executive Director of the United Nations Global), 

David Kiron (MIT and Executive Editor of MIT Sloan Management Review‘s Big Ideas Initiatives), Kay Oberbeck (Director Communications & Public 

Affairs at Google North Europe) 

Plenary Session 3: Panel Discussion Digital Accountability 

»The CSR community, on both the company and investor side, has been relatively absent in digitization. This must change. Digitization can make CSR 

initiatives much more effective and failure to embrace it will reduce the still-tenuous role of CSR despite all of the current rhetoric supporting it.« 

Robert Eccles 

Keynote Speaker: Robert Eccles (Professor of Management Practice at Harvard Business School and representing IIRC – <strong>International</strong> Integrated 

Reporting Council and SASB – Sustainability Accounting Standard Board) 

Panelists: Bastian Buck (Director GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards and Digital Reporting Alliance), Filip Gregor (Head of the Responsible 

Companies Section at Frank Bold, London), Vishal Kapadia (Executive Director, WikiRate), Daniel Schmid (Chief Sustainability Officer, SAP SE), 

Karenina Schröder (Executive Director, INGO Accountability Charter, <strong>International</strong> Civil Society Centre) 

Plenary Session 4: Panel Discussion ICT Solutions for the 21 st Century Challenges 

»In a rapidly-growing information society, technology can represent at the same time a challenge and an opportunity. GeSI is committed to supporting its 

members in their own CSR practices, and to raising awareness of the great contribution that ICT can give to the improvement of social and environmental 

sustainability.« Luis Neves 

Keynote Speaker: Luis Neves (Chairman of the Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI), and Climate Change and Sustainability Officer, 

Executive Vice President at the Deutsche Telekom Group) 

Panelists: Philipp Buddemeier (Accenture Strategy – sustainability services), Carlo Jäger (President Global Climate Forum) tbc, 

Sabine Nallinger (Board member of the 2 Grad Foundation) tbc, Nick Nuttall (Spokesperson and Director of Communications and Outreach, 

UN Framework Convention on Climate Change), James Robey (CapGemini) 

Lifetime Achievement CSR Award 2016 

»In an era in which large system change is needed to ensure sustainability, social justice, and dignity for humanity and its enterprises, where transparency is 

ubiquitous whether it is desired or not, companies and the rest of us need to pay attention to what we are doing and how we are doing it.« Sandra 

Waddock 

Honoree: Sandra Waddock (Galligan Chair of Strategy, Carroll School Scholar of Corporate Responsibility, Carroll School of Management, Boston 

College) 

Laudator: Steve Waddell (Principal of Networking Action: Organizing for the 21 st Century)



5 

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS 

Thursday, September 15, 2016 | Program Structure 2 nd Day 

Plenary Session 5: Panel Discussion Innovations in Sustainable Development 

»Recent developments mean that the way we communicate CSR efforts will inevitably have to change. In an age where people read print 

less and consume more information through mobile devices we are going to have to find new ways to get our messages across.« 

Richard Welford 

Keynote Speaker: Richard Welford (Founder and Chairman of CSR Asia) 

Panelists: Rika Jean-François (Corporate Social Responsibility Commissioner at ITB Berlin), Richard Karmel (Business and Human Rights 

Partner, Mazars LLP, London), David Nabarro (Special Adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the 2030 Agenda for 

Sustainable Development (via video)), Shankar Venkateswaran (Chief of Tata Sustainability Group, India), N.N. (Microsoft) 

Plenary Session 6: Panel Discussion Aligning the Financial System for Sustainable Development 

»We don’t know enough, yet, about the opportunities and risks brought about by the collision of sustainability and big data.« 

David Kiron 

Keynote Speaker: Simon Zadek (Co-Director of the UNEP Inquiry into the Design of a Sustainable Financial System) 

Panelists: Christophe Nijdam (Secretary General at Finance Watch), Ingo Speich (Portfolio Manager Stocks at Union Investment), 

Steve Waddell (Principal of Networking Action: Organizing for the 21 st Century), Karen Wendt (Editor at Responsible Investment Banking) 

Plenary Session 7: Panel Discussion Innovative Philanthropy and Impact Investing 

»Constant connectivity, social media, big data, and global access to information about just about everything are changing the way 

that companies operate in significant and mostly undetermined ways.« Sandra Waddock 

Keynote Speaker: Lisa Hehenberger (Professor at ESADE Business School, former Director of European Venture Philanthropy Association (EVPA)) 

Panelists: Stephen Brenninkmeijer (Willows Investments), Kärim Chatti (Market Head Germany / Austria at ResponsAbility Investments), 

Johanna Mair (Professor of Organization, Strategy and Leadership at Hertie School of Governance), Thimo V. Schmitt-Lord (Head Foundations & 

Donations, Bayer Foundations), Ingo Weber (Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN)) 

Plenary Session 8: Panel Discussion Circular Economy 

»Whereas CSR has been an important trend in the corporate community for over two decades, digitization is a more recent one. However, it is one that is 

rapidly gaining speed and impact, affecting business processes from manufacturing and marketing to stakeholder engagement and corporate reporting.« 

Robert Eccles 

Keynote Speaker: Peter Lacy (Global Managing Director for Strategy and Sustainability Services at Accenture) 

Panelists: CB Bhattacharya (Pietro Ferrero Chair in Sustainability, Director Center for Sustainable Business, ESMT Berlin), 

Hendrik Heuermann (Sustainability Manager at H&M) 

The Program Committee: 

Joachim Schwalbach (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Chairman), Timothy Devinney (Leeds University Business School), Robert Eccles 

(Harvard Business School), Wanjun Jiang (Peking University Business School), Sarah Jastram (HSBA Hamburg School of Business Administration), 

Anja Schwerk (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin), Kanji Tanimoto (Waseda University, Tokyo)

September 14–16 | 2016 


BREAKOUT SESSIONS 

Friday, September 16, 2016 | Program Structure 3 rd Day 

There will be about 30 breakout sessions. An excerpt is presented below. 

Blockchain for Good: Distributed Ledger Technologies and the CSR Agenda 

Organized by Richard Adams (Surrey Center for the Digital Economy at University of Surrey) 

Digital Communication and Responsibility 

Organized by Gabriele Faber-Wiener (Founder and Partner of the Center for Responsible Management in Vienna) 

Digital Transformation – Implications for the CSR Manager 

Organized by Thomas Melde (Managing Partner at akzente) 

Sharing Economy 

Co-organized with Giana Eckhardt (Professor of Marketing at Royal Holloway University of London) 

Russell Belk (Professor of Marketing Kraft Foods Canada Chair in Marketing at Schulich School of Business at 

York University) 

Sustainable Economy in an Age of Digitization 

organized by Peter Seele (Università della Svizzera italiana in Lugano, Switzerland) 

Promoting CSR among SMEs in North Rhine-Westphalia 

Panel Discussion organized by Thomas Hajduk (Ministry of Economic Affairs of North Rhine-Westphalia) 

Digitalisation as an Opportunity for Companies to show more Civic Engagement? 

Organized by Anael Labigne (Stifterverband) and Peter Kusterer (IBM) 

SMS Extension Workshop on Strategic Social Responsibility: Multi -Disciplinary 

Perspectives 

Organized by Timothy Devinney (Leeds University Business School) and Joachim Schwalbach 

(Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin) as part of the Strategic Management Society Meeting, Berlin, 

September 16–20, 2016.



7 

Doctoral Workshop 

Tuesday, September 13, 2016 | Doctoral Workshop – supported by 

The doctoral workshop will take place preceding the 7 th 

<strong>International</strong> CSR <strong>Conference</strong> at the Humboldt-Universität 

zu Berlin and in collaboration with the HSBA Hamburg 

School of Business Administration. 

The doctoral workshop will particularly address interdisciplinary 

research in the fields of sustainability and CSR in a globalized 

context. PhD candidates from social sciences, law, business 

sciences and economics as well as from natural sciences and 

engineering are to engage in a dialogue on solutions for global 

challenges of sustainability and CSR. 

The doctoral workshop was inaugurated in 2010 and has been 

attracting more than 50 participants from various international 

backgrounds. 

The workshop offers PhD candidates a unique possibility to 

present and discuss their research projects in an inspiring 

academic community of both fellow PhD students and 

experienced researchers. A friendly and supportive atmosphere 

will allow students to improve their academic skills and abilities 

as well as to connect with international PhD colleagues and 

faculty members. 

An additional highlight of the workshop will be a session on 

publishing strategies, held by Timothy Devinney, former chair 

of the <strong>International</strong> Management Division of the Academy 

of Management, past co-editor of Academy of Management 

Perspectives, and co-editor of Advances in <strong>International</strong> 

Management and Annals in Social Responsibility. 

Scientific Committee 

Carol Adams (Durham University Business School) 

Timothy Devinney (University of Leeds Business School) 

Edward Freeman (Darden School of Business at the 

University of Virginia) 

Sarah Jastram (HSBA Hamburg School of Business 

Administration) 

Wanjun Jiang (Peking University) 

Joachim Schwalbach (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin | 

Chairman) 

Kanji Tanimoto (Waseda University, Tokyo) 

Sandra Waddock (Carroll School of Management at 

Boston College)

september 14–16 | 2016 

hUmBOLDT-UNIvERSITäT zU BERLIN 8 

PRevIOuS cOnfeRenceS 

FACTS AND FIgURES 

previous conFerences 

Inaugurated in 2004 as »a platform for multi-stakeholder 

dialogue«, the Humboldt cSR conference Series has attained a 

remarkable degree of international relevance in a short period 

of time. Its stature is refl ected not only in the sustained rise in 

delegate numbers, but also – most importantly – in the scope 

and caliber of its participants. Leading academics, executives, 

policy makers, activists, and educators from around the globe 

now place the biennial cSR conference on their agenda. 

previous Keynote speAKers (selection) 

distribution 

of 500 – 600 participants(in percent) 

CoMPanY MEMBErS 32% 

PrESS 5% 

GoV. 4% 

CIVIl SoCIETY 15% 

SCIEnTISTS and STUdEnTS 44% 

JAGDISH BHAGwAtI (Columbia University, Economics department) 

PEtER EIGEN (Chairman Extractive Transparency Initiative and 

Founder of Transparency <strong>International</strong>) 

PIEtRA RIVolI (Georgetown University) 

JoHN ElKINGtoN (Sustainability and Volans Ventures) 

MICHAEl SPENCE (nobel laureate in Economic Sciences) 

»This CSR conference is one of the finest. The international diversity of papers and perspectives really 

challenges and changes one’s point of view. I strongly encourage anyone serious about CSR to attend 

this conference.« 

tIMA BANSAl (Ivey Business School, Canada research Chair in Business Sustainability) 

»Thanks again for a great conference and a wonderful honor. I can’t thank you enough for the wonderful 

honor you paid to me. It was a real highlight of my scholarly and personal life.« 

EDwARD FREEMAN (darden School of Business at the University of Virginia and recipient of the lifetime achievement CSr award 2014) 

»Thanks so much again for the most amazing experience at the conference. It was such a delight to 

meet so many like-minded people and so many people who care deeply about such an important topic.« 

lESlIE GAINES-RoSS (Chief reputation Strategist | Weber Shandwick, new York University of Surrey) 

Selection of partners from previous conferences



9 

APP 

Make the most out of this year’s conference in a digitized world! 

The CSR <strong>Conference</strong> App 2016 helps to navigate the three-day 

program and enhance the conference experience. We are 

committed to having as little paper waste as possible at the 

conference. That is why we have chosen this sophisticated app, 

which can make more information available than any printed 

material could. The app is accessible before, during, and after 

the conference. The app can also be used in offline mode. 

It is all on one app 

• View all conference information on the app. 

• Learn about speakers, attendees, and partners. 

• Create and view a personal schedule. 

• Submit questions during sessions. 

Speakers can reply immediately. 

• Submit responses in live polling and surveys. 

• Take notes on sessions, people, and companies. 

Email notes. 

• Edit profiles and link them to social media accounts 

(Facebook, LinkedIn, Xing, and Twitter) and 

webpages. 

• Chat with other attendees in private chat rooms. 

• Upload and view documents and presentations 

before, during, and after the event. 

• Locate sessions and exhibitor booths with ease. 

• Stay up to date with event announcements. 

Share the conference experience by posting photos and 

comments on the social wall using the conference hashtag 

#CSRHUBerlin or by including following Twitter handle in your 

Tweets: @CSRHUBerlin. 

We have an app support team that can help edit profiles and 

will encourage attendees to engage on the conference app. 

Download the CSR <strong>Conference</strong> App by going to your app store 

and search for »CSR HU 2016« or go to www.eventmobi.com/ 

csrhu2016. 

Legal attribution: Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Mac App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. © 2015 BlackBerry Limited. Trademarks, 

including but not limited to BlackBerry, Emblem Design, BBM and BES are the trademarks or registered trademarks of BlackBerry Limited, the exclusive rights to which are expressly reserved. Android, 

Google Play, and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc. Microsoft is a trademark of the Microsoft group of companies.

September 14–16 | 2016 


PARTNERSHIP 

BENEFIT FROM REPUTATION 

Be connected with one of the biggest and best-known CSR 

conferences worldwide. The CSR <strong>Conference</strong> Series at Humboldt- 

Universität zu Berlin has established itself as the world’s premier 

international forum for exploring the global themes of CSR in all 

its manifold dimensions. Reach an expected target audience of 

about 500 attendees. Profit from the diverse and international 

audience. Leading academics, executives, policy makers, 

representatives from civil society organizations, and activists 

discuss and explore the importance of CSR issues. 

Benefit from the stellar reputation of Humboldt-Universität zu 

Berlin. The Humboldt-Universität is a »University of Excellence« 

– one of only eleven German universities to garner this title. In 

an international comparison, Humboldt-Universität ranks among 

the top five German universities. The university is home to 

29 Nobel Prize winners. 

CONNECT WITH CSR EXPERTS 

Demonstrate your organization’s commitment to sustainability 

and corporate responsibility to the worldwide community. Through 

social media, the conference app, and direct interaction with 

attendees your company has the tools to educate, entertain, 

and engage with an inquisitive audience on what your company 

is doing to make a difference in corporate sustainability and 

responsibility in a digitized world. 

PROFIT FROM THIS YEAR’S CONFERENCE APP 

The CSR <strong>Conference</strong> App 2016 enables you to communicate 

with and entertain attendees with ease. Turn standard static ads 

into interactive experiences, using a variety of options. Powerful 

sponsorship opportunities lie not only in great exposure areas, 

like banner ads and partnership listings, but in engagement 

features, like group messaging and surveys. You will be engaging 

attendees before, during, and after this year’s conference. 

From our experiences of previous conferences, we estimate that 

over 80% of our attendees will use the conference app. Our 

conference app is available for download and as an online 

web page on all electronic devices (laptop, computer, tablet, 

and smartphone). 

With a global visitorship at the world’s most established 

international CSR forum this September, CSR <strong>Conference</strong> 2016 

will be the ultimate platform for your company to reach a 

dedicated audience of leading industry players, top academics, 

engaged activists, committed CSOs, and key decision makers. 

Besides using modules for your company exposure and 

engagement, you can open up job opportunities to the most 

talented students. 

Choose from a comprehensive range of sponsorship 

opportunities designed to suit all your goals. 

Adding value to the CSR <strong>Conference</strong> experience will not only 

showcase the authenticity of your company’s commitment, 

but will result in great recognition.



11 

PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES 

For detailed information please go to www.csr-hu-berlin.org/partners 

SHINE LIKE A STAR AND 

ACHIEVE THE MOST 

Platinum (min. €50,000, 

up to two available) 

Have your company profile linked directly 

on the home screen, provide staff with 

in-app private chat with attendees, and 

have rotating banner ads appear frequently 

throughout the app. Platinum Partnership 

delivers highest visibility and provides 

seamless promotion. Be at top of the list 

of our partners. Expose your company and 

engage with all attendees. 

• Opportunity to address the conference 

for a few minutes. 

• Entitlement to organize a press 

conference during the conference at 

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. 

• Five complimentary attendee passes 

(any further passes at 20% discount off 

the applicable full conference registration 

fee) and access to attendee profiles on 

the conference app, allowing in-app 

private chats. 

• Opportunity to distribute your brochure 

and gifts to be included in the attendee 

welcome package that is distributed 

to participants upon registration. 

• Dedicated thanks during the opening 

conference session. 

• Company logo exposure on all printed 

material, in newsletters, on the 

homepage, and on the conference app. 

• Your company profile will appear on the 

homepage and on the conference app. 

• Send group messages to selected 

groups and create a poll. 

• Access to selected information gained 

on the conference app. 

HONE IN ON YOUR 

TARGET AUDIENCE 

Gold (min. €30,000, 

up to four available) 

Have your company profile on the app and 

homepage, your company logo on the map, 

and send a group message. 

• Three complimentary attendee passes 

(any further passes at 20% discount off 

the applicable full conference registration 

fee). 


and gifts to be included in the attendee 

welcome package that is distributed to 

participants upon registration. 




material, in newsletters, on the 

homepage, and on the conference app. 


homepage and on the conference app. 

• Send one group message to a selected 

group. 

MAKE A SPLASH 

Silver (up to €15,000) 

Expose your company logo and exhibit 

your company profile on the app and 

homepage. 

• Two complimentary attendee passes. 


in the attendee welcome package that 

is distributed to participants upon 

registration. 




material, the homepage, and the 

conference app. 


homepage and on the conference app.

Humboldt-universität zu berlin 

Prof. emer. Dr. Joachim Schwalbach 

unter den Linden 6 

10099 berlin | Germany 

email: info@csr-hu-berlin.org 

Telephone: +49-30-2093-99410 

www.csr-hu-berlin.org 

follow us on Twitter (www.twitter.com/cSRHuberlin), 

facebook (www.facebook.com/csrhuberlin) 

LinkedIn and Xing. 

Imprint 

Publisher: Humboldt-universität zu berlin 

Prof. emer. Dr. Joachim Schwalbach 

Design: ultramarinrot 

Print: Druckerei Humboldt-universität zu berlin 

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