The World Forum Lille will meet on the 9th, 10th and 11th of October 2008 on the theme « Feed and protect the Earth: the economic players’ responsibility…»
Speakers
Here is the list of speakers of the international meeting on favoring diversity and equality in the workplace of 2007 in Lille :
.
Iran
Peace Nobel Prize 2003
Lawyer and Human Rights activist, Professor Shirin EBADI was the first female judge in Iran. She served as president of the city court of Tehran between 1975 and 1979, and was forced to resign after the 1979 revolution.
Shirin EBADI represents a reformed Islam and argues for a new interpretation of it in the laws which would be in harmony with the human rights, democracy, religious freedom and freedom of speech. She is the founder of the Association for Support of children’s rights in Iran and has been imprisoned because of her political opinions and actions.
Shirin EBADI has written many articles and 14 books focused on human rights.
She is the founder of an organization in Iran that acts in favor of the banishment of land mines. Please note that Iran has 16 million unexploded and armed mines which make it the second larger mine "holder" in the world.
She is also the founder of the "Center for defenders of human rights" in which she takes active part pro bono. Helping the accused political people and supporting financially their relatives if they do end up serving time in prison. Each trimester, a report on the activities of the Center is published for the interest of the public.
Up to now she has received many prizes regarding her work in the field of human rights which the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003 has been the most important one.
In 2006, Dr. Ebadi received from the French President the medal of “Légion d’honneur” with the degree of "Commandeur” one of the most important French distinction.
In 2004, Dr. Ebadi and other women who have won the Nobel Prize created the "Nobel Women Initiative", its head office is in Canada. So far the NWI has had two major international seminars.
.
Great Britain
General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation
British trade unionist born in 1956, Guy RYDER enter the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) in 1988 and became its General Secretary in 1998. In November 2006, the ICFTU, the World Confederation of Labour (WCL) together with eight other national trade union organisations that affiliate to a global body for the first time, merge to create the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). Guy RYDER became the General Secretary of this new organisation which represents 168 million workers through its 306 affiliated organisations within 154 countries and territories. Guy RYDER wants the ITUC to be “the instrument of a new international trade unionism, capable to confront global forces that work against the interests of working people and families"
.
USA
President of "Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the World"
Cheryl WOMACK started her first company at the age of 31. It was an insurance agency specializing in independent truckers, called VCW Inc. Cheryl WOMACK became very successful. She received numerous awards and accolades in recognition of her accomplishments and when she sold her company in 2002, it was valued at $100 million.
Cheryl WOMACK is now the Chairperson of Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the WorldTM, one of the most important feminine business organizations. The Honorees that comprise this group collectively employ more than 540 000 people around the world.
.
China
Managing Editor of the business magazine CAIJING
Considered by the « Wall Street Journal » as “the leading financial publication in China”, the business magazine “Caijing” is also known for its independence. WANG Shuo, who participated in its creation in 1998, is today the managing editor of this magazine. The Tallberg Forum in Sweden also selected him as "the Leader of Next Generation".
.
Brasil
General Director of the disabled people department of the Minas Gerais government
Member of the national council for the rights of disabled people in Brazil for two years, Flavio DE OLIVEIRA is today the President of this council in the state of Minas Gerais, in Belo Horizonte. He is also General Director of the disabled people department of the Minas Gerais government.
Flavio DE OLIVEIRA is teaching Social and Environmental Responsibility in the University of Minas Gerais. He is also member of the expert team of the ETHOS Institute, a Brazilian non profit organisation which encourages and helps companies to manage their business in a socially responsible way.
.
France
CEO of the Vigeo group (the first European social responsability rating agency)
Nicole NOTAT was the first woman to be head of a Trade Union Confederation in France – the CFDT from 1992 to 2002. She was also president of the Unedic – the unemployment insurance agency – from 1992 to 1994 and 1996 to 1998. She created and became the CEO of the Vigeo group in July 2002. The Vigeo Group assesses both the performance of companies and organisations and their level of CSR management. It is also specialised in Social Responsibility audits. « The first reaction of companies which address the question of Sustainable Development is to talk about cost” says Nicole Notat. “But the cost of negligence in this field is with no doubt higher than the cost of commitment”
.
Luxembourg
President of the Societal Movement Institute in Luxembourg
Daxia-BIL Director
Member of Daxia International executive committee in charge of the human resources in Luxembourg, Christian Scharff was elected “Human Resources Manager of the year 2005”. He became President of the Societal Movement Institute in Luxembourg in April 20th , 2007. The Institute was founded by 6 companies involved in Social and Environmental Responsibility policies in Luxembourg : Arcelor Mittal, AXA, DEXIA-BIL, KNEIP, Noble & Scheidecker et PricehouseCoopers. Strongly involved in the issue of equal opportunity in the workplace, Christian SCHARFF received, with Daxia Luxembourg, the Women’s Prize of the government of Luxembourg in 2005, rewarding the most active company in the field of promotion of Women.
.
Belgium
Coordinator of the European Network for Responsible Consumption
After a « classical » beginning of career in a multinational, Vincent COMMENNE was for 5 years responsible for TRIODOS, an ethical bank in French-speaking Belgium. He is today coordinator of the European Network for Responsible consumption, composed of individuals and 60 organisations committed in Sustainable Development, Fair Trade, Social Justice and Ethical Funding. Vincent COMMENNE is also leading a research group on Social Responsibility of the companies, working on the 5 continents.
.
France
CEO of SIEMENS - France
The Siemens-France group employs over 12 000 people in its high technology activities (automation, energy, medical field, transport, telecommunication, lighting). Philippe CARLI has been its Managing Director since 2003. Trained as an engineer (SUPELEC), holding a Masters in Physics, Philippe CARLI has completed his cursus with a General Management Award from la Fuqua School of Business at Duke University (USA). He is also President of the Franco-German Chamber of commerce and Industry.
.
South Africa
President of the International Society of Business, Ethics and Economics
President of the International Society of Business, Ethics and Economics, Deon ROSSOUW is also the founder of the Business Ethics Network in Africa (BEN-Africa). Business Ethics specialist, he wrote several books on that theme and delivers training sessions for South African companies. Deon ROSSOUW is also Head of the Philosophy department at the University of Pretoria
.
France
Human Resources manager Deloitte EMEA
After holding various positions for El Paso Natural Gas, L’Oréal and McKinsey, Hélène RATTE joined Deloitte, a world leader in Audit and professional services, in 1992. She became partner in 1994 and has, since 1998, been Human Resources manager EMEA (Europe, Middle East – Africa). Hélène RATTE is also responsible for the “Women in the workforce” program.
.
- Nicolas de MALEZIEUX, Fonds Amazon, AMM Finances (Switzerland)
.
- Sophia ECONOMACOS, President of The Chamber of Tradesmaen of Athens, president of the Eurochambers Women Network (Greece)
.
- Françoise FONING, President of Femmes Chefs d’Entreprises Mondiales, African Manager of the year 2004 (Cameroon)
.
- Arije AL-AMAD, CEO of Microfund for Woman (Jordan)
.
- Michael HARADOM, Chairman and CEO of Fersol (Brazil)
.
- Werner DE PRINS, Executive Board President of Bayer Schering Pharma (Belgium)
.
- Arnaud MULLIEZ, Chariman of Auchan-France, president of the Competitiveness Cluster of Trade Industries (France)
.
- Lucien LESAFFRE, Chairman and CEO of the Lesaffre Group (France)
.
- Annette KLEINFELD, Member of the Board of the European Business Ethics Network (EBEN) (Germany)
.
- Sergio MAURO de SOUZA FILHO SANTOS, Manager, Ethos Institut (Brazil)
.
- Luc VAN LIEDEKERKE, President of the European Business Ethics Network (Belgium)
.
- Joao RIBAS, Head of the department of disabled persons of Serasa (Brazil)
.
- Lassaad EL BEJI, Président of the International Association of Crafts and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (Tunisia)
.
- Brian NOSEK, Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Virginia (USA)
.
- François FATOUX, General Manager, of the Observatoire Responsabilité Sociétale de Entreprises (France)
.
- Nathalie MALIGE, Chairman and CEO of Diverseo (France)
.
- Pierre BISMUTH, Schlumberger Chairman Advisor (France)
.
- Michel de KEMMETER, directeur d'entreprise, formateur, auteur de "La valeur du temps" (Belgium)
.
- Benoît PROOT, Manager of Reprobel (Belgium)
.
- Prem K THOMAS, Chief Human Resources Manager, Blue Dart Aviation Ltd (India)
.
- Juliet BOURKE, Aequus, partner (Australia)
.
- Emma Stringfellow, chercheur, Université de Warwick (Grande-Bretagne)
.
- Sylviane BALUSTRE D’ERNEVILLE, Head of Diversity department, L’Oréal Group (France)
.
- Taran PATEL, Professor, Management and Organisation Department, ESC Rennes School of Business, Head, of Center for Responsible Business Program Manager, MSc in Managing Diversity (India)
.
- Geert DEMUIJNCK, Professor, Head of the Unit Research “Centre de recherché en Ethique Economique” at the Catholic University of Lille (France)
.
- ...