A conference at the University on 10 May, examined how good companies are at accounting for their performance on Green, social and ethical issues.

Professor Carol Adam who chaired the conference says: "Accountability of organisations to their stakeholders is of growing importance in all sectors. This conference tackles issues of corporate governance and social, ethical and environmental accountability and highlight the benefits of a greater accountability linked to sound governance structures to both organisations and their stakeholders"

Companies are now recognising that they have to report on more than their financial performance - reporting on social and environmental impact is now attracting increasing importance

But while there are rigorous standards for the reporting of financial results, setting such standards for environmental or social accountability is in its infancy.

Carol Adams is Professor of Accounting at the University of Glasgow and a Member of the Council of the Institute of Social & Ethical AccountAbility. She believes that attitudes are changing so fast that all businesses will very quickly have to adopt new policies on accountability.

Further information for media can be found at

http://www.newsdesk.gla.ac.uk/pressreleases

The conference was sponsored by March, KPMG, and the Institute of Social & Ethical AccountAbility

Media Relations Office (media@gla.ac.uk)

Representatives of the media are welcome to attend.

The full programme is as follows:

09.30 Session One: Linking accountability, governance and performance

Chaired by Professor Carol Adams

Welcome and introduction

Professor Peter Holmes, Vice Principal for Research, GU.

The business case for sustainable development

David Coles, Partner, Sustainability Advisory Services, KPMG.

Business risk management: insurable and uninsurable risk

Paul Search, Marsh

Environmental governance and reducing business risk in Scottish Power

Fred Dinning, Corporate Environment Director, Scottish Power Plc.

11.15 Session Two: Initiatives in accountability and governance

Chaired by David Lockhart, Marsh

Social reporting practice now, key issues and the role of AccountAbility.

Professor Carol Adams, Department of Accounting and Finance, GU, Executive Committee and Council Member, AccountAbility.

The role of government in improving social responsibility and accountability

Fiona McLeod MSP, SNP, Shadow Depute Minister for Transport and the Environment.

Social reporting in the UK - how it has developed

Professor Rob Gray, The Centre for Social and Environmental Accounting Research (CSEAR), Department of Accounting and Finance, GU.

The impact of the company law review

Mark Goyder, Director, the Centre for Tomorrow's Company.

12.30 Lunch

13.45 First Parallel Workshop Sessions

Session one: International risk management and value creation

Dermot Williamson, Department of Accounting and Finance, GU and Paul Search, Consultant, Strategic Risk Consulting, Marsh (Kelvin Gallery)

Session two: The social reporting process and the AA1000 standard

Professor Carol Adams, Council Member, AccountAbility and Mike Peirce, Chief Operations Officer, AccountAbility. (Archives Room)

Session three: Creating Value Through Reporting and Assurance.

Nick Brown, Senior Manager, Sustainability Advisory Services, KPMG and John-Paul Maytum, CIS (Turnbull Room)

Session four: Developing a community investment strategy aligned with corporate values - Samantha Barber, Chief Executive, Scottish Business in the Community and Alistair Arthur, Youth and Voluntary Sector, Quality Scotland. (Robing Room)

15.00 Tea

15.30 Second Parallel Workshop Sessions

Session one: Social audit: a case study

Richard Evans, Director, Ethics etc., and Council Member and Director, AccountAbility, and Professor Rob Gray, The Centre for Social and Environmental Accounting Research, Department of Accounting and Finance, GU. (Robing Room)

Session two: Business ethics

Dr Ken McPhail, Department of Accounting and Finance, GU. (Turnbull Room)

Session three: Incorporating stakeholder dialogue in business sustainability

John Hill, Corporate Sustainable Business Manager, TXU Europe. (Kelvin Gallery)

Session four: The role of financial institutions in improving corporate governance and accountability

Professor John Holland, Department of Accounting and Finance, GU. (Archives Room)

16.45 Closing remarks: Professor Carol Adams and Richard Evans

17.15 Conference closes

For further information contact Prof Carol Adam, 0141 330 6855 email: c.a.adams@accfin.gla.ac.uk

Or University of Glasgow Press Office: 0141 330 3535

ENDS

First published: 9 May 2001