BITC's CR Index endorsed by Australian Prime Minister as part of a three year funding programme

Kevin Rudd, The Prime Minister of Australia announced funding for St James Ethics Centre, an associate partner of BITC and member of the Global Partner Network. He was speaking at the 9th National Business Leaders Forum on Sustainable Development in Parliament House, Canberra on 19 May at the 5th Corporate Responsibility Index (CRI) Awards dinner.

I am delighted to see the Australian Government Commitment to the CR Index and the funding given is such a tribute to the St James Ethics Centre who have produced such a track record of results and rigour.

Julia Cleverdon, Vice President of Business in the Community, was present at the dinner and heard an address by the Prime Minister on sustainability, climate change and Australia’s role in global solutions.  The Prime Minister pledged funding for BITC’s Global Partner to undertake a three year project expanding business practice nationally.

The St James Ethics Centre is a fully independent not-for-profit organisation, uniquely placed within Australia to deliver the goals of the project due to strong international links with key players in corporate responsibility and sustainability, including its trusteeship of BITC's Corporate Responsibility Index (CRI) and its longstanding partnership with the National Business Leaders Forum.

The Global Partner Network is a worldwide network of 120 not-for-profit organisations in 70 countries who share a common mission. The Network is supported and convened by BITC, and is committed to promoting Corporate Citizenship, Corporate Community Investment and the wider framework of Corporate Social Responsibility.

Project work already underway by the St James Ethics Centre includes: 

•  The CRI Leaders Network – (currently comprising ANZ, BHP Billiton, Toyota and Westpac) to work with the Centre to achieve the goals of the project and to drive the uptake of responsible business practice nationally.
• The first stage of national research on Responsible Business Practice in Small to Medium Enterprises (conducted by the Allen Research Group) and reported at the 9th National Business Leaders Forum on Sustainable Development in Canberra.  The first stage of the research will be released along with outcomes from the Forum on May 22 and will serve to inform a more detailed and applied project into the future.

Julia Cleverdon helps BITC’s partner organisation ‘Melbourne Cares’ to promote responsible business in Australia

Julia Cleverdon, Vice President of Business in the Community, speaks today on responsible business at Hilton on the Park in Melbourne, Australia. Melbourne Cares has arranged a lunch where Julia will reach Australia’s senior business leaders. Guests will also hear from Simon McKeon, Executive Chairman of Macquarie Capital Advisers, whose foundation sponsors the GPN and Amanda Brook, General Manager, Strategic Marketing, Sensis.

To see more about what Business in the Community is doing with the CR Index go to;