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Author: Lorena

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon to Attend Award Ceremony

 Wednesday, 24 April 2019 10:37

Photo: Jørgen Gomnæs / The Royal Court of Norway

Business for Peace is proud to announce that His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon will attend this year’s Oslo Business for Peace Award Ceremony on May 15 at Oslo City Hall. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon has previously attended Business for Peace events and we are honoured to welcome him back again this year.

The Award Ceremony is the highlight of the annual Business for Peace Summit, celebrating the Oslo Business for Peace Award Honourees. This year’s Honourees are: Dr Agbor Ashumanyi Ako, co-founder of GiftedMom, Alice Laugher, CEO of CTG (Committed to Good) and Hamdi Ulukaya, founder and CEO of  Chobani.

Achim Steiner, Administator of United Nations Development Programme, will give the annual State of the Union Address on the relationship between business and society. Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Ouided Bouchamaoui will present the 2019 Award on behalf of the Award Committee. Governing Mayor of Oslo, Raymond Johansen, will offer welcoming remarks.

The Award Ceremony will take place on May 15 at 17:00 in Oslo City Hall. The public is invited to attend but advance registration is required as space is limited. Register here. 

#Future of Talks: The Future of Work

Thursday, 04 April 2019 10:54

At the beginning of 2019, Business for Peace launched an afterwork series with MESH in Oslo. Following our first three events, The Future of Cities, The Future of Climate Leadership, and The Future of Business Leadership, we’re back with our fourth afterwork talk, The Future of Work. Given that the fourth industrial revolution is set to disrupt labour markets worldwide, our timely, expert-led conversation will centre on the impacts a shifting status quo will have on Milllenials and future generations when value-based jobs and flexibility usurp traditional workplace culture.

As new categories of jobs emerge and disappear, how are businesses adapting? With changing socio-economic and demographic factors, what responsibility do companies have to their employees and to society? And just how much will the Millennial mindset change the world?

Join us April 24 to hear talks  from each of our guest speakers: 

  • Kristine Beitland, Director of Corporate Affairs at Microsoft Norway
  • Jannik Woxholth, Associate Partner at McKinsey & Company
  • Christian Pagh, Co-founder and Culture Director of Urgent.Agency. 

Stay for a discussion and Q&A conducted by our moderator, Lisa Cooper, Founder and CEO of Catalysts and Leadership Foundation.

Schedule

Each speaker will give a brief talk, followed by a Q&A. The bar will be open for mingling afterwards too. If you are not in Oslo, stay tuned to our livestream and engage with out social media channels for live updates from the event.

17:00-18:00         Doors open, come mingle and get settled

18:00-19:00         Talk and discussion

19:00-late           Stay for a drink and continue the conversation

Location:            MESH, Tordenskiolds gate, 0160 Oslo

 

The event is free to attend, but please RSVP on Eventbrite to let us know you will be joining us

**Update: This event is fully booked. If you didn’t get a ticket, you can come to MESH at 17:30 and we’ll place you on a waitlist. You’ll be let in at 18:00, if space permits.

If you’d like to follow along via live stream, you can do so here: https://livestream.com/accounts/3722443/events/8651998

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 4th, 2019 at 10:54. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

Announcing the 2019 Oslo Business for Peace Award Recipients

 Wednesday, 20 March 2019 10:22

The 2019 Business for Peace Honourees who are delivering opportunities for women, minorities and diverse and disadvantaged groups

The Oslo Business for Peace Award is given to inspiring business leaders around the globe who have accomplished extraordinary things. The award honours ambassadors of businessworthy values, who are shaping society for the better.

The 2019 recipients are: Dr Agbor  Ashumanyi  Ako, co-founder of GiftedMom, Alice Laugher, the CEO of CTG (Committed  to Good) and Hamdi  Ulukaya, the founder and CEO of  Chobani.

These three leaders are at the helm of companies which have a broader view than just the bottom line and see business as a tool for change. As individuals, they look at the world around them and work to improve it.

“The 2019 Honourees have managed to create enterprises with a significant social impact, exemplifying outstanding business contributions to society. In a world of imbalance, they have taken the initiative to establish and grow businesses that offer opportunities to women, minorities, diverse and disadvantaged groups”, comments Business for Peace Founder, Per L. Saxegaard. “These three celebrated individuals have worked tirelessly to counteract inequalities, encouraging inclusion and democratising access to health, aid, and work. Through their businesses, they promote human rights, contribute to sustaining peace and help build environments in which human potential can flourish.”

Dr  Agbor Ashumanyi  Ako

Agbor  Ashumanyi  Ako is one of the co-founders of  GiftedMom, a digital health platform based in Cameroon that gives pregnant women and mothers across Africa access to vital health information and care.

As a digital-first platform, GiftedMom is able to expand faster than traditional health care systems and the start-up aims to reach 10 million women in the next 10 years. Started by Alain Nteff and Doctor Tankou Conrad in 2012, the platform now has over 170,000 users. 

The award-winning app has significantly improved both pregnancy check-up attendance and vaccination turnouts, with an ultimate goal to see a world free of preventable maternal and infant deaths.

Dr Agbor enthuses, “This recognition is a symbol to show that there is progress in the right direction for the company GiftedMom. It comes as a reminder of the mission ahead. Being nominated by experts from the United Nations Development Programme Business Call to Action community and selected by former Nobel Peace Prize laureates is an indication of how the work GiftedMom is doing provides a global solution to help solve today’s challenges.”

Alice Laugher

Alice Laugher is the CEO of CTG,  Committed  to Good, which provides employment and logistics services to development and relief programmes in fragile and conflict-affected countries. From running Ebola treatment clinics in Liberia, to food distribution in Afghanistan and South Sudan, monitoring and assisting refugees in Libya, and rebuilding government constitution in Somalia, the work of CTG is as diverse as our world’s issues.

 

British-born Laugher is a vocal   advocate for the Sustainable Development Agenda, with a particular focus on gender equality. She is passionate about CTG being a force for good and creating economic opportunities for women in war-torn regions through CTG’s initiative Female First, which pledges that 30% of project-related roles are represented by women by 2030. She explains: “At CTG, we’ve made empowering women through humanitarian employment in conflict-affected regions our focus. This award, this incredible recognition for our commitment, strengthens our determinations that we are moving in the right direction. I hope it will inspire business leaders, both women and men, to believe that their commitments to change and peace – no matter how small or large in scale – are the only way forward.”

Hamdi Ulukaya

Hamdi  Ulukaya  is the founder and CEO of  Chobani, the company behind the number one Greek yoghurt in America. Today,  Chobani  has over 2,000 employees in the United States, 30 percent of which are legally resettled immigrants and refugees.  Ulukaya has created a corporate culture in which everyone is welcome and has an opportunity to thrive with innovative profit-sharing and parental leave programmes.  Ulukaya  has also taken a leadership role in the global business community to encourage action from the private sector to tackle the global refugee crisis.

Turkish-born Ulukaya comments: “I’m very humbled by this honor, and I’m proud to accept it on behalf of the women and men of team Chobani. This new way of business–where companies focus on people and not just profits, try to make the world a little bit better–should be at the heart of every modern company. As CEOs we don’t need to have more, we need to do more. When we see an injustice, we need to speak out. When we have tools and resources to solve problems, we have to use them.”

About the Award

The Oslo Business for Peace Award is given out annually to exemplary business leaders who apply their business energy ethically and responsibly, creating economic and societal value. Winners are selected by an independent committee of Nobel Prize winners in Peace and in Economics after a global nomination process through the International Chamber of Commerce, United Nations Global Compact, United Nations Development Programme, and Principles for Responsible Investment. The Award Committee consists of Ouided Bouchamaoui (Tunisia), Leymah Gbowee (Liberia), Finn Kydland (Norway), and Eric Maskin (USA). The committee evaluated the nominees on the criteria of being a role model to society and their peers, having earned trust by stakeholders, and standing out as an advocate.

Award Ceremony

The three winners received the Award in a ceremony at Oslo City Hall on 15 May 2019 as part of the annual Business for Peace Summit.

2019 Summit Programme Announced

Friday, 15 March 2019 15:48

Business for Peace is pleased to share the programme for the 2019 Summit: Navigating in a World of Imbalance. The Summit aims to provide businessworthy leaders with the knowledge, inspiration, actions and the networks necessary to effectively create social impact through their work.

The Summit will explore different perspectives of imbalances and which role technology and investment can play, all with the objective to identify tangible actions for business leaders. Through deeper understanding of the challenges and through cross-sector conversations, the Summit will offer insight and actionable ideas for how business leaders and investors can play a greater role in driving an inclusive and prosperous future for all.

The Summit takes place 14-15 May 2019 in Oslo, Norway. View the full Summit programme and For invite-only events, you can submit a Request to Attend form as well. The Award Ceremony is open to all members of the public.

Tune in to the 2019 Oslo Business for Peace Award Announcement

 Thursday, 14 March 2019 20:01

On March 20, we will announce who will receive the 2019 Oslo Business for Peace Award. Following a global nomination process through our partners, the International Chamber of Commerce, Principles for Responsible Investment, UN Development Programme, and UN Global Compact, our Award Committee of Nobel Laureates has made its selection.

Hear from Raymond Johansen, Governing Mayor of Oslo, Per Saxegaard, Board Chair of Business for Peace, and Fiona Reynolds, CEO of Principles for Responsible Investment, as they share the news.

Tune into our livestream on 20 March at 9:00 CET for the announcement. 

#Future of Talks: The Future of Business Leadership

 Saturday, 09 March 2019 20:47

This year, Business for Peace has launched an afterwork series with MESH in Oslo. Following our first events, The Future of Cities and The Future of Climate Leadership we’re happy to announce our third afterwork talk, The Future of Business Leadership. During this conversation, we will discuss the growing need for conventional thinking about business leadership to change. We’ll cover how globalisation, climate change, and consumer demands for transparency are all shifting the landscape for businesses, prompting leaders to consider not only profits, but also people and the planet.

To ensure a sustainable and inclusive future, we need ethical leadership from all facets of society to work together, but how are today’s purpose-driven business leaders approaching this landscape? And what will bold business leadership look like in the future?

Speakers:

  • Susan Hagerty Bonsak, Business Executive Officer at Nespresso Norway

  • Tore Lærdal, Executive Chairman at Lærdal Medical and Business for Peace Award Honouree

  • Tharald Nustad, Founder of Nordic Impact and impact investing ecosystems Katapult Accelerator and Katapult Future Fest

  • Stine Lise Hattestad Bratsberg (moderator), CEO of Pure Consulting and a former Olympic gold medalist in freestyle skiing 

The event is free to attend (you’ll just have to pay for anything you purchase from the bar) but please RSVP to let us know you’ll be joining us.

Schedule

17:30-18:00 Doors open, come mingle and get settled
18:00-19:00 Talk and discussion
19:00-late Stay for a drink and continue the conversation

It’s the third event in the new #FutureOf talk series presented by Business for Peace Foundation and MESH. Come hear brief talks from each of our guest speakers, then stay for a discussion and Q&A. We’ll also be announcing the winners of the 2019 Oslo Business for Peace Award.

This entry was posted on Saturday, March 9th, 2019 at 20:47. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

#Future of Talks: The Future of Climate Leadership

Monday, 11 February 2019 12:53

This year, Business for Peace has launched an afterwork series with MESH in Oslo. Following our first event, The Future of Cities, we’re happy to announce our second afterwork talk, The Future of Climate Leadership. During this conversation, we will explore what role businesses have to play in shifting the economy to avert impending crises caused by climate change. We will also address how businesses and civil society are working to reduce negative environmental impact and how they plan to take the lead in revolutionising our societies to be part of the solution.

Speakers:

Join us 21 February at 18:00 for expert business perspectives from: 

  • Anders Lennartsson, Sustainability Manager at IKEA Norway
  • Jan Kristensen, Vice President and Head of Supply Chain Sustainability and Environment/Climate at Telenor Group. 
  • Karoline Andaur, Deputy CEO of WWF Norway, will join to represent the views of civil society. 

Schedule:

Each speaker will give a brief talk, followed by a Q&A. The bar will be open for mingling afterwards too. If you are not in Oslo, stay tuned to our social media channels for live updates from the event.

17:30-18:00  Doors open

18:00-19:00  Talk and discussion

19:00-late    Mingling and informal conversation

Location:    MESH, Tordenskiolds gate, 0160 Oslo

The event is free to attend, but please RSVP on Eventbrite to let us know you will be joining us.

The event is fully booked. If you haven’t gotten a ticket, you can come to MESH at 17:30, prior to the start of the event. We’ll place you on a waitlist and you’ll be let in after ticket holders at 18:00, if space permits.

If you’d like to follow along via live stream, you can do so here: https://livestream.com/accounts/3722443/events/8572220

This entry was posted on Monday, February 11th, 2019 at 12:53. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

#Future of Talks: The Future of Cities

MESH x BfP Launch Afterwork Series

 Thursday, 10 January 2019 13:12

This year, Business for Peace is launching an afterwork series with MESH in Oslo. The first event will explore The Future of Cities and what role businesses have to play in shaping this future, from urban design to transportation, infrastructure, socialisation, digitisation and beyond.

Speakers:

Join us 31 January at 18:00 for expert perspectives from:

  • Frode Hvattum, Head of Strategy at Ruter,
  • Silje Bareksten, Head of Sustainability and Technology at Nor-Shipping and former Head of Smart City Oslo.

  • Johan Høgåsen-Hallesby, Chief Technology Officer at Urban Sharing

 

Schedule:

Each speaker will give a brief talk, followed by a Q&A. The bar will be open for mingling afterwards too. If you are not in Oslo, stay tuned to our social media channels for live updates from the event.

17:30-18:00  Doors open

18:00-19:00  Talk and discussion

19:00-late  Mingling and informal conversation

Location:  MESH, Tordenskiolds gate, 0160 Oslo

The event is free to attend, but please RSVP on Eventbrite to let us know you will be joining us.

 

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 10th, 2019 at 13:12. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

Save the Date! First look at the 2019 Summit

Thursday, 14 March 2019 20:01

Business for Peace is pleased to announce the theme of the 2019 Summit: Navigating in a World of Imbalance.

Save the date 14-15 May 2019 and join us at the leading meeting place for purpose-driven business leaders. Registration opens in February 2019. 

The Summit will explore global challenges caused by inequality and what steps business leaders can take to address imbalances within their organisations, local societies, and beyond. Experts in technology, trade, inclusion, and more will share their insights through interactive sessions.

Who Will Be There

The Summit brings together business leaders, investors, leaders of NGOs, politicians, academics, and civil society from all over the world. Here is an advance look at who will be joining the Summit in Oslo next May. More announcements will be made in early 2019.

Anders Dahlvig
Chairman, Inter IKEA Group
Non-Executive Director, H&M
2009 Oslo Business for Peace Award Honouree
The former CEO who placed sustainability at the heart of IKEA

Finn Lützow-Holm Myrstad
Director of Digital Policy and Energy, Norwegian Consumer Council
A leader in the development of better, more ethical digital policies and standards

Brian Iselin
Founder, slavefreetrade
A former Australian federal agent on a mission to stop human trafficking and slavery

Carlos Creus Moreira
Chairman, CEO and Founder of WISeKey
A digital pioneer and diplomacy expert who’s improving the safety of internet use

Eduardo Eurnekian
President, Corporación América
2012 Oslo Business for Peace Award Honouree
A global entrepreneur whose success is built on the goal of doing business for good

Fiona Reynolds
CEO, Principles for Responsible Investment
One of Australia’s top 100 Women of Influence and a key player in the investment industry

Mary Meaney
Senior Partner, Paris, McKinsey & Company
One of the leading experts in transformational change

Tim O’Reilly
Founder and CEO, O’Reilly Media
The Silicon Valley entrepreneur who is convening conversations that reshape the tech sector’s impact on society

Sharan Burrow
General Secretary, International Trade Union Confederation
A warrior for workers’ rights and equal opportunities 

Steve Killelea
Founder and Executive Chair, Institute for Economics and Peace
A global leader in philanthropy focused on sustainable development and peace

Check back for more updates!

Visit to SEKEM

Tuesday, 27 November 2018 16:24

Earlier this month we had the opportunity to visit SEKEM, a comprehensive development initiative founded by the late Dr Ibrahim Abouleish, a 2012 Oslo Business for Peace Award Honouree. Rafik Costandi welcomed us to Bilbeis, Egypt to give us a first-hand look at SEKEM’s operations.

Spanning agriculture, health, education and textiles, SEKEM takes a holistic approach to sustainable development in Egypt, working toward a future where social structures reflect human dignity and all economic activity is conducted in accordance with ecological and ethical principles.

First, we got to see a production facility at NatureTex, SEKEM’s company for organic cotton textiles and garments. Here, a team member is seen weaving carpets from leftover material used in the all-organic clothing production.

Pigeon towers, with their unique design and all natural materials, can be seen all across Egypt. It is an ancient method of keeping pigeons, either in a farm or on the top of a house near green fields. The ones pcitured below are owned by SEKEM.

Lotus was the first company within the SEKEM initiative, founded in 1977. The company processes organic herbs and spices from bio-dynamically cultivated plants. We got to see the factory, including one of their storage facilities.

Next, we toured Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development, established under the umbrella of SEKEM, and inaugurated in 2012, to introduce sustainable development principles to students in Egypt and improve well-being by decreasing threats to the Earth’s natural systems. The University has an entrepreneurial hub and also includes art and music as part of its core programme since, as Dr Abouleish said, “the human is not just intellect.”

Ms Regina Hanel accompanied us in a tour around campus and to the different faculties. We met students from the Engineering faculty who up-cycled this car and made it electric. It can now drive 80 kilometres after five hours of charging.

Thank you to Regina Hanel and the team at SEKEM for the warm welcome and tour!