Foundation Archives - Page 6 of 7 - Business for Peace Foundation

Time to Sign the #Businessworthy Pledge!

Monday, 02 May 2016 19:25

As the Businessworthy pledge was handed over to PM Erna Solberg today by Business for Peace Honourees Arif Naqvi and Paul Polman, the www.businessworthy.org microsite went live.

The Business for Peace Foundation now welcomes all business leaders to commit to dedicating their effort and business into achieving the #SDGs.

By supporting the pledge – you are part of a vanguard of women and men in the business community who understand that business can not succeed in societies that fail, and that the #SDGs are a once in a lifetime opportunity for business to reconfirm its intent to be a problem solver in society.

What is the future of collaboration between society and business?

Friday, 15 April 2016 09:11

Thursday April 14th, The Nobel Peace Centre in Oslo was host to the debate “Peace as a business idea”, the first event of the 2016 Oslo Business for Peace Summit.

– Although the theme of today might seem contradictory, it most certainly is not. It is representative of a global move towards a new way of conducting business, said moderator Christian Borch as a part of his opening statement.

The panel consisting of Nina Jensen (WWF), Jonas Gahr Støre (AP), Tore Lærdal (Lærdal Global Health) and Hanne Sofie Lindahl (Changemaker) was quick to add their perspectives on what this implies for the collaboration between business and society.

– As a family owned company with a long perspective, the mutual trust we have built with communities in which we operate over 50 years, has enabled us to build partnerships and make an impact, said Tore Lærdal.
He emphasised how fleeting ownership structures of publicly traded companies often interfered with business leaders having a more long-term and sustainable perspective of their business.

Business now can identify a profitable way of solving some of the urgent and developing issues that we as a society face, such as climate change.

– Nina Jensen, Secretary General WWF Norway and member of the Business for Peace Board

A returning topic of the discussion was how to facilitate a constructive collaboration between business and the societies and communities they are a part of.

– I am more optimistic now than ever before, said Nina Jensen. Business now can identify a profitable way of solving some of the urgent and developing issues that we as a society face, such as climate change. However, it’s naïve to believe that business will solve this themselves, in a vacuum, but rather in a collaboration with society through clear expectations and demands from political institutions.

But – business solutions to evolving problems cannot be politically decided, they need to grow forth through a myriad of failed attempts and budding initiatives.

– What country is in a better position to show the way towards a leading position in combining economic growth with the responsible stewardship of natural resources such as the ocean, asked Jonas Gahr Støre rhetorically. Following up – it will demand great effort from us, but we are in a special global position, with special responsibility.

How do we move forward to build impact? Can we identify a new kind of collaboration?

– Yes, said Gahr Støre, it is a necessity, but as politicians we must be aware not to micro-manage business in the direction that we see fit.

– Yes, said Jensen, citing the need for public action through grass roots movements. Through wide spread accessibility of new technologies, all of us have tremendous power to engage with our surroundings and communities – and with power comes great responsibility, she said.

Tore Lærdal, speaking as a 2016 Business for Peace Honouree, got final remarks, and used the opportunity to emphasise the need to strengthen the social contract between society and business.

We must strengthen our global effort, through multinational institutions such as United Nations, if we are to achieve our mutual goals in the years to come
– Tore Lærdal, co-owner and Chairman of the Board of Lærdal Medical and Business for Peace Honouree 2016

Announcement of the 2016 Oslo Business for Peace Award Honourees

Tuesday, 08 March 2016 14:01

March 8, 2016 – Oslo, Norway: Today, on International Women’s Day, UNDP Administrator Helen Clark highlighted the role of female business leaders in driving positive societal change as she announced this year’s Business for Peace Honourees.

Helen Clark, Administrator of the United Nations Development Program, announced the three winners of the 2016 Oslo Business for Peace Award; Sarah Beydoun from Lebanon, Dr Jennifer Nkuene Riria from Kenya and Tore Lærdal from Norway.“This year’s winners are exceptional role models who exemplify how ethical and responsible business action can drive positive societal change”, said Clark in the press conference taking place at the Oslo City Hall. “I am visiting Oslo, Norway in connection with International Women’s Day, and I am therefore particularly pleased to present these very distinct and highly successful women leaders”, she added.

Business for Peace Founder and Chairman, Per L. Saxegaard, highlighted the increasingly important role of the business actions of individuals; “Business has historically been seen as part of the problem, not a part of the solution. However, in the wake of the consensus for the UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development and the Paris Climate Agreement, business’ role as a problem solver in society has never been as important as it is today.”
The Award Ceremony will take place in Oslo City Hall on May 3 as part of the annual Business for Peace Summit. The Summit is gaining increasing support and interest, and the Foundation was proud to announce today that His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon will attend this year’s event.

An independent committee of Nobel Laureates in peace and economics selects the Honourees from a pool of nominees put forward by the UN Development Program, UN Global Compact and the International Chamber of Commerce.

“In their own very special ways, each of the honorees has made significant contributions to their societies. In a field of extraordinary leaders, their vision and passion stand out. They deserve recognition, admiration and respect, and more than that, our gratitude”, said Professor Michael Spence of Stanford University who is one of five members of the Award Committee.

These three Honourees will join the thirty-six previous winners of the Award, a group that includes individuals such as Paul Polman, Arif Naqvi, Marilyn Carlson Nelson, Sir Richard Branson, Ratan Tata and Mo Ibrahim.

The 2016 Award Ceremony will be held in Oslo City Hall, May 3 2016 16:45-18:30 CET. The Ceremony is open to the public, but registration is required. You can register here.
The Ceremony will also be streamed live on the Business for Peace website.

The 2016 Honourees are:

Sarah Beydoun, Lebanon

Ms Beydoun is the founder and creative director of Sarah’s Bag. This internationally successful company has a business model that includes social rehabilitation for underprivileged women who learn valuable skills and earn an income as well as a sense of dignity and empowerment. By following her heart – both for fashion and women at risk – Ms Beydoun has created a robust business despite the difficult circumstances in the region.

Dr Jennifer Nkuene Riria, Kenya

Dr Riria is Group CEO of Kenya Women Holding (KWH) and has led Kenya Women Microfinance Bank (KWFT) for over two decades. KWFT grants loans to marginalized women and their families, serving over 1.5 million women and disbursing over US$ 2.3 billion over a period of 20 years. Through her important work, Dr Riria brings economic empowerment to marginalised women, contributing to build peace even during times of conflict.

Mr Tore Lærdal, Norge

Mr Lærdal is the Executive Chairman of Laerdal Medical, the global leader in resuscitation training and therapy products. Laerdal Global Health is a non-profit affiliate of Laerdal Medical, and provides affordable products to help save lives at birth in poor countries. The goal of the group with partners is to help save 500,000 lives per year by 2020. Mr. Lærdal is an example of how linking business to a wider, social purpose can create exceptional results – for both business and society.

About Business for Peace

Business for Peace is an Oslo-based foundation that works to redefine the notion of success in business and to promote an evolved form of capitalism. This endeavour is manifested by recognising exceptional individuals who exemplify the concept of being businessworthy. That is, applying one’s business energy ethically and responsibly to create value for all. An independent committee of Nobel laureates in peace and economics selects the Honourees from a pool of nominees put forward by our global partners in the United Nations and the International Chamber of Commerce. By facilitating this process and promoting these individuals, the vision is to unlock the positive power that lays in business to the benefit of peace and prosperity.

Ouided Bouchamaoui joins Award Committee

Friday, 29 January 2016 06:25

It is our pleasure to announce that Ouided Bouchamaoui has joined the Business for Peace Award Committee. Ms. Bouchamaoui is the President of The Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA). In this role, Ms. Bouchamaoui has been working tirelessly to help Tunisia pull through its challenges by pushing for national reconciliation, protecting both enterprises and employment policy, and assisting the urgent need to restore security. For this work, Ms. Bouchamaoui was made a Business for Peace Honouree in 2014. In addition, UTICA is one of the four organisations that make up the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2015.

The Oslo Business for Peace Award Committee works independently of the Foundation when assessing nominated candidates, and the decision of the committee members is final. Its members are Nobel prize winners in Peace or Economics, which ensures that the selection of Honourees is ethically credible, made by individuals outside the business community and of the highest possible moral and professional authority.

The task of inviting new members to the Award committee is made by an Election Committee consisting of former Swedish prime minister Göran Persson, former Norwegian prime minister Kjell Magne Bondevik, and the director of the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), Kristian Berg Harpviken.

The work Ms. Bouchamaoui has done to foster stability and peace in Tunisia is admirable, and offers a stellar example of businessworthy leadership. We would like to thank Ms. Bouchamaoui for agreeing to strengthen our Award Committee, and it is our honour to formally announce her election to this role.

Thank you for a fantastic Oslo Business for Peace Summit!

Thursday, 21 January 2016 10:09

The Oslo Business for Peace Summit 2016 has been a fantastic experience!

We would like to thank you all for contributing in making the tenth Oslo Business for Peace Summit the best event ever.

Warm congratulations to our three Honourees, Sarah Beydoun, Dr Jennifer Riria and Tore Lærdal – we are very proud to have you as part of the Business for Peace family.

A very big thank you to our Honourees, partners, sponsors, speakers, moderators, and our fantastic team of volunteers. You all helped us make this an unforgettable two days!

We look forward to welcoming you back in Oslo May 15-16, 2017!

2016 Oslo Business for Peace Award Nominations are now Closed

Thursday, 03 December 2015 07:44

Nominations for the 2016 Oslo Business for Peace Award are now closed. We would like to extend our thanks to all of those who nominated and to our partner organisations the United Nations Global Compact, the United Nations Development Program and the International Chamber of Commerce.

The Award Committee will meet in London in late-January, with winners announced shortly thereafter. The Award Ceremony will be held on May 3rd at Oslo City Hall, Norway. This event is free and open to the public by registration, the link for which will be released closer to the event – don’t forget to follow us on Facebook or Twitter for updates.

We look forward to seeing you in Oslo on May 3rd!

Nobel Peace Prize: Promoting businessworthy action

Friday, 09 October 2015 17:20

– By giving the peace prize to a quartet including Ms. Ouided Bouchamaoui´s organisation, the committee has emphasised the importance of establishing trustworthy relationships between employer associations, labor unions and the civilian society to create stability, peace and development. Ms. Ouided Bouchamaoui, a business woman and the first female president of the Tunisian employer association, has been a central force in the development of her homeland after the arab spring, says Per L. Saxegaard, Chairman of Business for Peace.

Ouided Bouchamaoui is representing the Tunisian employeer association in the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet that was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo today.

A role model for business leaders

For her admirable ability to make business a strong force in developing the society, Ouided Bouchamaoui was named a Business for Peace Honouree in 2014.

In 2014 the Business for Peace Award was stated that “Ms. Bouchamaoui is a stellar example of businessworthy leadership, of dedicating one’s business energy to creating economic value that also creates value for society, through responsible and ethical work. While Tunisia’s challenges remain, it is from individuals such as Ms. Bouchamaoui a nation can draw hope for a better future.”

Ms. Ouided Bouchamaoui of Tunisia leads the Hedi Bouchamaoui Group, a family owned business spanning more than a hundred years. In January 2013, Ouided Bouchamaoui was elected the first woman President of the Tunisian Confederacy of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts, in recognition of the responsible stewardship demonstrated in the family business.

Within weeks of her election, she initiated a strategic move to collaborate with the Tunisian General Labor Union, through signing a Social Contract. The agreement aimed to provide decent work conditions at all levels, it expanded employment opportunities, and structured wage policies – as well as helping improve competition between enterprises.

She then initiated a national dialogue on the economy, bringing together the Tunisian President, Prime Minister, President of the National Assembly and major participants from private and public enterprises. Their task was to set up a roadmap and a plan of action to slow down the crisis and help the economy.

Ms. Ouided Bouchamaoui is a role model for other business leaders with her engagement for the development of society. The positive role in societal development is often underestimated. Establishing jobs and sustainable businesses is one of the most important requirements for lasting peace, says Per L Saxegaard.

The Business for Peace Summit, May 5-6, Oslo

Friday, 06 March 2015 11:45

The Business for Peace Summit brings together high-level leaders to focus on the role of the private sector in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and to celebrate the 2015 Business for Peace Honourees.

Dominic Barton (Global Managing Director, McKinsey & Company), Arif Naqvi (Group Chief Executive of Abraaj), Jane Nelson (Director of the Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative at Harvard Kennedy School), David Blood (founding partner, Generation Investment Management), and many more compose a compelling high impact line-up at the 2015 Summit.

Last year, almost 1000 people, including Georg Kell (Executive Director UN Global Compact) and the Governing Mayor, City of Oslo, attended the magnificent ceremony in Oslo City Hall, celebrating 2014 Business for Peace Honourees Selima Ahmad, Richard Branson, Ouided Bouchamaoui, Kesha Kumari Damini,Adnan Kassar and Marilyn Carson Nelson

Join us in celebrating the 2015 Honourees!

Key Dates:

May 5 – Business for Peace 2015 Welcoming Reception

May 6 – Business for Peace 2015 Roundtable

May 6 – Business for Peace 2015 Award Ceremony and Dinner

While attendance at the Reception and Roundtable is by invitation only, the Award Ceremony is open to the public. More info will come here when registrations open.

Thank you!

Friday, 16 May 2014 12:00

The Business for Peace Summit and Award 2014 has now come to a successful, captivating and inspiring end. All three central events – the Roundtable on “The new imperative: Creating Shared Value”, the Award Ceremony in the Oslo City Hall and the Honourees’ Dinner at Akershus Fortress – on May 15 have, next to the numerous smaller side events, created a series of beautiful experiences and memories.

In order to realize an endeavour of such magnitude, a collection of outstanding individuals and organisations came together, and the Business for Peace Foundation would like to take this opportunity to laud their efforts and pay our gratitude for their work.

We would like to thank our partners the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), which have been crucial in the process of identifying and suggesting nominees for the 2014 Business for Peace Award.

Furthermore, we would like to thank the City of Oslo for their support and the possibility to host the prestigious Oslo Business for Peace Summit and Award in the Oslo City Hall.

Our gratitude goes also to the organisations and individuals that have enabled the Business for Peace Foundation through their contributions to implement such a significant event as the Oslo Business for Peace Summit and Award. These organisations and individuals are: The Abraaj Group, EQT, Altor, Verdane, LGT, Charterhouse and Argentum.

In the same way we would like to extend our thankfulness to the Oslo Chamber of Commerce, which has supported the work of the Business for Peace Foundation not only financially, but also through their manpower and network.

The Business for Peace Foundation would also like to thank the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their contributions, the reception at Professorboligen (thanks to the University of Oslo) and for the Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs’ participation in the Roundtable event.

We would also like to thank our global media partner, the International New York Times, for their coverage and partnership with the Business for Peace Foundation.

A warm thank you goes to Sigla and Ylva Lindberg, who superbly moderated the Roundtable and to Nik Gowing for his professional facilitation of the Award Ceremony.

Another big thank you goes also to the independent Award Committee and in particular Shirin Ebadi and Leymah Gbowee who have been able to join us during the festivities in the Oslo City Hall this year.

Moreover, we would like to say thank you to Telenor, who has designed and published the Foundation’s new website, and Zeepia, who has provided an interactive Event Suite solution that has been used during the Roundtable as well as the Award Ceremony in the Oslo City Hall.

Another organisation we would like to show our gratitude towards is Accenture. Their expertise and support in developing a Social Media Communication Strategy has been greatly appreciated and has already been implemented during the Business for Peace Summit and Award 2014.

Finally, we would like to announce our gratitude to all the voluntary helpers, the Social Media team and the Hosts/Hostesses for helping to make the Business for Peace Summit and Award 2014 a great success.

Meet the 2014 Honourees

Friday, 11 April 2014 12:00

The 2014 Oslo Business for Peace Honourees have been named by the Foundation’s independent Award Committee consisting of Nobel Prize winners in Peace and Economics. The Honourees’ significant contributions to a wider acceptance of businessworthy behavior will be recognized during the Oslo Business for Peace Summit and Award on May 15, 2014, in the Oslo City Hall.

The Oslo Business for Peace Award is the highest form of recognition given to individual business leaders for fostering peace and stability through creating shared value between business and society. The world-wide search for the 2014 Honourees is a joint effort by the International Chamber of Commerce, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Global Compact and the Oslo based Business for Peace Foundation.

The 2014 Business for Peace Honourees

Selima Ahmad (Bangladesh)

Selima Ahmad is the Vice Chairperson of the Nitol-Niloy Group. With her deep understanding of the plight of women in a male dominated, poverty afflicted society, she focuses on developing entrepreneurial talent, and organizing financial and marketing resources in order to enable women to overcome hurdles and expand their business beyond the micro threshold.

Ouided Bouchamaoui (Tunisia)

Ouided Bouchamaoui is the President of The Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA). Bouchamaoui works to help Tunisia pull through its challenges by pushing for national reconciliation, by protecting both enterprises and employment policy, and assisting the urgent need to restore security. In Bouchamaoui’s opinion, conditions fundamental for promoting social peace and prosperity.

Sir Richard Branson (UK)

Sir Richard Branson is the founder and owner of Virgin Group. Branson uses his reputation to influence important issues also outside business. He is a signatory of the non-profit Global Zero campaign for the elimination of nuclear weapons, has taken a strong stand against climate change skepticism, and took the initiative to create The Elders, a gathering of independent global leaders working together for peace and human rights.

Kesha Kumari Damini (Nepal)

Kesha Kumari Damini is the leader of more than 60,000 micro entrepreneurs. Though Ms. Damini came from the most disadvantaged of Dalit communities in Nepal, her leadership and success have inspired many to become entrepreneurs, explore self-employment opportunities and overcome discrimination.

Adnan Kassar (Lebanon)

Adnan Kassar is Chairman of Fransabank, and has been a driver of growth and development in Lebanon, in the absence of political stability and security, for many decades. Through motivating the private sector, his work has contributed to the prosperity of the country and its attractiveness to foreign investors, thus maintaining and securing the livelihood of the Lebanese people.

Marilyn Carlson Nelson (USA)

Marilyn Carlson Nelson is the Chairman and former CEO of Carlson. Ms. Nelson’s pace-setting approach to responsible business focuses on engaging in dialogue with stakeholders about local causes and global issues. Across a range of challenges her approach contributes to peace through the creation of shared value. Notably, she is a strong advocate for the abolition of sexual exploitation of children.

“The award is presented to influential business leaders who through their achievements have demonstrated the benefits of a constructive relationship between business and society.” said Per Leif Saxegaard, Chairman of the Business for Peace Foundation. “We believe this is crucial in fostering conditions that lead to peace and stability instead of conflict.”