Loading...

Author: Lorena

Nobel Peace Prize – A recognition and an incentive to the Colombian business leaders who act businessworthy

 Tuesday, 08 November 2016 15:05

The Business for Peace Foundation would like to congratulate the President of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos, and the Colombian people for this important recognition. We are delighted to see that the Nobel Peace Prize is providing a new impetus to their efforts in looking for a negotiated solution to the oldest running armed conflict in Latin America.

The Business for Peace Foundation, like many others, strongly believe in the determination of Colombians to achieve peace. The Government and the negotiating teams in Havana are back to work, trying to reach an agreement that works for all, and the private sector has a strong role to play at this critical time. Businessworthy leaders should be congratulated for showing that peace-building is not only feasible and desirable from a business angle but is also the best remedy to attack a key root cause of the conflict, extreme poverty.

Juan Andrés Cano, 2015 Business for Peace Honouree, embodies this new breed of local businessworthy entrepreneurs. Through his consulting work, he has been an avid promoter of ethically responsible and sustainable business practices that support society in becoming fairer and more inclusive.

Juan Andres is also the founder of PeaceStartup. This is a joint Colombian-Spanish initiative that gathers key stakeholders to discuss and identify sustainable solutions to tackle specific challenges of peace-building through the use of information and communications technologies. It is this innovative approach to making peace-building a business opportunity which earned Cano the Business for Peace Award in 2015, the highest recognition made to a business leader.

‘The best way Colombian business leaders can contribute to building peace is by expanding their way of thinking to understand that the business is not only for individual profit but this must create value for society too. This is the type of mentality which is critical for peace and which, the Foundation, promotes’. 

– Per Saxegaard Founder and Executive Chairman 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.

Welcome to a breakfast seminar at PRIO

Monday, 25 April 2016 17:22
 

Time: May 4 08:30-10.00

Place: Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), Hausmanns gate 3 0186 Oslo

This breakfast meeting is jointly hosted by:
Moderator: Gregory M. Reichberg (PRIO)
 
Panel:
  • John Elkington (Volans, UK)
  • Selima Ahmad (BWCCI, Bangladesh)
 
With comments from:
  • Torunn Tryggestad (PRIO)
  • Benedicte Bull (SUM, UiO)

For registration and more information, please visit PRIOs website.

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

Welcome to a lecture with Paul Polman

 Saturday, 09 April 2016 13:36

One of the world’s foremost leaders in sustainable growth is coming to Oslo!

2015 Business for Peace Honouree and Unilever CEO Paul Polman will be in Oslo to attend the 2016 Business for Peace Summit. In association with the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO), the University of Oslo and BI Norwegian Business School, the Business for Peace Foundation is pleased to offer you the chance to hear him speak.

In keeping with the theme of this year’s Business for Peace Summit, Mr Polman will be talking about the UN Sustainable Development Goals: how will the world meet these targets and what are the opportunities for businesses?
 
Under Mr Polman’s management, Unilever has set ambitious targets to double the company’s size while continuing to reduce their overall carbon footprint.
 
Spaces are strictly limited, so don’t forget to register here!
 

Place:  Universitetets Aula, Karl Johans gate 47, 0162 Oslo

Time:   2 May 2016, 09:30-10:30

 

Debatt 14. april: Fred som forretningsidé

Monday, 04 April 2016 16:56

I samarbeid med Nobels Fredssenter inviterer Business for Peace Foundation til paneldebatt med temaet «Fred som forretningsidé» på Fredssenteret torsdag 14. april kl 18:00. Årets utdeling av Oslo Business for Peace Award nærmer seg. Prisen er en heder til næringslivsledere som jobber for å skape verdier for samfunnet i tillegg til bedriften de leder.

I år er det tre vinnere, og norske Tore Lærdal, administrerende direktør i Lærdal Medical, er en av dem. Lærdal og flere andre spennende gjester kommer for å diskutere «Fred som forretningsidé».

Vi drøfter om næringslivet kan og bør spille en rolle for fred, miljø og utvikling. De bedriftene som er involvert i utvikling og fredsarbeid – motiveres de av profitt eller veldedighet? Og er det greit å tjene penger i fattige, krigsherjede land? Vi vil også utforske når det fungerer godt og når det går galt, og hva bedrifter kan og bør gjøre for å bidra til fred.

I panelet sitter:

Tore Lærdal – Business for Peace Honouree 2016
Jonas Gahr Støre – leder i Arbeiderpartiet
Nina Jensen – generalsekretær i WWF-Norge og styremedlem i Business for Peace
Hanne Sofie Lindahl – leder i Changemaker

Moderator er Christian Borch.

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!