Leading Training Program for CSR Practitioners held by CSE in Brussels with Key Speakers

The Centre for Sustainability and Excellence (CSE) hosted its global Training Program “Certified Sustainability (CSR) Practitioner” November 18th and 19th in Brussels, Belgium. Participants included 14 CSR managers, environmental consultants, external relations advisors, and communications executives ranging from the Steel, Aluminum and Energy to Banking, Investment, and Capital Management sectors across 11 countries. Over the course of 2 days, CSE provided intensive training on sustainable development, stakeholder management, global reporting criteria, green marketing guidelines, among other key performance influencers that define Sustainability.

Nikos Avlonas, CEO of CSE was joined by John Swannick, Executive Director if EABIS – The Academy of Business in Society and Dan Vogel, CEO of Enablon, to challenge professionals’ perceptions of Sustainability Excellence, enabling them to reconsider business models and operational frameworks and promote Sustainability leadership.

John Swannick Executive Director of EABIS offered insights on the complexity of Sustainability, the unclear yet direct link to profit, and the role of non-financial performance indicators. Dan Vogel of Enablon, the world’s leading provider of sustainability management software solutions, has helped organizations implement QEHS management software in order to understand the drivers of organizational sustainability and accurately measure their impacts. Regardless of sector and operational frameworks, Performance & Compliance, Carbon Management, Responsible Supply Chains and Corporate Governance are strongly interrelated and require accuracy both in measurement and claims.

Nikos Avlonas, CEO of CSE comments, “Admittedly, it is not easy to move from developing a partial system that deals with Environmental, Social, and Economic performance indicators, to using an integrated program that includes sustainability in day-to-day decision-making. CSE is committed to coaching and training the business community to learn how to embed sustainability within their operational and organizational frameworks”.

CSE holds a competitive advantage in leading change and driving sustainable development since 2008 with unique and advanced services. As part of these services, Certified Sustainability (CSR) Practitioner Workshops have gradually received global popularity and act as a stepping-stone for organizations that aspire to progressively implement sustainability into their core operations.

At present, more than 130 CSR Practitioners from 5 continents and over 21 countries have received this qualification and as a result, a career progression! CSE’s CSR Practitioners are making a substantial difference in implementing sustainability to enhance financial and non-financial performances of organizations such as the World Business for Sustainable Development, Lloyds Banking Group, Eurobank EFG, Oracle, Baxter, Mercedes Benz, Shell, Sara Lee, NV Bekaert, Baker Hughes, ZAIN, Whole Foods, North Face, Vanity Fair, Entrepreneur.

CSE’s upcoming Certified Sustainability (CSR) Practitioner Workshop will be held in New York City, December 2&3 2010 at the Beacon Hotel, where CSE will also host its 5th Sustainability Roundtable titled Green Marketing and Materiality in light of the new FTC Guidelines in the US. Contributors will include Susan McPherson (Fenton Communications), Nikos Avlonas (CSE), Joe Aamidor (Enablon Solutions), Aman Singh (Vault.com), Joe Sibilia (CSRwire) and Charlie Green (Trust Across America).

Scheduled Training for 2011:
March 17-18: Chicago, IL                               June 22 – 23: New York City, NY
September 21 – 22: Washington DC                December 6 – 7: Atlanta, GA