Leading businessman to present annual lecture

Professor Quentin Leiper CBE, Group Chief Engineer for Carillion Plc, will present the 2009 Crystal Lecture, organised by the University of Wolverhampton Business School and the Chartered Management Institute.

The event will take place on Wednesday 21 October 2009 at the University’s Telford Campus in Priorslee, from 6pm.

Quentin has an international reputation for his expertise in sustainability, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and environmental management.

The lecture is entitled Corporate Social Responsibility: Building the Business Case and the Business Benefits, and will draw on Professor Leiper’s personal experience of leading Carillion’s own highly regarded sustainability programme.

In the lecture, Quentin will discuss how corporate social responsibility can deliver real long term advantages to organisations and their stakeholders.

Dom Wilson, Dean of the University of Wolverhampton Business School, said: “We are delighted to welcome Quentin Leiper, CBE as the distinguished speaker for the 2009 Crystal Lecture, following the Director General of the TUC last year. Quentin has chosen to address the vitally important subject of Corporate Social Responsibility. 

“CSR is high on the agendas of public and private sector organisations reflecting the challenges of environmental sustainability and managerial responsibility in global recession. As the chief architect of Carillion's sustainability programme, Quentin is at the centre of these controversial matters.

“The annual Crystal Lecture, now in its 16th year, is presented jointly by the Chartered Management Institute and the University of Wolverhampton Business School, reflecting the commitment of both partners to the economic and managerial development of the West Midlands."

Gerwyn Jones, Wolverhampton branch chair of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), said "CMI research indicates growing public demand for information about the impacts a company has on the society in which it operates. Professor Quentin Leiper has a shown a real passion for the Corporate Social Responsibility and managed to set this as a key part of the strategy of a commercially driven FSTE 250 business, by demonstrating the real business benefits of how things can be done alongside the day-to-day business activities, plus can be sold to clients as a positive differentiator.

“The Crystal lecture is a great opportunity to hear the business benefits of CSR, which are applicable to companies of all sizes, from Professor Leiper."

Places are limited, so pre-booking for the free event is required. Please contact Marie Porello at the University’s on 01902 323874, or email m.porello@wlv.ac.uk

There will be light refreshments at 6pm and the lecture is due to start at 7pm.

Picture: Professor Quentin Leiper CBE, Group Chief Engineer for Carillion Plc

Further information

For more information please contact Vickie Woodward in the Media Relations Office on 01902 322736