GRI’s Africa Regional Conference Commences in Johannesburg

Johannesburg, May 12, 2015 /3BL Media/ - Today, GRI, developer of the world’s most widely used sustainability reporting standard, has opened the two-day Africa Regional Conference: Transformation Through Transparency. The conference is being held in Johannesburg, South Africa, and brings together sustainability professionals from across the African continent and the globe. The GRI Africa Regional Conference provides a platform for idea sharing. The aim is to help foster a climate of corporate transparency, which can lead to increased trust in businesses operating in Africa, while promoting inclusive growth.

“Transparency has the power to fundamentally transform Africa’s economy. Organizations report using GRI in order to understand and communicate their commitment to sustainability issues that matter – not only to companies, but to domestic and foreign investors as well” said GRI Chief Executive Michael Meehan. “This is especially important in Africa, where reporting on the impacts of critical sustainability issues such as economic inequality, resource constraints, human rights and climate change sends a strong signal to the market that these companies are taking these important issues into account.”

Conference attendees will take part in master classes that deliver practical guidance on issues such as supply and value-chain reporting, stakeholder engagement, materiality, integration and the boundaries of accountability. The master classes are being conducted by GRI strategic partners such as EY, ERM, Environmental and Sustainability Solutions CC, and BSD Consulting.

Attendees will also take part in sessions featuring renowned sustainability specialists and parallel tracks. Speakers include GRI Chief Executive Michael Meehan, WEF Africa Council Member Ini Onuk, Greenpeace Executive Director Michael O’Brien Onyeka, and IIRC Chairman Mervyn King. Attendees will also hear from representatives from other leading organizations, including Unilever, Nestlé, Discovery, KPMG, UNPRI, CDP, and Oxfam. CNBC Africa will be on hand conducting interviews and capturing the essence of the conference.  

For more information about the GRI Africa Regional Conference please visit the GRI website here. For additional information please contact GRI’s Media Relations Manager Davion Ford (ford@globalreporting.org).  For media requests, please contact either Jane Appiah-Yeboah (jane@rair.co.za) or Jeneth Ndlovu (jeneth@rair.co.za) or contact Russell & Associates on +27 11 880 3924.