Monday 28 October

SRI & Corporates in Asia

In their quest to be leading global corporate citizens, many Japanese and other Asian companies recognise the value in understanding SRI, the drivers for their industries and community expectations. This day is designed to help corporations and also to highlight the differences and similarities between SRI practice in Asia, Europe and the USA. Identifying SRI values in Asia will be a key objective.

8:30am

REGISTRATION

9:00am

OPENING AND WELCOME

Ms. Tessa Tennant – Chair, ASrIA

9:15am

KEYNOTE SPEECH

The Relevance of SRI to Japan and Asia’s Future

Mr. Paul Clements-Hunt – Head of Unit, UNEP Finance Initiatives

9:45am

SPEAKERS PANEL

An A-Z of SRI

A discussion of SRI as it is practiced in the USA, Europe and Asia, describing the different approaches to SRI, the different investment styles and the interface with corporations.

Chair: Ms. Louisa Mitchell – Executive Director, ASrIA

Panel: Ms. Helen Wildsmith – Executive Director, UK Social Investment Forum

Mr. Robert Rosen – SRI Consultant

Mr. Peter Montagnon – Head of Investment Affairs, Association of British Insurers

Ms. Fran Teplitz – Managing Director, US Social Investment Forum

11:00am

COFFEE BREAK

11:30am

SPEAKERS PANEL

The Corporate Response to SRI

The view from the corporate world about how SRI has helped internal processes and performance, and where it has been more limited in its usefulness. Suggestions to enhance the value of SRI.

Chair: Ms. Tessa Tennant – Chair, ASrIA

Panel: Mr. Kenji Hayashibe – Director & Executive Officer, Daiwa Securities Group Inc.

Mr. Minoru Inaoka – Managing Director, Ito-Yokado Co., Ltd.

Mr. Prida Tiasuwan – Chairman, Social Venture Network Asia (Thailand)

1:00pm

LUNCH

2:30pm

PARALLEL SESSIONS: Panel Discussions

1. Asian Values and SRI

This session will further explore the questions about cultural values and SRI raised in the earlier sessions and will examine the particular issues for Asian corporations responding to SRI questionnaires. What problems arise, what are the major points of agreement and where do views diverge?

Chair: Mr. Mishko Hansen – University of Hong Kong

Speakers: Ms. Mizue Tsukushi – CEO, The Good Bankers Co., Ltd.

Ms. Kyoko Sakuma – Asia Pacific Project Manager, Ethibel Group

Ms. Mizue Unno – Managing Director, So-Tech Consulting, Inc.

Mr. Boon Chong Na – Asia Pacific Content Leader, Hewitt Associates

2. SRI for Japan: In what areas can SRI help to revitalize the Japanese economy?

This session will look at the challenges facing Japan’s economy, and explore the contribution which SRI can make in transforming business practices without loosing the positive attributes of Japanese business processes. There will also be consideration of lessons learned from other mature industrial economies.

Chair: Mr. Dylan Tanner – President, ERM Japan Ltd.

Speakers: Mr. Eiichiro Adachi – Senior Researcher and Head of Socio-Incubation Cluster, Japan Research Institute Limited

Ms. Mari Mugurajima - Investment Analyst, Morley Fund Management (Japan) Limited

Mr. Kenji Sawami – Special Policy Co-ordinator, Assistant Director, Environment and Economy Division, Environment Policy Bureau, Ministry of Environment, Japan

3. Civil Society and Corporate Practice

This session will examine the role Consumer Groups can play in promoting CSR and SRI. SRI in the UK and elsewhere has been promoted by NGO’s. They have also improved accountability and provided strategic advice and challenges as well as helping to raise standards in business and in SRI.

Chair: Mr. Colin Le Duc - Head of Research Operations, Sustainable Asset Management (SAM)

Speakers: Mr. Charles Secrett – Executive Director, Friends of the Earth UK

Ms. Yuko Sakita – Journalist, Environment Councelor

Mr. Hiroshi Takahashi – Managing Director, Japanese Trade Union Confederation

Ms. Grace Favila – Adviser to the Board, Philippine Business for the Environment

4:00 p.m.

TEA BREAK

4:30pm

REPORT BACK TO PLENARY

Workshop findings, update and announcements for Day 2

5:30pm

COCKTAIL RECEPTION

Tuesday 29 October

SRI and Savings Plans in Asia

Building a social safety net that supports the vulnerable groups of society remains a deep-seated challenge for Asian economies. SRI investors can encourage Asian corporates to provide health, education and pension systems. At the same time, SRI is a sound investment strategy for pension funds to implement. Exploring this dual dynamic in Asia will be a key objective.

9:00am

SRI VALUES ROUND-UP

A Reflection from Yesterday

9:15am

SPEAKERS PANEL

The Making of the Social Safety Net for Asia

A closer look at the Pensions Profile of Asia, the role of SRI and the Sustainability Challenge.

Chair: Ms. Tessa Tennant – Chair, ASrIA

Panel: Mr. Alan Harden – Representative Director, Chairman & President, Citigroup Asset Mgt

Dr. John Piggott – Professor of Economics, Director, Centre for Pensions and Superannuation, University of New South Wales

Mr. Hidetaka Kawakita – Director, Nippon Life Insurance Company

10:30am

COFFEE BREAK

11:00am

SPEAKERS PANEL

Pension and Life Fund View of SRI

A discussion of the relevance of SRI as an investment strategy for pension and life funds.

Chair: Dr. George Curuby – President, Curuby & Company

Panel: Mr. Tomohisa Narukawa – Managing Director, The Mutual Aid Association for Tokyo Metropolitan Teachers and Officials

Mr. Masafumi Hikima – President & CEO, Nikko Asset Management Co., Ltd.

Mr. Will Oulton – Deputy Chief Executive, FTSE Group

Ms. Emma Howard Boyd – Director, Head of Environmental Research, Jupiter Asset Management

12:30pm

KEYNOTE SPEECH

Essence of Corporate Management and SRI

Mr. Yotaro Kobayashi – Chairman of the Board, Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.

1:00pm

LUNCH Lunch Sponsored by Calvert Group Ltd.

2:30pm

PARALLEL SESSIONS

1. The Emergence of 401K/DC Plans: Lessons from the USA/UK

The arrival of defined contribution pension plans in the UK and USA was a major reason for the significant growth of SRI in recent years. Speakers will explain the reasons why and the scope for building SRI through pensions provision. Speakers will also explain the role of key ‘gatekeeper’ groups such as financial advisers, actuaries and fund trustees. What do they know about SRI and what do they want to know?

Chair: Dr. George Curuby - President, Curuby & Company

Speakers: Ms. Barbara Krumsiek – President, CEO and Co-Chairperson, Calvert Group Ltd.

Mr. Tatsuo Mizutori – Executive Vice President, Mercers Human Resource Consulting Ltd.

Mr. Paul Klug - Managing Director & COO, Morgan Stanley Asset & Investment Trust Mgt

2. Corporate Governance and SRI

Corporate Governance reform has been a major theme across Asia since the financial crisis. How does good corporate governance contribute to SRI practice? What does this mean for pension fund managers and how should corporations respond?

Chair: Mr. Jeremy Baskin - Head of Research, The Ethical Investment Research Service (EIRIS)

Speakers: Professor Scott Davis – Professor, Reitaku University

Mr. Peter Montagnon – Head of Investment Affairs, Association of British Insurers

Mr. John Taylor – Principal Researcher, Global Shareholder Service (Japan), IRRC

3. Exploring SRI Strategy from the Front Line

A group of SRI fund managers will discuss the aims and the challenges of managing an SRI fund. This session will debate the best strategy for long term and guaranteed returns, and will touch on the merits of passive and active investment.

Chair: Mr. Darrell Riley – Vice President, T. Rowe Price Group

Speakers: Mr. Euan Marshall – Director, Kingsway Fund Management

Mr. Tadashi Hayami– Senior Fund Manager, Asahi Life Asset Management Co., Ltd.

Mr. Jeremy Hall - Associate Director, Japanese Specialist Equities, Henderson Global Investors

4. The Agenda for Long-term Investment

Pension Funds are the ultimate long-term investors. How can they assist in mobilizing capital into projects and enterprises with long-term benefit such as large sustainable infrastructure projects, forestry management, micro-finance, venture finance and community investment?

Chair: Mr. Brian Pearce – Director, Centre for Sustainable Investment, Forum for the Future

Speakers: Ms. N. Cinnamon Dornsife – Director of Financial Markets, Forest Trends

Mr. Takayuki Yamamoto – Director, Policy Planning Department, Development Bank of Japan

Mr. Timothy Krause - Financial Institutions Group Manager, East Asia and Pacific Region, IFC

4:00pm

TEA BREAK

4:30pm

REPORT BACK TO PLENARY

workshop findings, conference closes

5:30pm

PRESS BRIEFING WITH SPONSORS

6:00pm

ASrIA AGM