Technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) have emerged as transformative forces in the modern business landscape and promise significant benefits for early adopters, but they are not without disruptive impacts—including the possibility of disproportionately affecting more vulnerable members of society.
The League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) is organizing the highly-anticipated 2024 CSR Expo to rally CSR practitioners to collaborate and harness the potential of technology and innovation while overcoming their risks.
The conference will be held on July 3 and 4 at Dusit Thani Manila, while the expo is on July 4 and 5 at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City.
“How do we make these new technologies that can be a game changer accessible to them…The focus of the discussion is what opportunities do all of these technologies bring for us to bring a more equitable society,” LCF vice-chair and Vivant Foundation executive director Shem Jose Garcia said.
The expo under the theme “Reimagining a New and Inclusive Future” will bring together leaders, experts and representatives of different industries to tackle significant topics ranging from how technology can enhance CSR practice and ESG reporting to AI’s role as a catalyst for innovation and as a source of disruption.
It will also feature small-group breakout sessions where attendees can gather new insights and tactics about how AI and other revolutionary technologies can be leveraged across such crucial areas as enterprise development, health, environment, education, disaster resilience, arts and culture and financial inclusion.
“Corporates should view these innovations as vital opportunities to take part in, if not lead an all-of-nation implementations of CSR and ESG that maximize these innovations’ potential and promise while offsetting and minimizing their potential ill effects,” said Garcia.
“These approaches must work to ensure that the application of technology is aligned with the fundamental principles of CSR and ESG, and, by doing so, made inclusive and contributes to social sustainability and the common good,” he said.
The gathering of CSR experts will showcase the application of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting can help mitigate the challenges posed by technology.
The sector aims to ensure that these technologies are inclusive and contribute to true societal and national development that benefits the 51 percent of Filipinos living in poverty.
The 2024 CSR EXPO will connect around 200 delegates with industry leaders in CSR, technology and innovation and other areas and serve as a venue for dynamic discussions and collaboration.
The speaker lineup includes keynote speaker Dr. David Hardoon, chief executive of Aboitiz Data Innovation; forum speakers Leo de Velez, co-founder of Frontlearners Inc.; Sherwin Yap, founder of Kaizen Robotics International; and Sherlo Reyes, director for the Center for Partnership & Development, School of Deaf Education & Applied Studies at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.
LCF will award noteworthy examples of CSR excellence concurrently with the Expo in celebration of National CSR Week.
LCF will announce the winners of the 2024 Guild Awards on t July 3 at Dusit Thani Manila. The yearly awards program honors exemplary CSR initiatives undertaken by LCF members.
It will also award the CSR Medal of Recognition to non-members to acknowledge the work and effort they provide in their respective communities. The Medal of Recognition celebrates the interventional activities of non-member corporates. The inaugural program will be held on July 5 at the Glorietta.
Meanwhile, the expo will showcase technology-themed CSR initiatives undertaken by LCF members and non-members alike for the general public.
This year’s exhibitors are Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc.; Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines Inc.; BPI Foundation Inc.; Toyota Motor Philippines Foundation Inc.; Metrobank Foundation Inc.; Aboitiz Foundation Inc.; Metro Pacific Investment Foundation Inc.; Gokongwei Brothers Foundation Inc.; Vivant Foundation Inc.; Manila Water Foundation Inc.; Power 4 All Inc.; Lopez Group Foundation Inc.; Energy Development Corp.; BDO Foundation Inc.; San Miguel Foundation Inc.; Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Philippines, Inc.; Ayala Foundation Inc.; Don Antonio O. Floirendo Sr. Foundation, Inc.; East West Seed Foundation, Inc.; Joy~Nostalg Foundation Inc.; SM Foundation, Inc.; PCI Innovations Tech Center, Inc.; Frontlearners, Inc.; Rise Against Hunger Philippines; and Animal Empathy Philippines.
The Expo will also serve as a venue for the launch of LIFE, the League of Corporate Foundations’ Initiative for Food Security, Nutrition and Empowerment. LIFE is a League-wide initiative working to halt stunting, wasting and malnutrition while collaborating with like-minded groups and government agencies.
Established in 1991, LCF is a network of operating and grant-making corporate and family foundations and corporations in the Philippines.
The 2024 CSR Conference and Expo is co-organized with Metro Pacific Investments Foundation Inc., and Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc. It is also brought to you by Aboitiz Foundation Inc.; Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines Inc.; Manila Water Foundation Inc.; Metrobank Foundation, Inc.; SM Foundation Inc.; Henry Sy Foundation Inc.; Felicidad Sy Foundation Inc.; and Vivant Foundation Inc.