Corporate Social Responsibility Consultations for SMEs
Chambers Ireland is delighted to offer SMEs with an interest in Corporate Social Responsibility the opportunity to engage with some of Ireland’s leading CSR practitioner. Members of Chambers Ireland’s CSR Policy Council have offered their time to meet with small or medium sized enterprises for a one-on-one CSR consultation and guidance session, offering members information on how to get started in CSR, or give advice on building upon existing CSR initiatives.
This is a great opportunity for small and medium sized businesses to meet one-on-one with a CSR specialist for advice and guidance on getting engaged in CSR or promotion and development of existing CSR strategies. The Council comprises of a number of high profile business leaders and CSR specialists.
If you are interested in meeting with an expert to discuss CSR implementation or the development of your SME’s CSR strategy, we would like to hear from you. Chambers Ireland can organise a meeting with one of our expert Policy Council members who can provide guidance on all things CSR. This is an excellent chance for a business leader to access a free consultation with proven experts in their field on a wide range of CSR topics. Our advisors will take the time to understand your business needs and help you to implement a CSR strategy that works for your business and staff.
Below there are brief bios on some of our CSR Policy Council experts participating in this initiative. Please contact Elisha for further details: elisha.collierobrien@chambers.ie
Pauline McKiernan, Sustainability Manager with Ulster Bank
Since joining Ulster Bank as Sustainability Manager in 2008, Pauline has designed and led high-impact programmes such as MoneySense for Schools, Skills & Opportunities Fund and One Week in June. She also leads the bank’s engagement with consumer bodies, debt advice agencies and community organisations across the island of Ireland. Pauline’s roles have spanned teaching, consumer advocacy, social research, marketing communications and financial education. She holds a BA in English and Sociology, H.Dip Education, post-graduate degree in Marketing Management and Diploma in CSR from the National College of Ireland. She is a director on the board of Young Social Innovators, a member of the Irish Government CSR Forum and a member of the Chambers Ireland CSR Policy Committee. Pauline continuously promotes Ulster Bank as a leader in responsible business practices in Ireland. The bank has achieved 12 CSR awards in the last five years and last year won the Chambers Ireland Outstanding Achievement in Corporate Social Responsibility award. It is the only bank holding both the CORE and Business Working Responsibly marks – the highest independent CSR accreditations in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Karina Howley, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at KPMG Ireland
For the last nine years Karina has been the Head of Corporate Social ‘Responsibility for KPMG Ireland. Through Karina’s tenure KPMG Ireland has developed a robust CSR programme and has won a variety of CSR Awards over the last number of years: in 2013 KPMG won the overall Outstanding Award for best company at the Chambers Ireland CSR Awards and won the Allianz Business to Arts Award for Best Employee Engagement at the 2015 Awards for its work with St. Michael’s House Multi-Sensory stories.
KPMG was the first professional services firm in Ireland to achieve carbon neutral status in January 2007. Karina set up Enactus Ireland in 2011/12 and is now the Company Secretary for the organisation which now employs three people, has 10 third level institutes participate and showcases best practice in Ireland at the World Cup held internationally each year. Karina is the Chairperson of the Chambers Ireland CSR Policy Council and actively works with Business in the Community Ireland. She is also a member of the government led CSR Stakeholder Forum and is a member of Chambers International CSR Council. Karina studied in the National University Ireland, Galway and completed an Arts Degree in English and Sociology & Politics, afterwards she studied a higher Diploma in Applied Communications. In 2005 she returned to NUI Galway and was awarded a first class honours Masters of Journalism and her thesis was on ͚Corporate Social ‘Responsibility’.
Anne Cooney, Group Corporate Social Responsibility Coordinator at ESB
Over 10 years’ experience in planning and implementing CSR and fundraising strategies incorporating areas such as strategic partnership development, sponsorship, employee engagement PR and event management. Anne manages ESB’s CSR programme – ESB’s Energy for Generations Fund. ESB has won a number of CSR Awards over the last number of years including Excellence in CSR Communication and Excellence in Workplace CSR at the 2015 Chambers Ireland CSR Awards. ESB are holders of the Business Working Responsibly Mark, recently re-accredited for a further three year period to 2018. Anne is a member of the Irish Government CSR Stakeholder Forum and a member of the Chambers Ireland CSR Policy Committee.