On October 11, 2022 Seventh Generation Interfaith Coalition for Responsible Investment (SGI-CRI) held its annual conference at Fox Point Lutheran Church, as well as with an option to attend virtually.
Good stewardship requires posing and answering difficult questions, especially concerning business activities in conflict-affected and high-risk areas where the risks are highest to people and planet and portfolios. The World Bank estimates that two-thirds of the world’s poor will live in such areas by 2030, while Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the military coup in Myanmar, and forced labor in the XUAR of China make this an urgent and compelling topic now. It is up to investors and companies to respond to these systemic risks with systemic solutions, putting conflict-sensitive policies and practices into place. With our guests, we delved into those issues.
This year’s theme was Corporate Human Rights Due Diligence in Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas. Business and human rights leader Bennett Freeman opened the event with a keynote speech followed by an expert panel discussion. Chris Cox, our associate director, moderated the panel with:
- Shari Gittleman, Senior Director External Relations at Newmont Mining Corporation
- Anita Dorett, Program Director for ICCR’s Investor Alliance for Human Rights
- Samuel Jones, President and Co-founder of the Heartland Initiative
- Patricia Zerega, Director of Shareholder Advocacy at Mercy Investment Services
A video of the full conference can be found here. The event program can be found here.
As well, Frank Sherman received the Fr. Mike Crosby Award at the conference reception.
SGI is very grateful to all of our sponsors of this year’s conference.
Seventh Generation Interfaith Coalition for Responsible Investing 