Center for Innovative Thinking to hold first conference in the UAE

The conference is to be held on 12th October 2003 at the Burj Al Arab. The conference will be followed by two independent one-day workshops on the 13th and 14th October; focusing on public sector and private sector needs respectively.

CIT recognizes that corporate governance has become increasingly important to all types of business and organizations and that a global understanding of the concept remains undefined. The conference will consider how a robust system of good Corporate Governance can be managed and how this can benefit organizations.

The daylong conference aims to provide executives and directors working in the Middle East an opportunity to advance their knowledge and understanding of Corporate Governance. Topics covered will include positioning Corporate Governance in the Arab world, the legal implications and Financial & Corporate Management within Corporate Governance, Ethics and Values of Corporate Governance and Business Performance Management for Corporate Value Creation. The day will also include an hour-long lunch for networking opportunities.

The keynote speaker for the conference, Professor Steve Letza, has an impressive academic record and currently resides as the Professor of Corporate Governance at Leeds Business School in the U.K.

He comments, "Through participation in the conference and workshops I believe that attendees will develop a better understanding and knowledge of Corporate Governance. This knowledge will encourage the interest and application of contemporary approaches to corporate governance in the region."

Professor Letza is also the founding Director of the European Centre for Corporate Governance, he has written numerous papers on the topic of Corporate Governance. He believes strongly in the agents of change facing the new age boardroom structure, he says; "Open governance within knowledge based companies is now the norm. Networks rather than hierarchies are the way in which much contemporary business is conducted".

The other speakers at the conference boast equally impressive records with both academic and practical expertise and extensive global experience. The content of the day is expected to be of an exceptional standard and aims to reinforce the implementation of good Governance across the region.

The two workshops will approach Corporate Governance in more detail and consider perspectives from both the public and private sector. Participants will be given an opportunity to engage in teamwork and open discussion. Case studies will be drawn from, providing learning opportunities and insight into best practice from other parts of the world.

Both the conference and the workshop are expected to draw a wide mix of senior individuals from company Chairmen, Presidents, CEOs, Management Analysts, to any stakeholder interested in the well being of their corporations' improved quality.

The European Centre for Total Quality Management (ECTQM) has been commissioned by CIT to undertake a multi-industry survey on corporate governance practices in the Middle East. Senior Executives are invited to contribute to the survey by visiting the CIT website and completing the questionnaire. Participants will receive the executive summary of the survey results once completed. There may also be an opportunity for companies to attend a review seminar later in the year to explore and discuss the findings.