Corporate Governance experts launch the Center for Innovative Thinking's inaugural conference

Experts, Steve Letza, Giovanni Schiuma, Mohammed Zairi and Peter Fairclough, provided details of the one-day conference which is followed by two independent workshops designed specifically for public and private sector companies respectively. The entire program will be held at the Burj Al Arab from 12th to 14th October.

Over the coming days, these experts will offer key members of the Middle East business community advice and insights into the multiple benefits that effective corporate governance can bring to their businesses. The experts carry with them a wealth of academic and practical experience. Each will be offering delegates information on best practice as well as guidance on how to implement a robust systems of corporate governance into their individual company infrastructures.

Outlining the importance of corporate governance to the modern business, Steve Letza, founding Director of the European Centre for Corporate Governance, said: 'Good governance leads to good management and improved long-term performance. Wherever corporate entities exist there is a need to assess corporate governance. I strongly believe in the agents of change facing the new age boardroom structure. Open governance within knowledge-based companies is now the norm. Improved governance leads to improved performance and networks, rather than hierarchies, are the way in which much contemporary business is conducted.'

He adds 'It is wonderful to be here in Dubai with my academic colleagues. Dubai is definitely a leading light on the global corporate stage and our hope is that the Corporate Governance conference will initiate the development and the implementation of effective corporate governance infrastructures for local and regional businesses.'

Professor Letza, who has directed several large research projects on Corporate Governance, Performance Measurement and Corporate Reporting, has a successful academic career and is a leading authority in the field of Corporate Governance. He has acted as an advisor to several UK and overseas institutions and has published over 100 papers on the subject.

Other speakers at the conference boast equally impressive records. Professor Giovanni Schiuma, who will be lecturing on Business Performance Management for Corporate Value Creation, is currently the Associate Professor of Innovation and Knowledge Management at Università della Basilicata in Italy. His research and consulting has been primarily focused around intangible assets management and business performance management.

Peter Fairclough, who will be covering the ground on Ethics and Values of Corporate Governance at the conference on the 12th October, has considerable practical experience and has spent much time in the international corporations, Unilever and Arla Foods (Europe's largest dairy foods group). He has assisted many organizations both public and private in addressing the success imperative of cultural change.

Professor Mohammad Zairi, will be chairing the conference. His opening address will focus on the positioning of Corporate Governance in the Arab World. He will also be disclosing the results of CIT's commissioned research investigating the 'State and Application of Corporate Governance in the Arab world' undertaken by ECTQM. Prof. Zairi is currently the Professor of Best Practice Management at the University of Bradford in the UK and has written over 300 papers and ten books covering aspects of management, particularly the area of benchmarking, another of CIT's areas of expertise.

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 daylong conference, on 12th October, aims to provide executives and directors working in the Middle East with an opportunity to advance their knowledge and understanding of Corporate Governance.

Areas 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 workshops on 13th and 14th October 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.