Mr Willie Cheng

Former Partner
Accenture

Topic Synopsis

Business Social Responsibility: Business or Responsibility?

Many companies engage in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) because of its business benefits, not least of which is the branding. However, that plays to the argument of critics that the business of business is just business. Yet, another perspective requires businesses to understand the power they have and the attendant responsibility that entails. Willie Cheng will explore these alternate perspectives of CSR and its implications on the actions and the very definition of an enterprise.

Biography

Willie Cheng is a former partner of Accenture, a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing firm. Prior to his retirement in 2003, he was the country managing director for Singapore and the managing partner of its Communications and High Tech practice in Asia.

Since his retirement, he has stayed involved with the business and the infocomm community. He sits on the board of Singapore Press Holdings and NTUC Fairprice. He spends the larger part of his time working with nonprofit organizations at the board and volunteer level. Among these, he is chairman of the Lien Centre for Social Innovation and Caritas Singapore Community Council.

He has written extensively on the nonprofit sector, in particular the linkages of business and charity. He is author of a recent book, Doing Good Well: What does (and does not) make sense in the nonprofit world.