Corporate Social Responsibility Theme of Business Lunch

In its eighth successful year, Food for Thought - the Cuningham Taylor Business Lunch will feature a new line-up of speakers to compliment the return of sponsor firm Cuningham Taylor Law.

Supporting the work of The Family Help Trust, the lunch on Thursday 8 October aims to entertain and inform high-profile Canterbury business professionals. It commonly raises $30,000 towards the successful prevention of child abuse and child death in vulnerable families through an intensive five-year programme of in-home support.

This year’s event will be MC’d by local business professional Leeann Watson, General Manager of Canterbury Employers Chamber of Commerce, and Director of The Champion Canterbury Awards. Leeann brings a wealth of public speaking and business experience to the lunch along with her own insight into the local business community and she says:

"The role of the Family Help Trust is aligned with the CECC's philosophy on the interdependency between a strong business sector and a healthy community and I am thrilled to be involved in this year's event"

Key-note speakers in 2015 include the Hon. Paula Bennett, MP for Upper Harbour, Minister of State Services and Associate Minister of Finance, who is also pleased to be involved this year. “From my time as Minister of Social Development, I saw first-hand what an incredible job non-government organisations like Family Help Trust and many others do with Government agencies to support our families.” She says.

Ms Bennett promises to bring lively debate to the lunch with her political perspective on the economy and the state services sector. The changing nature of corporate responsibility is of special interest to all businesses and Ms Bennett will share the Government’s view. “This is a positive, optimistic Government that is focused on delivering results.” She says. ‘’We don’t believe Government has all the answers, and think that community groups and the private sector have an important role to play to get those good outcomes New Zealanders quite rightly expect us to deliver.”

The Hon.Paula Bennett will be joined onstage by economist and Head of Research at The New Zealand Initiative, Dr Eric Crampton. A think tank describing themselves as a ‘business group with a difference’’ the NZ Initiative are committed to developing innovative policy solutions that work for all New Zealanders, and believe that promoting such policies will benefit all members.

On the 8th October Dr. Eric Crampton will explain the basic model that the Ministry of Health is trialing for social impact bonds, how it could be made better for community-based charitable organisations in combination with crowdfunding, and how it links into the evidence-based approach recommended in the growing effective-altruism movement.

Over a three course lunch, guests attending Food for Thought - The Cuningham Taylor Business Lunch will once again have the opportunity to network and host clients while gaining insight into the economy and relevant private sector issues such as social responsibility.

Tickets can be purchased at www.familyhelptrust.org.nz

-Scoop Business