CPP 2010 Conference Connects Communities

The Company Pride Platform, in conjunction with the International Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (IGLCC) held its annual conference last week in Amsterdam's beautiful Bimhuis and Muziek Gebouw aan t'IJ. Despite the somewhat 'sour' weather outside, participants were treated to uplifting discussions and inspiring connections during the event.

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  • Keynote speakers, Hans van Scherpenzeel, General Manager of Shell's Pernis refinery outlined his company's commitment to LGBT diversity and explained how it is a business imperative for them to work closely with the LGBT community. Belinda Pyke, Director for Equality between Men and Women, Action again Discrimination, and Civil Society from the European Commission detailed the EU's plans to take a more active role in encouraging European companies to recognize the value of diversity. She also spoke on the Commission's own projects to have LGBT diversity play a more visible role in European Diversity
  • The International Outlook for LGBT Organization, was the theme of a fast-paced yet informative session featuring representatives of 10 different international LGBT business-oriented/concerned organizations. Moderated by Willem Pedroli of the Dutch Ministry of the Interior, this panel presented a bird's-eye-view of some of the most pertinent issues facing the LGBT community today and their outlook for the future.
  • IGLCC's 2010 Index Winner, IBM was highlighted in a press conference that saw 2 of the CPP's member companies placed in the top 5 most LGBT-friendly corporations in the world.
  • LGBT Talkshows brought together experts from many fields to discuss topics as diverse as "Trans Issues in Business" and "Global LGBT Corporate Responsibility".
  • Closing Keynote Speaker, Claudia Woody, Managing Director Intellectual Property Rights at IBM, Andrée van Es, Alderman responsible for the City of Amsterdam, and Boris Dittrich, Advocacy Director, Sexual Minorities Human Rights Watch, debated on the value of cooperation between the private, public and NGO world on LGBT issues.
  • Special sessions on "International Lesbian Business Initiatives", and "Feedback for the IGLCC's International Business Equality Index", rounded off the conference on Friday, June 11th.
  • IGLCC's Annual Gala Award Dinner rounded off the activities with a beautiful dinner held at the Sofitel Grand Hotel. Numerous awards were presented including to ING for International Corporation of the Year, and to the City of Amsterdam which received the award for the International LGBT Leadership Award for its innovative campaign "I AMsterdam". This award acknowledged the special place that LGBT people have played in the City's history and continue to play today.

This, ground-breaking event not only brought together two growing organizations in the CPP and the IGLCC, but also experts, media, LGBT community members and straight allies from the corporate, governmental and NGO worlds. Participants had many opportunities to meet new colleagues, discuss new agendas and to renew old friendships; all of which are crucial in strengthening the LGBT Community.

 

The Board of the CPP would like to thank all those who took the time to venture to Amsterdam and looks forward to playing an ever-increasing role in helping to shape the international LGBT business-agenda going forward.

 

For more information about the CPP 2010 Conference, or to request images from the conference, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it