History - CSR-Dialogforum

2023

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving forward.” (Albert Einstein)

In 2023, a breath of fresh air is sweeping through the CSR Dialogue Forum. With the new Executive Director come new ideas and priorities, a relaunch of the website, new advisory board members, new offerings, and new partnerships.

The scope of activities is expanding, as is evident from the addition to the name: the CSR Dialogue Forum sees itself as a center of excellence for integrated sustainability in business and society, thereby broadening its scope beyond purely economic issues—in line with the SDGs, which also take social transformation into account.

New advisory board members specializing in areas such as energy and energy management, healthcare, financing and startups, human rights, and logistics are joining the existing team.

New strategic partnerships with ÖGNI—the Austrian Society for Sustainable Real Estate Management, represented by DI Dr. techn. Anna-Vera Deinhammer—and Green Brands support our activities and increase our visibility.

The G100 Club marks the addition of a new international project to the portfolio aimed at advancing SDG 5, “Gender Equality,” with both founder and honorary president Dr. h.c. Brunhidle Schram, MAS, MBA, serving as Global Chair of SDGs, and Secretary General Ursula Oberhollenzer, MSc, serving as Global Chair of CSR, both on a volunteer basis.

The CSR Dialogue Forum is getting a new look, with a fresh corporate design highlighting the relaunch. This is accompanied by new offerings, ranging from membership options and services for members and interested parties to exclusive networking events.

2022

"True community is essentially a community of responsible persons - but a mere mass is only the sum of depersonalised beings!" (Viktor Frankl)

2022 is the year in which the CSR Dialogue Forum gets off to a completely new start. Because the challenges are greater than ever and time is running out!

The CSR Dialogue Forum’s new training programme has been launched:

• Sustainability course for social and non-profit organisations
Sustainability course for journalists and communications staff (in cooperation with media expert Doris Schulz)
Sustainability course for female supervisory board members (in cooperation with media expert Doris Schulz)

There is a new project that is being supported and jointly (further) developed by our Secretary General Ursula Oberhollenzer, MSc as a member of the Sustainability Advisory Board: Stadtwald der social city Wien (www.socialcity.at/stadtwald).

The advisory boards are being restructured and continuously expanded; at the end of the year, responsibility for the CSR Dialogue Forum will be fully transferred to the new Secretary General, Ursula Oberhollenzer, MSc.

2021

``Life belongs to the living, and those who are living need to be prepared for change.“ (Goethe)

The year 2021 was marked by the appointment of a new executive committee.

We were pleased to appoint Prof. Konrad Scheiber, CEO of Quality Austria, as an additional honorary president. Starting this year, the Executive Board will be chaired by Dr. Thomas Greigeritsch, Head of Sustainability at the Mayr Melnhof Group. He will be supported by the following vice presidents: Albin Kälin (focus area: circular economy), DI Sabine Nadherny-Borutin (focus area: plastics), Claudia Rankers (focus area: finance), Mag. Doris Schulz (focus area: media & PR), and DI Agnes Steinberger-Sendlhofer (focus area: food & agriculture).

We also participated in the 2021 Austria-wide “Sustainability Action Days” with the eccos22® training program.

Participation in the Quality Austria Forum 2021, including a presentation by eccos22® client FACC AG.

Nomination of Sparx Service Central Europe and the CSR Dialogue Forum for the 2021 Constantinus Award

Sparx Services Central Europe is a business unit of the Lieber.Group. Using model-based methodologies and tools, we help our clients and partners adopt agile structures, identify opportunities for change and innovation, and implement them in a sustainable manner

FACC AG Awarded the eccos²² Seal of Quality – Delayed Due to the Pandemic.

2020

“Change is hard at the beginning, chaotic in the middle, and beautiful at the end.” (Unknown)

Gründerin Brunhilde Schram, MAS, MBA, wird Ehrenpräsidentin des CSR Dialogforums.

We are delighted to celebrate the successful eccos²² Management Assessment with our client FACC AG! Read more in our interview with Patrick Doppler.

2019

“One must never stop imagining the world as it would be most reasonable.” (Dürrenmatt)<br><br>

Two trips to Helsinki by President Brunhilde Schram: to the “SDG-Cities” event and to the presentation of the revised EFQM model.

Collaboration on the development of an expanded eccos22® consulting offering: the eccos22® sparring partnership as preparation for the eccos22® Management Assessment.

Participation in the Quality Austria Forum 2019

2018

„Zukunft ist kein Schicksalsschlag, sondern die Folge der Entscheidungen, die wir heute treffen.“ (Alt)

CSR DF President Brunhilde Schram and Head of Communications Ursula Oberhollenzer have been awarded the “Excellence Award” for outstanding achievements in the field of “empowerment for women and sustainability.” The award is presented by the All Ladies League and the Women’s Economic Forum in The Hague.

Nomination for the Constantinus Award 2018

Participation in the Quality Austria Forum 2018

2017

“We cannot change the wind, but we can adjust the sails.” (Aristotle)

Launch of the cooperation with the German Logistics Association (BVL) with the aim of adapting eccos22® as an additional industry seal of quality for this sector.

Start of cooperation negotiations with the China-Austria Su Tong Eco-Park (CAEP) with the aim of supporting sustainable companies in establishing themselves there.

Start of cooperation negotiations with “Great Place to Work” and Boardsearch for joint activities.

Participation in the following events to promote eccos22® and for business development activities:

World Market Leaders Congress 2017
Quality Austria Customer Day 2017
Event to promote eccos22® at Wirtschaftsverlag in Vienna
“Great Place to Work” Gala featuring an interview on the topic of “Sustainable Partnerships”

2016

“The secret of change lies in focusing all your energy on building something new, rather than fighting the old.” (Socrates)

Partnership with Quality Austria as a certification partner

For the eccos22® Management Assessment Link to the Webpage https://www.qualityaustria.com/produktgruppen/gesellschaftliche-verantwortung-csr/eccos22/

Publication of the book “CSR and Organizational Development” by Brunhilde Schram MAS, MBA, together with Dr. René Schmidpeter in the “Blaue Reihe” series of Springer Verlag.

Launch of the partnership with “ÖkoBusiness Wien” to provide funding for Viennese companies wishing to implement the eccos22® Management Assessment.

Market research trips to the UK, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Germany.

Participation in the following events to promote eccos22® and for business development activities:

Event at the Kulturquartier, Linz, January 26, 2016, Topic: How sustainable is your company?
Event with C-Quadrat KAG, Vienna, April 7, 2016, Topic: How sustainable is your company?
Supporting Partner at the 3rd International Conference on CSR, Sustainability, Ethics, and Governance, Cologne, August 1–3, 2016
World Market Leaders Congress 2016 (Wirtschaftsverlag)

2015

“If Globalization does not ultimately benefit everyone, then it benefits no one.” (Annan)

Chapter 22 – CSR Symposium “The Search for Plan C”

Reflections on future (re)orientation by 2020

“Demographic Consulting” project to support future orientation

2014

“The best way to shape the future is to create it” (Drucker)

Strategische Allianz mit SEA-Gründerin & Expertin für Sustainable Entrepreneurship Christina Weidinger

„SEA-Award Gala“

Featuring the presentation of the Sustainable Entrepreneurship Awards on October 7, 2014

„4. Grenzüberschreitende Nachhaltigkeits-Dialoge“

Follow-up event to the Reichersberg Sustainability Dialogues featuring a keynote address by Prof. Dr. Ernst von Weizsäcker / Club of Rome on November 6, 2014

2013

“Everything great in our world happens only because someone does more than they have to” (Gmeiner)

“The Influence of Good Leadership on the Sustainability of Organizations”

In conversation with Dr. Josef Kinast (Siemens AG) with support from TMS GmbH

”On New Paths”

Thanks to the outgoing Board and election of the new Board: Brunhilde Schram, MAS, MBA; Ing. Günther Goldhahn DSA; Werner Schrangl and Dr. J. Buczkowski.

“Successful Corporate Management”

Stakeholder conference at WKS, with President Brunhilde Schram, MAS, MBA, on the panel.

“Business with a Vision – Business in Transition”

Premiere of the “Napuro” business simulation for sustainable corporate management in Austria, with support from HC Solutions GmbH

“Successful Corporate Management”

Symposium of the ULF Linz and the CSR Dialogue Forum, featuring President Brunhilde Schram MAS, MBA as a speaker.

„SEA-Forum: Sustainable Entrepreneurship“

President Brunhilde Schram, MAS, MBA, in conversation with Christina Weidinger, Dr. René Schmidpeter, and Baroness Shreela Flather at the House of Parliament in London.

„Developlent of a Communication Strategy for the CSR Dialogforum“

Project by the extended board members Dipl. Des. S. Hahnwald and St. Von Rüden, MSc, with students from the Ingolstadt School of Management.

2012

“We do not become wise through the memory of our past, but through responsibility for our future” (Shaw)

“CSR Dialogue Forum: Concrete Action”

Series of lectures and workshops focusing on eight current topics.

“CST and Sustainability Policy – Panta Rhei”

Reichersberger Sustainability Dialogues, expert forum on CSR and sustainability with a keynote by Dr. René Schmidpeter (Center for Humane Market Economy)

“Business with a Vision: Sustainability Concepts and CSR”

with Prof. (FH) Mag. Dr. Ferry Stocker (FH Wiener Neustadt) in cooperation with Academia Superior / denkBAR

2011

“Focus your attention on what you want and take action, instead of looking for 1,000 reasons why something can’t work” (Pörner)

Das CSR Dialogforum wird zu einer NGO weiterentwickelt mit dem Ziel der Akkreditierung bei den Vereinten Nationen.

The Value of Good Leadership for the Sustainability of People and Businesses”

Experience report by Dr. G. Suttner in cooperation with the Peace Academy Linz, with support from Ettl-Software GmbH.

“In Conversation with…”

Event series with DI Klaus Fronius and Heinrich Staudinger in cooperation with the Peace Academy Linz.

“Promises – Trust – Credibility. What Holds Business, Politics, and Society Together”

Reichersberg Sustainability Dialogues, featuring a keynote speech by Birgit Riess (Bertelsmann Stiftung, Germany), in collaboration with the Ministry of Life, WKS and ARGE proEthik.

2010

“It pays to stand up for what you believe in.” (Schram)

„CSR – Quality – Marketing“

Themed evening with Kuno Haas and Dr Reinhard Horst, supported by Eisenbeiss GmbH

“The journey is the destination”

Themenabend mit Mag. Ferdinand Kaineder mit Unterstützung der schram und mehr KG

“Success with responsibility: an opportunity and a challenge for businesses”

Themed evening with Univ. Prof. Dr Christian Friesl, supported by Jona Personalservice.

“Appearance and Reality: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the Upper Austrian banking sector”

Study commissioned by the WKO and in cooperation with JKU Linz, authored by Dr Elisabeth Dreer MSc, Mag. Doris Eyett and Univ. Prof. DDr. h.c. Friedrich Schneider

“European Multi-Stakeholder Forum”

President Brunhilde Schram, MAS, MBA, as a panellist in Brussels.

“Achieving economic success through FAIR corporate governance (CSR) and sustainability”

Reichersberg Sustainability Dialogues with a keynote address by Prof. Dr A. Sucharek (Wittenberg Centre for Global Ethics, Germany) in a fireside chat with Dr Christoph Leitl, President of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO).

“Businesses for the region”

President Brunhilde Schram, MAS, MBA, as a panellist in Berlin

2009

“One waits for time to change. The other seizes it firmly and acts.” (Aleghieri)

“From financial crisis to economic crisis – the psychology of the market”

Lecture by Univ. Prof. Dr. Walter Ötsch, supported by schram und mehr KG.

“Shaping the future now – efficiency requires a sense of purpose and a willingness to take responsibility”

Themed evening with Univ. Prof. Dr. Helmut Renöckl, supported by schram und mehr KG.

„CSR Quality Marketing“

Themed evening with Kuno Haas and Dr Reinhard Horst, supported by Eisenbeiss GmbH

2008

“Growth and sustainability start small” (unknown)

Regular meetings of the pioneers under the motto

There is magic in every beginning” (Hesse)

“Sustainable business practices with social responsibility & the importance of social responsibility in times of economic crisis”

Themed evening with Mag. Andreas Schneider

“Success with Fair Responsibility in Upper Austria”

Pilot project in collaboration with Mag. Andreas Schneider and with the support of CSR experts Bettina Lorentschitsch MSc, MBA and Thomas Walker, CMC

2007

“Thought lays the foundation for action” (Moltke)

First meeting of the “Upper Austria CSR Dialogue Platform”