Flemming Borreskov
Appointed Special Advisor on Foundations
(Copenhagen/New York, 30 May 2013) – Realdania and the
United Nations Global Compact today announced their collaboration to accelerate
the transition to global sustainability through mutual projects and network
facilitation in the areas of social investment, catalytic philanthropy and
private sustainability financing.
As part of the new partnership the UN Global Compact
announced the appointment of Flemming Borreskov to the honorary role of Special
Advisor on Foundations. Mr. Borreskov will work with the Global Compact to
develop close relationships and opportunities for collaboration with
foundations and other stakeholders in the philanthropic sector. He will help to
make the case for sustainable development and advocate on behalf of relevant
Global Compact platforms, in particular the Principles for Social Investment.
Flemming Borreskov is currently the Chief Executive
Officer of Realdania in Denmark. He is President to the
International Federation for Housing and Planning and the Danish Architecture
Centre (DAC) and holds a number of Danish board positions (Chairman of the
Board at Realdania Byg, Realdania By and Carlsberg Byen Group.) Mr. Borreskov
holds various international positions of trust including as Governing Council
Member of the European Foundation Centre and as Founding Partner Board Member
of Sustainia. The UN Global Compact is partner to the Sustainia
initiative launched at Rio+20 last year.
“Philanthropy can and should be a fundamental,
proactive player in finding solutions to our world’s most pressing problems.
Philanthropy and the UN Global Compact share many of the same values and goals
and I believe the partnership will lead to greater collaboration and engagement
to advance the sustainability agenda and drive sustainable development and
corporate responsibility more into the mainstream,” states Realdania CEO
Flemming Borreskov.
The two organizations will leverage their networks and
matchmaking competencies to help ensure that philanthropic investments not only
contribute to a specific cause but also take into account a wide range of
sustainability issues. By providing philanthropic expertise, networks and
resources to companies, philanthropists will have the opportunity to drive
change in the private sector and ensure that globalization advances in ways
that benefit economies and societies everywhere.
More than 7,000 business participants from 140
countries have now committed to the Global Compact and to embed sustainability
throughout their operations. Yet corporate responsibility has not yet reached
critical mass, and greater efforts are required to support the pioneers in scaling
up and advancing the sustainability agenda. The new partnership will pave the way
for increased cooperation and understanding between the UN Global Compact,
philanthropy and the corporate world.
