UN Global Compact founder Georg Kell to be honoured by GCU

Founding Executive Director of the United Nations Global Compact, the world’s largest voluntary corporate sustainability initiative, Georg Kell is to be honoured by Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU).

Georg will be awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws at a graduation ceremony in Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on Thursday, July 6.

As well as helping establish the Global Compact, which has 12500 signatories in 170 countries, in more than 25 years with the UN, Georg oversaw the conception and launch of its initiatives on investment, the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), and on education, the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) and the Sustainable Stock Exchange Initiative (SSE).

In 2013 GCU became the first Scottish university to join the Compact, the world’s biggest voluntary corporate responsibility partnership and is one of just 30 global PRME Champions.

Now Vice Chair of asset manager Arabesque, Georg has been named among Ethisphere’s “100 Most Influential in Business Ethics” every year since 2011 and is one of six celebrated figures to be recognised in the University’s summer graduation ceremonies.

He said: “GCU is a champion of the Principles for Responsible Management (PRME), and at its ethos, as the University for the Common Good, it places this at its very core. I, therefore, accept this honour with great appreciation and am proud to join this academic community.”

GCU Principal and Vice Chancellor Professor Pamela Gillies CBE FRSE said: “I am delighted to be able to celebrate the work and achievements of these individuals, who are outstanding examples of our University’s enduring commitment to work for the Common Good.”