Events, deadlines and agenda planning cycles this month

For a certain demographic, September is back-to-school time. For another demographic, it is conference-strategy-planning time. For the latter among you, we offer the following—full well knowing that you’d much, much rather be back in school (any school!).

Foremost forums upcoming in September

• Frost & Sullivan’s Growth, Innovation, and Leadership Global Congress on Corporate Growth/North America (September 12 – 14; San Jose) is the company’s “flagship client event” and focuses on strategies and best practices for companies to achieve their growth objectives. Event addresses such topics as tools and processes for business growth; capitalizing on growth opportunities through competitive intelligence; and customer-driven product innovation.

• CSR Asia Summit (September 14 – 15; Hong Kong) aims “to be the most innovative and challenging conference on CSR in the Asia-Pacific region.” Event focuses on the challenges and strategies related to the implementation and integration of CSR into Asian business operations, with examination of best practices case studies and the current state of CSR in Asia.

• Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting (September 21 – 23; New York) is a “non-partisan catalyst for action, bringing together a community of global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges.” Attendees and speakers are current and former heads of state, top CEOs, and leaders of non-profit organizations, major philanthropists, and Nobel Prize Laureates. 2010 Annual Meeting will focus on four specific Action Areas: Empowering Girls and Women; Strengthening Market-Based Solutions; Enhancing Access to Modern Technology; and Harnessing Human Potential.

• The Blouin Foundation Global Creative Leadership Summit (September 22 – 23; New York) offers “a platform to form new partnerships, receive briefings from experts in all disciplines and unveil the most relevant new research on global issues.” Program addresses such topics as globalizing the mind; political leadership in the twenty first century; and partnerships, power and potential.

• US Chamber of Commerce Business Civic Leadership Center Annual Conference on Global Corporate Citizenship (September 27 – 29; Washington, DC) examines social and economic issues arising as a result of emerging market development and then examines the various roles that businesses can play in the communities in which they operate. Conference theme is Frontier Markets. Global Partnerships. Local Solutions.

• Global Economic Symposium (September 28 – 29; Istanbul), co-produced by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy and the German National Library of Economics, brings together “leaders from the world’s policy-making, business, academic and civic communities to find new ways of tackling major global economic problems.” Event theme is Achieving Sustainability in the Face of Systemic Risks.

Noteworthy conferences beginning agenda planning this month

• September marks the beginning of agenda planning for Fortune Magazine’s Brainstorm: Green to be held April 4 – 6, 2011 in Dana Point, CA.  A by-invitation-only event, Brainstorm: Green focuses on “the opportunities, risks, and impact of environmental issues on business and economy,” and addressing the overriding question of “how can business help solve the world’s big environment problems.” Program examines the movement to sustainability, addressing such topics as sustaining green business models in economic hard times; myths and realities of green buildings; and pros and cons of water privatization.

• Milken Institute will begin agenda development for its Global Conference scheduled for May 2 – 4, 2011 in Beverly Hills. Event examines the factors impacting the world’s economies, financial markets, and societies. Conference focuses on the major economic, financial, business, technological, and policy issues currently facing the world. Program addresses topics such as terrorism, the changing face of Europe, and the rapid rise of China.

• HSM Global will begin solidifying the agenda for its World Innovation Forum, scheduled to be held June 7 – 8, 2011 in New York. Event is self-described as focusing on how “innovation paves the way to increased profitability, business solutions, and growth.” The WIF agenda is described by organizers as taking a “more theoretical” perspective than HSM’s World Business Forum program, focusing on “innovation as a corporate core competency.” Program addresses such topics as why innovations never follow a straight line; the climate challenge to effective corporate innovation; and strategic best practices for moving from ideas to execution.