The Centre for Sustainability and Excellence (CSE) president and founder, Nikos Avlonas is being recognized for his leadership in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Avlonas is a finalist for PR News CSR Professional of the Year. Winners demonstrate best practices in the CSR arena, outstanding communications efforts powering important sectors of PR: corporate social responsibility and green initiatives, and nonprofit communications. The awards will be presented during the PR News Spring Awards Luncheon on March 22, 2017, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
According to the PR News, “finalists set new standards of excellence and point the way for other organizations to follow.”
Others may be new to CSR, but Avlonas has been a pioneer for over 15 years. Before starting CSE, he was Scientific Advisor to the European Foundation for Quality Management, focused on Business Excellence and CSR. As a project leader he helped develop a CSR Framework and tools supported by the UN Global Compact.
“Education is the most powerful tool you can use to make a positive impact on our planet,” says Avlonas. He has grown CSE into a premier global Sustainability Strategic Advisory and Training organization, completing projects for Fortune Global 500 Companies such as BP, Nestle, Heineken Group, DHL, Under Armor, the European Investment Bank, Government of Dubai and the Lloyds Banking Group. His has trained and coached executives from NASA, Walmart, Word Bank and Coca Cola.
Looking forward, Avlonas created the Sustainability Academy and it’s initiative to train 100,000 sustainability practitioners by 2020! The Sustainability Academy offers affordable, specialized online education. Certified courses include the Online Diploma on Corporate Sustainability, helping create a critical mass of practitioners across fields, disciplines and throughout organizations. Instilling a common language and understanding helps integrate sustainability in all aspects of corporate and institutional functions – whether existing programs or business development. Avlonas envisions deep change, enabling corporations, municipal and community organizations to apply principles such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Congratulations, Nikos Avlonas, for recognition of years of service and leadership. Thank you for being a visionary and a CSR Professional of the Year!