Dublin, Wednesday, 27th September 2017: UCD College of Business will, later today, launch its new Centre for Business and Society (CeBaS) at UCD Smurfit School with the aim of supporting responsible business practice through a collaborative effort of bringing together academic researchers, business, government, NGOs, consumers and other academic communities to develop best practice models.

Led by leading UCD College of Business Faculty, Professors Donna Marshall, Andy Prothero and Colm McLaughlin, CeBaS will be the largest research centre in UCD College of Business with academic researchers focusing on six key themes: Africa; Gender Discrimination and Diversity; Health; Transparency; Sustainability; and Work. The centre has also formed a partnership with Business in the Community Ireland, whose Head of Advisory Services, Bernadette Phelan, sits on the new CeBaS advisory board.

The centre will be launched with a major debate this evening at UCD Smurfit School with international and national speakers including Grace Perez-Navarro, Deputy Director, Centre for Tax Policy and Administration, OECD, on Ireland’s corporate tax regime entitled, “Ireland’s Corporation Tax: What does the future hold?”

Professor Tony Brabazon, interim Dean, UCD College of Business speaking ahead of the launch said: “The new research centre, CeBaS, is a prime example of how academia and business can collaborate to develop workable best practice solutions which can deliver meaningful and lasting positive impacts on society.”

Carmel McQuaid, Head of Sustainability at Marks and Spencer and Chair of the CeBaS advisory board added: “The launch of CeBaS will put Ireland on the map as an academic hub for sustainability and ethics research. We’re delighted to be involved and supporting its work on responsible business.”