CALL FOR PAPERS:  AUDITING ROUNDTABLE NATIONAL MEETING

WINTER 2010; PHOENIX, AZ; JANUARY 11 - 13, 2009

The Auditing Roundtable (“Roundtable”) has been promoting the professional practice of Environmental, Health & Safety, Sustainability, and related auditing for over 27 years.  The “crown jewel” of our group has been our national meetings.  The Roundtable is actively seeking presentations, ideas, assistance, and participation to draw upon the talent, insights, and creativity of all of our Members,

January 2010 Meeting Theme and Needs

The theme of our January 2010 meeting will be “Incorporating Risk Management into EHSS Auditing.”    Auditors are being challenged to consider risk management  in how we run programs and conduct audits.  Auditors also have skill sets that can help companies identify, evaluate, respond to, and manage risks. 

We are requesting ideas and help for other topics, which may include:

• Risk Management Basics:  The COSO Enterprise Risk Management framework is commonly used by financial and risk management professionals.  What are the basics, and how does it apply to EHSS field? 
• Applying Risk to EHSS Auditing Programs:  how can auditing programs or audits be improved by incorporating risk management practices?  This might be in selecting sites for audits, selecting types of audits, or other features of auditing programs. 
• Data Mining - Familiar Activities, New Applications:  EHSS management and auditing generate incredible amounts of data:  number of findings; types of findings; Near-Miss analyses; success of corrective action measures.  How can this data be mined for practices that pose highest risk to companies, and improve overall company performance? 
• Regulation, Risk – or Both?:   Some regulations we are familiar with address the issue of Risk, such as Homeland Security (CFATS), Process Safety Management, and Job Hazard Analysis.  How is “risk” defined, what are some examples, and how can compliance and management principles for these regulations be applied elsewhere? 
• Management of Change:  MOC is a component of Process Safety Management, but many companies “drift” away from compliance as raw materials, site configuration, the work force, or other things change.  How do companies identify changes, impacts of those changes?  How is IT/ software used to help? 
• EHSS Auditing Input to Corporate Risk Management:  Corporate Risk Managers do Business Continuity Planning, risk transfer (insurance, subcontracting).  EHSS auditors have expertise in compliance, operations, stakeholder expectations.  Are Corporate Risk  Managers adequately informed about our areas?  How can we provide more value? 
• Climate Change:   What laws or regulations are in store for greenhouse gas reduction?  How can auditors help companies prepare for what’s already required (California’s AB 32, RGGI) and what’s not? 
• Auditing Claims and Assertions:  Companies make claims for products, services, and programs.  “We make every effort to buy our raw materials from companies that use sustainable practices.”  Sound familiar?  Who relies on this information, and what are the risks if it’s not correct?  How can auditors help? 
• Case Studies and Field practices:  How have auditors gone beyond compliance to identify and manage EHSS risk?  How have they been able to share leading practices through the company? 
• Others:  we’re a Member-driven, volunteer organization.  You pick.

 We also need folks to contribute to:

• Industry sector break-outs
• Interest group break-outs
• Leadership teams in Interest Groups (notably Management Systems and International) 

Selection Criteria

The Meetings Committee will consider any and all topics for inclusion on the meeting agenda, and will select from applications at their sole discretion.  Consideration will be given to:

1.       Current, timely nature of the topic

2.       Relevance to EHS/S auditing, or the field in general

3.       Ability to highlight Member involvement, expertise, or contributions

4.       Ability and willingness of individuals to commit to making presentation, providing content, or finding someone to do so

5.       Overall fit with other presentations or sessions, so as to create logical panels or discussions

6.       References or other assurance that presenter has good presentation skills

7.        Alignment with the selected theme

8.       Opportunity to collaborate another organization that complements the Roundtable’s mission and goals (for example, we have involved AWMA, ASSE, ACHMM, the World Resources Institute, and others).  This also extends to regulatory authorities, academia, and others who align closely with the Roundtable’s mission and goals.

You need not meet all these criteria to offer a suggestion or express an interest.   If a topic is not selected for a national meeting, it may be suitable for a regional meeting, or a webinar – or a later national meeting. 

How to Offer Suggestion or Express Interest

Click Here to complete brief form
or email Kathy@auditing-roundtable.org. 

Applicants are encouraged to respond at any time.