Codes and culture: quality counts
Join us on 3 April at 6-7pm (with time for optional networking before and after) at Queen Mary University of London’s Charterhouse Square campus (near Farringdon and Barbican tubes) in the City of London.
The Institute of Business Ethics and Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) are delighted to be hosting an exclusive, in-depth exploration of the impact that "quality" codes of ethics can have on corporate culture. This event is a chance for leaders in ethics and leaders in people and culture, to network, and to have first sight of Professor Chris Cowton and Dr Zezeng Li’s new findings on the relationship between the quality of a code of ethics and corporate culture.
The IBE reviews the quality of codes of ethics (or codes of conduct) for some of the largest organisations in the world. We have been conducting research into codes for over 25 years. Back in 2023 the IBE’s research report, FTSE 350 Codes: Greater Clarity Needed, uncovered significant variations in the quality of codes of ethics across the FTSE 350.
Professor Chris Cowton, IBE Associate, and Dr Zezeng Li of QMUL have taken this research further, undertaking statistical analysis to:
- Identify patterns in the findings, to see if simply having a code is enough, or if a “quality” code is what matters
- Connecting the “quality” of codes to outcomes such as employee satisfaction.
Why should you attend?
- Understand the four dimensions that the IBE considers makes a "quality" code
- Understand the link to employee satisfaction and culture
- You are a leader in ethics or people and culture
Agenda
17:30 Arrival and pre-event refreshments
18:00 Start: Welcome - Lauren Branston
18:05 Codes, benchmarking, Ethics at Work - Dr Samuel Tosin Lawal
18:10 IBE research into codes of ethics - Professor Chris Cowton
18:20 Findings on the impact of Code Quality - Dr Zezeng Li
18:40 Q&A and discussion
19:00 Event close - Networking and refreshments
20:00 Close
Event panel
Chief Executive, Institute of Business Ethics
Lauren joined the Institute of Business Ethics in September 2024. Lauren has previously led corporate affairs and sustainability functions in large corporates, dealing with social, environmental and governance issues. Before joining IBE, Lauren led her own strategic advisory firm, working with clients at the intersection of sustainability, corporate affairs, culture, strategy and governance. Lauren has an Ecology degree from UCL, is a guest lecturer at the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership and sits on the Board of Trustees of the Soil Association.
Associate, Institute of Business Ethics
Following a long career of leadership, teaching and research in the higher education sector and, having been a Trustee of the IBE, Chris joined the staff in 2019, retiring in 2023. As Associate Director, he contributed to the leadership of the Institute and to the design and delivery of our research and thought leadership, advisory services and training.
Chris is Emeritus Professor at the University of Huddersfield, where he was previously Professor of Accounting (1996-2016), Professor of Financial Ethics (2016-2019) and Dean of the Business School (2008-2016). He joined Huddersfield after ten years lecturing at the University of Oxford. He has also been a Visiting Professor at Leeds University’s Inter-Disciplinary Ethics Applied Centre, the University of Bergamo (Italy) and the University of the Basque Country, Bilbao (Spain).
He is internationally recognised for his contributions to business ethics, especially his pioneering work on financial ethics. In 2013 he was awarded the University of Huddersfield’s first DLitt (Doctor of Letters, a higher doctorate) in recognition of his contribution to the advancement of knowledge in business and financial ethics.
He is the author of more than 70 journal papers, has edited three books and has written many book chapters and other publications. He served 10-year terms as Editor of the journal Business Ethics: A European Review (2004-2013) and as a member of the Ethics Standards Committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (2009-2018).
Researcher, Institute of Business Ethics
As a Researcher at IBE, Sam plays a crucial role in supporting the development, delivery, and dissemination of both internal and external research and advisory projects. Sam's passion lies in harnessing the potential of both quantitative and qualitative data to foster a culture of ethical considerations within business practices and policies, ultimately contributing to a broader societal impact.
Before joining IBE, Sam held the position of Research Officer for the University of Reading's Research Culture Project. In this role, he led research initiatives aimed at enhancing the research environment within the university. Additionally, Sam worked part-time as an Associate Lecturer at Henley Business School, where he delivered Undergraduate Business modules and supervised Master's dissertations in Marketing.
Sam holds a degree in Accounting from Babcock University, Nigeria, and an MSc in Business Analytics and Management Science from the University of Southampton. Notably, in 2018, he secured the prestigious Henley Business School Marketing and Reputation PhD Scholarship. This accomplishment led to the successful completion of his PhD in Marketing and Reputation from the University of Reading, where his thesis investigated the malleability of public attitudes and behaviours to organisational stories incorporating stakeholders' perspective.
Assistant Professor of Accounting, Queen Mary University of London
Dr. Zezeng Li is an Assistant Professor in Accounting at Queen Mary University of London, specialising in pension accounting, corporate governance and financial reporting. Dr. Li’s research is centered on pension de-risking strategies, corporate governance in pension fund management and ongoing research on codes of ethics. His work provides practical insights for firms, trustees and financial professionals navigating pension risk, corporate finance strategies and the implementation of ethical frameworks. He holds a PhD in Accounting from the University of Exeter, an MSc from King’s College London and a Bachelor’s degree from China. He is also a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).
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