The 20th International Conference on Corporate Social Responsibility is a flagship global forum organised by the Institute of Directors (IOD), India. The event attracts leading policymakers, corporate directors, CEOs, ESG practitioners, and thought leaders from across India and around the world, fostering collaboration and dialogue on key social and environmental priorities.
Representing Essar Foundation, Dominic D’Souza, COO – CSR, participated in a panel discussion focused on “Policy, Compliance & Next-Gen Regulation: Navigating an Evolving CSR and ESG Governance Landscape.”
The panel also featured Gaurav Dayal, IAS, Chairman, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA); Shwetali Thakare, Chairperson, Maharashtra Water Resources Regulation Authority; Anil Wankhede, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA); Nitin Mahajan, Deputy Managing Director, SICOM, Government of Maharashtra; and Chandni Khosla, Board Advisor, Synergos, UAE.
During the session, Mr. D’Souza spoke about key regulatory developments shaping the CSR and ESG landscape, including updates across CSR Rules under the Companies Act, BRSR and BRSR Core frameworks, and global regulatory shifts impacting Indian companies.
He highlighted the importance of streamlining compliance and strengthening governance practices to enhance ease of doing business, improve climate governance, and manage emerging risks more effectively.
He also emphasised the need for greater regulatory harmonisation across industries, stronger corporate–government collaboration to enable scalable and accountable CSR implementation, and robust disclosure and assurance frameworks supported by effective board oversight to ensure credible CSR and ESG reporting.
The discussion reflected the growing alignment between policy frameworks, corporate governance, and sustainable development priorities, reinforcing the importance of integrating CSR and ESG considerations into board-level strategy and decision-making.
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