Chartered Marketer and a Past Regional Chair of CIM Sri Lanka, Shiraz Latiff, was invited to speak at the World Social Marketing Conference in Canada that was held at the Westin Harbor Castle, Toronto on April 22-23, 2013. The conference was organised by the Institute of Social Marketing and Strategic Social Marketing Institute and chaired by Professor Jeff French. Professor Philip Kotler of Kellogg School of Management at North Western University delivered the keynote address and leading figures from the arena of Social Marketing were part of the panel of speakers. Prof. Robert F. Lusch of University of Arizona, Dr. Brian Wansink, author of “Mindless Eating” and Professor of Marketing at Cornell University, Dr. Doug McKenzie-Mohr of McKenzie-Mohr & Associates, Ma Jun, Founding Director of Institute of Public & Environmental Affairs, China and Nancy Lee of Social Marketing Services Inc. were some of the leading speakers at the conference.
Shiraz Latiff presented at one of the keynote sessions on the topic of Applying Marketing for Social Programs: The Asian Experience. His presentation gave prominence to three social marketing programs in Sri Lanka on Prevention of Diabetes, Creating Awareness on Sexual Reproductive Health and Prevention of Thalassemia in Sri Lanka with the successful collaboration of institutions like the Rotary International, Sri Lanka Diabetes Association, The Thalassemia Center and the Sri Lanka Family Planning Association.
Shiraz is currently a Trustee of The Chartered Institute of Marketing UK and is the Founder/CEO of Hummingbird International, a Regional Knowledge House focused on coaching, consulting and outsourcing. He is a Director of World Marketing Summit Group Inc. and a member of the Strategy Committee of the World Marketing Summit, which is convened annually by Professor Philip Kotler in pursuit of creating a better world through marketing. He is also the Country Representative for Consulus Singapore in Sri Lanka, a leader in Business Design Consulting in the Region.
Prof. Philip Kotler, Shiraz Latiff and Prof. Jeff French at World Social Marketing Conference 2013.
Academics, researchers, and practitioners of Social Marketing from over 40 countries convene every other year at the World Social Marketing Conference. The conference aims to act as a vehicle to help build a global movement dedicated to capturing, spreading and nurturing good practice in social marketing, as well as increase the efficiency and effectiveness of social marketing practice at both operational and strategic levels. Social marketing is a set of evidence and experience concepts based on marketing principles that provide a systematic approach to understanding behavior and modifying it for social good. It is a fusion of science, practical ‘know how’ and reflective practice.
Shiraz Latiff is a director at HummingBird International and a Consulus partner in Sri Lanka.
