Special Lecture by Dr. Vicky Bowman
 

What is 'Responsible Business'? How does it connect to Buddhist values?
 

Date: Monday, 5 November 2026 Time: 7:45 AM – 10:45 AM 

Venue: KBZ International Meeting Hall, Shan State Buddhist University

About the Event
 

Shan State Buddhist University will host a special lecture by Dr. Vicky Bowman on Monday, 5 November 2026. The lecture will explore what "responsible business" means today and how the idea connects to Buddhist values. The program runs from 7:45 AM to 10:45 AM at the KBZ International Meeting Hall.

The lecture is open to all faculty, lecturers, and students. MA, PGDip, and BA students are especially encouraged to attend.

In recent years, companies have paid more attention to how their decisions affect the people they employ and the communities they operate in. Buddhism offers its own understanding of responsible action. This lecture brings these two lines of thinking together.

About the Speaker
 

Dr. Vicky Bowman CMG is Senior Adviser at the Institute of Human Rights and Business and Chair of the Global Network Initiative. She also serves on the Board of the International Code of Conduct Association.

From 2013 to 2024, Dr. Bowman was Director of the Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business in Yangon. Before that, she served as British Ambassador to Myanmar from 2002 to 2006, and as Second Secretary from 1990 to 1993. From 2011 to 2013, she led the global mining company Rio Tinto's policy on transparency, human rights, and resource-related issues.

Earlier in her career, Dr. Bowman served as Director of Global & Economic Issues and G8 sous-Sherpa for the United Kingdom from 2008 to 2011. She was Head of the Southern Africa Department in the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office from 2006 to 2007, and a Member of the Cabinet of European Commissioner Chris Patten in Brussels from 1999 to 2002.

Dr. Bowman holds an MA in Natural Sciences (Pathology) from the University of Cambridge. She has an honorary doctorate from the University of Bradford, and is an Honorary Fellow of Pembroke College and Honorary Senior Fellow of the British Institute for International and Comparative Law.

Programme
 

The programme begins with arrival at the KBZ International Meeting Hall at 7:45 AM. The Opening Ceremony runs from 8:00 to 8:15 AM, with welcome remarks and an introduction of Dr. Bowman.

In Session 1, from 8:15 to 9:00 AM, Dr. Bowman will speak on what responsible business is. After a short refreshment break, Session 2 runs from 9:15 to 10:00 AM, and Dr. Bowman will turn to how responsible business connects to Buddhist values.

A question-and-answer session follows from 10:00 to 10:15 AM. Ven. Prof. Dr. Khammai Dhammasāmi, Rector of SSBU, will give the closing remarks from 10:15 to 10:30 AM. The programme ends with the presentation of certificates and group photos at 10:45 AM.

The programme will be hosted by Ven. Kusala Dhamma, MPhil & Lecturer at SSBU.

Audience
 

The lecture is open to faculty members, lecturers, and all students. MA, PGDip, and BA students are encouraged to attend.