...[The] UN Secretary-General, in partnership with a number of international business leaders, launched in July 2007 a new initiative – The CEO Water Mandate – under the auspices of the UN Global Compact. The initiative was developed with the understanding that the private sector...impacts water resources – both directly and through supply chains. Endorsing CEOs acknowledge that in order to operate in a sustainable manner,and contribute to the vision of the UN Global Compact and the realization of the Millennium Development Goals, they have a responsibility to make water-resources management a priority... The United Nations Global Compact Office, in collaboration with the Pacific Institute, convened the inaugural working conference of The CEO Water Mandate on March 5-6, 2008... [The] overarching goal of the conference was to explore how to utilize the unique platform offered by The CEO Water Mandate in order to deliver actionable value through joint learning and coordination among endorsing companies and other key strategic interests... The following companies volunteered to serve on the Steering Committee in 2008:..Coca-Cola... Dow Chemical... Nestlé... SABMiller... Netafim... Westpac Banking... Hayleys...