In March 2009, RAND convened a conference on the role and perspectives of corporate chief ethics and compliance officers (CEC's). The discussions featured input from current and former officers and other stakeholders in the nonprofit sector, academia, and government. Themes included the unique position of CEC's in corporate management, the relevance of ethics and culture as a prophylaxis to malfeasance, and the importance of open communication and employee reporting in guarding against fraud and misconduct.