9.30 - Registration and networking
10.00 - Welcome and introduction to the day
Randy Newcomb, president and CEO, Humanity United
10.05 - Keynote speakers
John Ruggie – Former UN Special Representative on Business and Human Rights will join a panel of high profile experts to discuss why business leaders should understand and address human rights challenges in their operations.
The panel will consider:
• The global landscape for business and human rights
• Trafficking and forced labour as a key challenge for business
• The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights as an internationally agreed framework for addressing the challenge
• Frameworks for change. How to use the UN Guiding Principles and other relevant frameworks and tools to drive change
Chair: John Morrison, executive director, Institute for Human Rights and Business
John Ruggie, former UN Special Representative on Business and Human Rights
Motoko Aizawa, expert on ESG Sustainability and Human Rights
Marcela Manubens, global vice president for social impact, Unilever
11.00 - Framing the challenge
Representatives from business and civil society will discuss the realities of forced labour and trafficking. Why is it so prevalent and how does it manifest itself? What are the risks for companies and why should they engage?
The panel will consider:
• The global scale and nature of the issues in different industry sectors including agriculture and primary producers, manufacturing supply chains and construction
• Why forced labour and trafficking is a key operational issue for business
The interest and agency of civil society organisations and investor action around this issue
• Why major businesses are, or should be, engaging with these issues at a senior level
Chair: Isabel Hilton, journalist, broadcaster and chief executive, Chinadialogue.net
Nazma Akter, founder, AWAJ Foundation
Robert Rigby-Hill, executive vice president and chief human resources officer, NXP - Semiconductors
Steve Trent, executive director, Environmental Justice Foundation
11.50 - Coffee and informal networking
12.05 - The changing business environment, transparency and investment
Representatives from business and civil society will discuss recent developments in the operating environment for business with respect to human trafficking and forced labour.
The panel will discuss:
• What are the key legislative requirements for companies? What is in the background?
• How are the reputation of brands and entire sectors put at risk or compromised by involvement in these issues?
• The increased interest of the investment community in combating trafficking and forced labour. How can investment be used to press for change?
• How can increased company transparency and disclosure be required or encouraged to help initiate change?
• How can engagement be driven at board level?
Chair: David Schilling, senior programme director - human rights and resources, Interfaith Centre for Corporate Responsibility
David Abramowitz, vice president policy and government, Humanity United
Carmel Giblin, chief executive, SEDEX
Stephanie Maier, head of corporate responsibility, Aviva
13.00 - Lunch and informal networking
14.00 - Practice and supply chains
Business representatives will discuss industry led approaches to combating forced labour and trafficking. Speakers will share examples of best practice in different sectors to demonstrate how challenges can be addressed and overcome
Speakers will discuss:
• The need for due diligence to map and understand patterns of exploitation
• How to integrate best practices into ongoing operations
• The advantages of a multi-stakeholder approaches
• The effects of such actions on performance and profitability
Chair: Aidan McQuade, director, Anti-Slavery International
Beate Andrees, senior policy officer, International Labour Office
Louise Nicholls, head of responsible sourcing and Plan A, Marks & Spencer
Tristan Forster, director, FSI Worldwide
Liliya Gelemerova, enhanced due diligence manager, Royal Bank of Canada
Kohl Gill, chief executive, LaborVoices Inc
15.30 - Closing keynote
Jean Baderschneider, chair national council, Polaris Project
