Responsible business 2023

How should companies respond in a time of conflict and crisis? Is there consistency across values and behaviours? What are the key principles of effective corporate governance and how have the stakes changed? Is the role of business broadening in society and when should it be constrained?

Speakers 
Liz McKeon, Head of Portfolio, Climate Action, Ikea Foundation 
Allan Jorgensen, Head, Centre for Responsible Business Conduct, OECD 
Matthias Stausberg, Group Advocacy Director, Virgin 
Chair: Bennett Freeman, Associate Fellow, International Law Programme, Chatham House

Does the ban on forced labour in the EU and the proposed Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive represent a breakthrough? How might markets be shaped as a result and what are trade-offs? How can key stakeholders progress embedding human rights and environmental standards across supply chains, particularly in conflict-affected and high-risk areas?

Speakers
Phil Bloomer, Executive Director, Business and Human Rights Resource Centre 
Mark Maurice-Jones, General Counsel & Compliance Officer, Nestlé 
Tomoya Obokata, Special Rapporteur, Contemporary Forms of Slavery, OHCHR  
Genevieve Tuts, Head of Cabinet, Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders, European Commission 
Chair: Richard Howitt, Senior Associate, Frank Bold  
 

This session provides a snapshot of evolving requirements within the UK disclosure landscape, with a status update on the development of the UK Green Taxonomy and Sustainability Disclosure Requirements and what companies and investors should be preparing for.

Speakers
Ingrid Holmes, Executive Director, Green Finance Institute  
Alexander Stafford MP, Chair, All Party Parliamentary Group, ESG  
Chair: James Alexander, CEO, UKSIF 

How will new disclosure requirements such as the EU corporate sustainability reporting directive and proposed SEC climate legislation set the future direction of travel for reporting? How do we move towards a system that balances impact with measuring risk? What are the roadblocks to funnelling ESG investments towards higher risk emerging and developing countries? Has the time come for ‘E’, ‘S’ and ‘G’ to pave separate paths?

Speakers
David Atkin, CEO, Principles for Responsible Investment 
Patrick de Cambourg, Chair, EFRAG 
Aleksandra Palinska, Executive Director, Eurosif
Richard Ditizio, CEO, Milken Institute   
Chair: Silvia Pavoni, Founding Editor, Sustainable Views, Financial Times  

Exclusive to in-person participants only and held under the Chatham House Rule.

How are organizations stepping up to drive social change and create real-world impact? What considerations need to be taken into account to ensure action is timely and contextually appropriate? How can taking a stance on an issue be converted into real world impact? How can businesses create a sense of purpose that benefits all stakeholders and society at-large to affect meaningful change?

Speakers
Maria-Krystyna Duval, Chief Programmes and Impact Officer, ClientEarth 
Beth Knight, Amazon in the Community, Europe Lead 
Danielle Mulder, Group Director of Sustainability, BBC 
Lena Patel, Chief External Affairs Officer, RBIJ 
Lorraine Ní Annracháin, Global Campaigns and Programmes Lead, Spotify 
Chair: Daianna Karaian, Co-founder and CEO, Today Do This

Exclusive to in-person participants only and held under the Chatham House Rule.

When is divestment the right approach? What are the key factors when considering a divestment or engagement strategy? How does policy influence activities and outcomes? What can be learned from successful examples of shareholder activism and resolutions?

Speakers
Claudia Chapman, Head of Stewardship, Financial Reporting Council (FRC)
Stephanie Pfeifer, CEO, Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC) 
Adam Matthews, Chief Responsible Investment Officer, Church of England Pensions Board 
Chair: Bernice Lee, Research Director, Futures; Hoffmann Distinguished Fellow for Sustainability; Chair, Sustainability Accelerator Advisory Board, Chatham House