Reflections from a Multi-Stakeholder Roundtable on Advancing Human Rights and Sustainability in Asia Pacific Supply Chains

 

In February 2025, I had the privilege of co-organising a roundtable with the Business and Human Rights Access to Justice Lab at Macquarie University in Sydney, led by Professor Surya Deva and his excellent team — Dr. Ebony Birchall, Dr. David Birchall, and Hayley Jago. The roundtable, titled Australia’s Role in Advancing Human Rights and Sustainability in Asia Pacific Supply Chains, brought together a diverse group of stakeholders including government representatives, businesses, investors, industry associations, civil society organisations, legal professionals, and academics for a timely and wide-ranging discussion.

The event created space for meaningful dialogue on how Australia can play a more active role in shaping rights-based and sustainable supply chains across the Asia Pacific region. As global efforts intensify to ensure that no one is left behind, this roundtable served as a valuable platform to reflect on how Australian stakeholders can align their efforts with local, regional laws and international frameworks such as the SDGs, and UNGPs.

I had the opportunity to present in the session The State of Play on Business and Human Rights in Australia and Beyond, moderated by Professor Justin Nolan. I shared trends and insights from five iterations of the Corporate Human Rights Benchmark, offering a global perspective on corporate performance and lessons relevant for Australian companies engaged in regional supply chains.

 

Later in the day, I moderated a panel discussion on Analysing the Intersection Between Human Rights and Sustainability. It was a dynamic and engaging conversation with Keren Adams from the Human Rights Law Centre, Kate Turner from First Sentier, Amelia Bruce from Westpac, and Phoebe Wynn-Pope from Corrs Chambers Westgarth. Together, we explored the growing convergence between social and environmental expectations, and the role of investors, legal frameworks, and governance in advancing responsible business conduct.

 

What stood out throughout the day was the spirit of openness and collaboration. It was encouraging to witness such a diverse set of actors come together to share perspectives, challenge assumptions, and identify opportunities for collective action. Events like this reaffirm the value of multi-stakeholder dialogue in addressing systemic challenges such as modern slavery, inequality, and corporate accountability.