What does modern slavery legislation mean for your business?

Panel Discussion

no longer available

Speaker(s): Gemma Livingston, Janelle Cain
Date: 7:00am — 9:00am, 14 November 2023
Venue: KPMG Auckland
Location: 18 Viaduct Harbour Avenue, Auckland 1010
Price members: $75.00 incl GST
Price non-members: $129.00 incl GST

Overview

The Government has announced modern slavery legislation is coming to New Zealand. What does this mean and how can businesses incorporate another regulatory expectation across ever growing ESG requirements?

Our expert panel will share their insights and experiences to demystify what worker exploitation and modern slavery is and how it may impact your business operations and supply chain. You will learn about why modern slavery legislation is necessary, what the New Zealand and global legislation could mean for your business, and how to ensure effective prevention, mitigation and remediation of worker exploitation. The panel will also provide specific insights from Australian businesses where modern slavery legislation is already enacted.

In addition to legislative change, investors, customers, employees, and other stakeholders are increasingly asking questions about a range of social issues and performance relating to business operations and supply chains. Understanding, and responding to, human rights, social impacts and associated human risks and opportunities relevant to your business can be complex and daunting. Failure to identify and manage these issues can erode trust, and result in reputational damage and exposure to legal and commercial risk. As a result, human rights and social risks are becoming mainstreamed on the corporate agenda and can affect an organisation’s strategy, governance and risk frameworks.

Gemma Livingston

Director Human Rights and Social Impact, KPMG NZ

Gemma leads KPMG’s human rights and social impact offerings in New Zealand. Gemma works with KPMG clients across the ‘S’ and ‘G’ of ESG to identify and address human rights risks and opportunities in business operations and supply chains. Specialising in modern slavery, Gemma provides advice relating to the proposed New Zealand modern slavery legislation and compliance with global legislation.

Gemma is an experienced human rights lawyer with experience working as a commercial and criminal litigator across the public, private and community sectors within New Zealand and Australia. Prior to joining KPMG, Gemma led the human rights portfolio of a global law firm’s Australian pro bono practice where she worked with clients in relation to the Australian and NSW Modern Slavery Acts.

Janelle Cain

Janelle is the General Counsel of EBOS Group Limited which is listed on NZX and ASX and is the largest and most diversified Australasian marketer, wholesaler and distributor of healthcare, medical and pharmaceutical products. It is also a leading marketer and distributor of recognised animal care brands.

Janelle is responsible for the Group Legal and Corporate Affairs functions at EBOS and works closely with the Board on corporate governance matters. She is also a member of the ESG Steering Committee, which is responsible for delivering EBOS’ ESG Programme including the Ethical Sourcing Strategy. She started her career at Minter Ellison and, following roles in Australia and the UK, joined EBOS in 2015.

Sheridan Broadbent

CMInstD

Independent Director

Sheridan Broadbent is a New Zealand based professional director, investor and board advisor. She has been working in Chief Executive, Executive and governance roles in the infrastructure, technology and energy sectors for more than 20 years, with organisations such as Counties Power, Genesis Energy, Downer and Telecom NZ.

Presently she is the Chair of critical technology and cyber security provider Kordia Group, Deputy Chair of the Business Leaders’ Health and Safety Forum, and on the boards of Trustpower Limited (Manawa) and early stage SaaS developer SaferMe. In addition, Sheridan provides shareholder and board advisory services to small to medium size enterprises and start-ups in the technology and infrastructure sectors as Managing Director of Breach Consulting Ltd.

Tania Donaldson

Manager Employment System Guidance & Engagement, MBIE

Tania leads the Employment System Guidance & Engagement team in Employment NZ. The team work with business and government leaders encouraging and enabling them to strengthen the systems they have in place to ensure they, and the organisations they work with, provide fair workplaces as employers, procurers, franchisors, recruiters, directors, investors.

Tania’s interest in fair workplaces was sparked when she joined the Labour Inspectorate in 2015 to lead the regulatory response to the wide-spread Holidays Act non-compliance. Before that her career had been in the business advisory space as an employee in, and consultant to, a range of Public and wider State Sector entities.

Additional information

Covid-19 precautions

By registering for this event you are confirming that you agree to adhere to our Covid-19 health and safety measures. If you are unwell or have any Covid-19 symptoms please do not attend this event.