Chatham House Responsible Business 2017 | Chatham House | 16 November 2017 | Chatham House, 10 St James's Square, London SW1Y 4LE, UK

Recent political transitions have demonstrated a sense of dissatisfaction with the global economy and current business practices. Amidst continued economic uncertainty there is a concern that corporate responsibility and holding businesses to account over business practices and human rights have dropped to the bottom of national policy agendas.

Consumer and investor opinion, and a need to demonstrate long-term strategic vision, are all critical to the competitiveness of multinational corporations, so that they remain viable and commercially sustainable. In the perceived absence of national-level institutional capacity and drive, many will look to corporations to foster the integration of human rights, sustainability, transparency and other societally advantageous norms across global supply chains, international trade and regional business operations.

In-depth assessment is required of exactly what expectations stakeholders have in contrast to existing practices; in which sectors and regions alternative leadership is necessary – and where it is already emerging; and what are the most effective legislative and industrial strategies, and the accelerants for greater corporate responsibility

The second annual Chatham House Responsible Business conference will explore these themes with insights from policy-makers, business leaders and industry experts. Sessions will consider key questions, including:

• Are public expectations for responsible business in line with ongoing practices in different regions? Where is there a need for greater transparency?

• In the context of ongoing economic uncertainty, how are priorities for business practice changing? Is there a perceived trade-off between competitiveness and responsibility, and what risk is there of a race to the bottom?

• What are the opportunities for corporate leadership of the responsible business agenda, and where has this already been demonstrated?

• What have recent experiences demonstrated about the effectiveness of regulation in driving responsible business practices? What are the alternatives?

• Is there a move away from ‘box ticking’ compliance? What is driving this trend, and how can responsible behaviours be implemented across all business practices?

2017 Speakers:

Eric R. Biel
Associate Deputy Undersecretary, US Department of Labor

Mike Davis
Director of Campaigns, Planning & Evaluation, Global Witness

Bennett Freeman
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, United States (1999-2001

Margot James MP
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Small Business, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility

Matthias Machnig
State Secretary, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, Germany

Martina Macpherson
Head of ESG Research & Analysis, S&P Global Ratings

Leo Martin
Director & Co-Founder, GoodCorporation

Ricardo Meléndez-Ortiz
Chief Executive Officer, International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development

Roel Nieuwenkamp
Chair, Working Party on Responsible Business Conduct, OECD

Vandita Pant
Group Treasurer and Head of Europe, BHP Billiton

Valeria Piani
Associate Director, Principles for Responsible Investment

Francis West
Business Learning Program Director, Shift Project

Dr Linda Yueh
Fellow in Economics, St Edmund Hall, University of Oxford

Jennifer Ann Zerk
Associate Fellow, International Law Programme, Chatham House

2017 Sponsor:

• BHP