‘What can New Zealand learn from modern slavery legislation in Australia, the European Union and the United Kingdom?’

Alexander Coward is a leading expert on modern slavery, supply chain transparency and stakeholder engagement. Drawing on eight years’ experience working for the Australian Government to shape Australia's national response to modern slavery, Alexander brings significant expertise in business and human rights, key Australian and international regulatory frameworks, and equipping businesses to protect labour rights in global supply chains. He is a Senior Adviser at Pillar Two.

Chloe Cranston is Business and Human Rights Manager at Anti-Slavery International in the United Kingdom. Chloe advocates for responsible business practice and human rights, in law and in practice, with a focus on forced labour in global supply chains. She also has expertise on business in high-risk/conflict affected areas. Chloe has recently advocated for improvements to the UK Modern Slavery Act.

Dr Thomas Harré is a human rights lawyer based in Aotearoa/New Zealand. His practice specialises in criminal defence and appellate advocacy. Thomas is also an independent researcher and consultant, with a particular focus on human trafficking and transnational criminal law. He recently co-authored a White Paper titled Toward a Modern Slavery Act in Zealand – Legislative Landscapes and Steps Forward, with colleagues from the Centre for Research on Modern Slavery, the University of Auckland Business School.

Dr Claire Methven O'Brien is Director LLM Business and Human Rights, University of Dundee and Strategic Adviser, Danish Institute for Human Rights. She is an internationally renowned expert in the emerging field of business and human rights, with twenty years' experience advising governments, international businesses, international development agencies, financial institutions, and human rights organisations. She is one of Europe's thought leaders and academics on the EU draft proposal on mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence.

Dr Natalia Szablewska is Professor in Law and Society at the Open University (UK) and has further academic affiliations in Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia and Cambodia. She is a Chair of Business and Human Rights Committee for Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR). Natalia specialises in human rights law and the law of armed conflict. Her most recent focus has been on modern slavery and sustainable development. Natalia recently co-authored a paper outlining 10 recommendations that should be included in NZ legislation addressing modern slavery.
 

Facilitators
 

Dr Christina Stringer is an Associate Professor in International Business and Director of the Centre for Research on Modern Slavery, the University of Auckland Business School. She has been researching migrant worker exploitation in New Zealand for over a decade. Christina has long advocated for New Zealand to consider introducing modern slavery legislation. With Thomas Harré, Christina and colleagues co-authored the White Paper titled Toward a Modern Slavery Act in New Zealand.

Rebekah Armstrong is a human rights practitioner with 14 years' experience specialising in modern slavery, human rights and humanitarian law. She is the Director of Business and Human Rights Consultants and Head of Advocacy and Justice at World Vision. Rebekah is Chair of the New Zealand Human Trafficking Research Coalition, a member of the oversight group for the Centre for Research on Modern Slavery, University of Auckland Business School. She recently co-authored a paper outlining 10 recommendations that should be included in NZ legislation addressing modern slavery.