Webinar: KnowTheChain Benchmarking Findings: How Are Companies Addressing Forced Labor and Human Trafficking Risks in Their Supply Chains?
Date: January 19th, 2017
Benchmarks can play a powerful role in encouraging companies to uphold labor standards and protect workers’ rights. In 2016, KnowTheChain, a resource for businesses and investors to address forced labor abuses and human trafficking within their supply chains, has benchmarked 60 large global companies on their efforts to address these risks in sectors that are at high risk of forced labor: the Information & Technology Communication, Food & Beverage, and Apparel & Footwear.
Based on these findings, this webinar will provide insights into:
- Why forced labor is relevant to investors?
- How investors can address forced labor risks in their portfolio?
- How are companies across the three sectors addressing forced labor risks?
- What are gaps and opportunities for improvement in the sectors?
- How can investors use the KnowTheChain findings?
- What questions should investors ask their investee companies?
Panelists:
- Bennett Freeman, Senior Advisor, Know the Chain; former Senior VP, Sustainability Research and Policy, Calvert Investments
- Megan Wallingford, Senior Advisor, Sustainalytics
- Felicitas Weber, KnowTheChain Project Lead, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre
- Moderator: Sonal Mahida, Director, Intentional Endowments Network
Speakers Bios:
Bennett Freeman, Consultant, Board Member and Speaker on Business and Human Rights, Sustainability, and Responsible Investment
Over the last 17 years of a three decade-plus long career, Bennett Freeman has worked at the intersection of multinational companies, responsible investors, NGOs, governments and international institutions to promote corporate responsibility, sustainability and human rights around the world. An innovative leader in the fields of business and human rights, natural resource governance and responsible investment, he has played key roles in developing and leading several now well-established multi-stakeholder initiatives and global standards. Read full bio...
Megan Wallingford, Senior Advisor, Sustainalytics
Felicitas Weber, KnowTheChain Project Lead, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre
Felicitas joined the Resource Centre in 2016. She is leading the development of the KnowTheChain forced labour benchmarks, working closely with the initiative's partners Humanity United, Sustainalytics, and Verite. From 2011-2016, Felicitas worked for the ESG Engagements team at the UN supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). She was responsible for managing the PRI's investor-company engagements on social issues, and for raising awareness and understanding of human rights issues and their impacts on investor portfolios through events, publications, webinars and podcasts. Read full bio...
Sonal Mahida, Director, Intentional Endowments Network
Sonal comes to IEN with over 15 years of experience in the field. During her career Sonal has worked on ESG investing and sustainability issues at institutional investors, S&P 500, Fortune 500companies, as well as non-profits. As Head of North America for the UN Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), she developed and led initiatives to aid U.S. and Canadian investors in the practice and implementation of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) integration and risk management. Prior to joining PRI, Sonal worked on corporate sustainability at Hess. Read full bio...