Podcasts
In this episode of DBrief, Louise McGrath speaks with human rights lawyer Vanessa Zimmerman, CEO of Pillar Two, about the growing importance of modern slavery and human rights risk management for Australian businesses.
Vanessa unpacks the realities of modern slavery in contemporary supply chains, challenging common misconceptions about what it looks like and where it occurs. From labour hire arrangements and complex service contracts to overseas sourcing and domestic operations, the conversation highlights why these risks are relevant to businesses of all sizes, not just large corporations.
The episode also explores how companies can identify and manage human rights risks in practice, the growing role of technology and AI, and the increasingly complex mix of regulations emerging across Australia, Europe and other jurisdictions. Throughout the discussion, Vanessa argues that modern slavery should be viewed not simply as a compliance exercise, but as part of building stronger, more resilient and better-governed businesses.
Key takeaways
Interested in staying ahead of modern slavery regulation and supply chain risk? Australian Industry Group members can join the Modern Slavery Member Reference Group to stay informed of regulatory developments, hear from experts, learn from peers and contribute to Australian Industry Group's advocacy on emerging reforms. To express your interest, contact the Industry Development & Policy team.
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In her role as Australian Industry Group’s Head of Industry Development and Policy Louise provides strategic leadership and guidance for Australian Industry Group’s policy agenda in building competitive industries through global integration, infrastructure development and innovation. She ensures that through policy leadership members have a voice at all levels of government, by representing and promoting their interests on current and emerging issues.
Louise represents Australian Industry in several multilateral forums, such as the B20 Taskforces, Global Business Coalition, and the East Asia Business Council working group on RCEP. She advocates for the interests of Australian Industry Group members during Free Trade Negotiations and translates those agreements to support the strategic aims of members. She is a member of CSIRO’s Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence Think Tank and the Manufacturing Advisory Group, the NESP Sustainable Communities and Waste Hub and the Advisory Group of The Australian Consortium for ‘In-Country’ Indonesian Studies (ACICIS).
Louise has studied a Bachelor of Arts (Arabic Language and Culture) at Deakin University and an Advanced Diploma in International Trade at RMIT. She has also studied Arabic at universities in Jordan and Egypt.
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