United National Business and Human Rights Regional Forum – Australia and New Zealand

This inaugural event will bring together leaders and changemakers across government, business, civil society, academia and investment to explore key developments shaping the business and human rights agenda in our region and globally.

For further information and live updates on the event, please visit the UN Regional Forum on Business and Human Rights’ official webpage. 

Date: 26 August 2025

The Business and Human Rights Centre at RMIT University, BHR Access2Justice Lab at Macquarie University and the Australian Human Rights Institute at UNSW Sydney are pleased to announce the upcoming Business and Human Rights Research Workshop.

The workshop will take place immediately preceding the inaugural United Nations’ Business and Human Rights Regional Forum – Australia & New Zealand hosted at RMIT University on August 26 and 27 2025 - for more info on the UN Forum, visit the UN Business and Forum Rights Regional Forum – Australia & New Zealand webpage.

We welcome contributions that explore critical issues in business and human rights, including:

• Examine the strengths and limitations of human rights due diligence and modern slavery laws in times of economic and geopolitical instability.
• Explore how companies should manage human rights risks in operations or supply chains located in conflict-affected or politically unstable regions.
• Investigate the human rights implications of emerging technologies, particularly the regulation of AI and the responsibilities of tech companies.
• Discuss the role of investors, financial institutions, and businesses in advancing human rights amid fluctuating government commitments to global norms.
• Consider how business can contribute to a just transition and respond to biodiversity loss and the climate crisis.

The objective is for participants to present their research project in an interdisciplinary, collaborative workshop setting.

Scholars from all disciplines are invited to apply, including business ethics, international relations, law, management and politics. Submissions from early career researchers, and from researchers from the Asia-Pacific region are particularly welcome.

The focus is on paper development. Therefore, papers should outline research in progress or near-completion and must not be already under consideration for publication at the time of presentation. Workshop organisers will work with editors of relevant peer-reviewed journals to provide publication pathways for participants following the workshop

To apply, please email your application to Jonathan Kolieb by May 11, 2025.

Applications must include: 

• Full name
• Organisation or affiliation
• Email address
• Dietary or accessibiity requirements (if any)
• Title of your paper proposal
• Abstract (max. 300 words)
• Short bio (max. 200 words)
• Co-authors (if applicable) 

Candidates whose submissions are selected for participation in the Workshop will be notified no later than 25 May 2025.

Researchers, practitioners, and emerging scholars are encouraged to contribute. Selected abstracts will be featured in workshop sessions shaping future dialogue and research in the field.

For full details, view this document.