Responsible Sourcing and Ethical Trade Forum

18th - 19th March 2026

London, UK

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Agenda

This year’s forum will delve into how businesses can turn responsible sourcing principles into real progress. Across two days of discussion and debate, we will explore what meaningful progress looks like in a changing global landscape, from evolving regulation and investor pressure to workers' voices and the realities of climate risk. The focus is on practical collaboration, shared accountability, and building the foundations for genuine, systemic change.

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Day 1

Wednesday 18th March 2026

Time
Session title
Session type
09:00 - 09:20
Survivor perspective: Experience and insights from a survivor of modern slavery 
Plenary
09:20 - 10:00
Boardroom buy-in: If it isn’t compliance, what’s going to drive momentum in business and human rights? 
Plenary
10:00 - 10:30
The global legislative landscape: What’s happening, what’s not, and what’s still TBC? 
Plenary
10:30 - 11:00
Networking break
11:00 - 11:40
Rights, resilience, ROI: How procurement can manage social risk amid global disruption and supply volatility 
Plenary
11:40 - 12:20
Beyond traceability: Turning supply chain transparency into meaningful oversight 
Plenary
12:20 - 13:20
Lunch
13:20 - 14:05
Breakout round 1 
13:20 - 14:05
Compliance and impact: How businesses can balance legal obligations and a risk-based approach  
Breakout
13:20 - 14:05
Making audits count: Practical examples of successful supplier engagement and improvement programs  
Breakout
13:20 - 14:05
From policy to practice: How supply chain data can ensure effective governance and informed decision-making in procurement  
Breakout
13:20 - 14:05
Will the omnibus deepen the division between human rights leaders and the rest?  
The other room
14:05 - 14:50
Breakout round 2 
14:05 - 14:50
Human rights impact assessments: What are the opportunities for joint and sector-wide partnerships?  
Breakout
14:05 - 14:50
Tier 2 and beyond: How to leverage multi-stakeholder initiatives for deeper change  
Breakout
14:05 - 14:50
Geopolitics, trade and responsible sourcing: How business can create a positive impact in high-risk sourcing regions  
Breakout
14:05 - 14:50
What does it take to build a culture of change?  
The other room
14:50 - 15:20
Networking break
15:20 - 16:00
Investor pressure and ESG accountability: What do investors really want to see? 
Plenary
16:00 - 16:40
Working hard or hardly working: Are enhanced reporting requirements driving accountability and impact or creating reporting fatigue? 
Plenary
16:40 - 16:45
Closing remarks from the chair and end of day 1 
Plenary
Day 2

Thursday 19th March 2026

Time
Session title
Session type
09:00 - 09:40
From emissions to equity: How to integrate worker rights into a robust decarbonisation strategy 
Plenary
09:40 - 10:30
Climate adaptation case studies: Protecting workers in a changing climate 
09:40 - 10:05
Agriculture  
Case study
10:05 - 10:30
Manufacturing  
Case study
10:30 - 11:00
Networking break
11:00 - 11:45
Cross-industry breakout round 1 
11:00 - 11:45
Advancing gender equity: Strategies for responsible sourcing in apparel  
Breakout
11:00 - 11:45
Mapping the unmapped: Integrating informal packaging workers into due diligence systems  
Breakout
11:00 - 11:45
Addressing child labour in complex cosmetics supply chains  
Breakout
11:45 - 12:30
Cross-industry breakout round 2 
11:45 - 12:30
Concentration risk: What to do when pharmaceutical suppliers don’t comply  
Breakout
11:45 - 12:30
Responsible mining: Partnering with indigenous communities for long-term sustainability  
Breakout
11:45 - 12:30
Building responsibly: Embedding ethical recruitment in construction projects  
Breakout
12:30 - 13:30
Lunch
13:30 - 15:00
Roundtables 
13:30 - 15:00
Breaking the cycle: How businesses can drive social mobility  
Roundtable
13:30 - 15:00
Out at sea, out of mind: Bringing accountability and visibility to social risk in remote supply chains  
Roundtable
13:30 - 15:00
Hidden risks, real opportunities: How to identify, manage and improve bad apple suppliers in complex supply chains  
Roundtable
13:30 - 15:00
The right to a non-toxic environment: How stronger environmental stewardship can protect human rights  
Roundtable
13:30 - 15:00
Measuring responsibility: What are meaningful human rights KPIs for strategic procurement  
Roundtable

Contact

For any questions on this event, please contact:

Emilia Colman

Project Manager

Contact Emilia 

Emma Goodyer

Business Development Representative

Contact Emma 

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