On 25 September 2018, ShareAction and ACCA jointly organised a conference called Human Rights Metrics: Reaching scale through the sustainable finance agenda.
Catherine Howarth, CEO at ShareAction, gave a welcoming speech. Jimmy Greer, Head of Sustainability, ACCA, moderated the first panel on Barriers and opportunities for high quality human rights data. The panel was comprised of Michel Bande, Senior principal advisor, CSR Europe, Leslie Swynghedauw, Senior Associate - ESG Research, MSCI, Richard Karmel, Business and Human Rights Partner, Mazars UK, Mark Hodge, Senior Associate, Shift Project, and Danielle Essink, Robeco, Investor Alliance for Human Rights.
Anne-Marie Brook, Co-founder, Human Rights Measurement Initiative, gave a presentation on lessons from measuring government performance. Paul Tang, MEP gave a keynote speech.
Eleni Choidas, Senior EU Officer, ShareAction, moderated the first exchange of views on Civil society and independent initiatives. She was joined by Vaidehee Sachdev, Senior Research Officer, Workforce Disclosure Initiative, ShareAction, Filip Gregor, Head of Responsible Companies, Frank Bold, and Camille Le Pors, Corporate Human Rights Benchmark. Vaidehee Sachdev, Senior Research Officer, Workforce Disclosure Initiative, ShareAction, moderated the second exchange on Labour rights: Measuring impact in core workforce and supply chain, between Arvid Ahrin, General Secretary, Nordic Financial Unions, and Ben Vanpeperstraete, Lobby and Advocacy Coordinator, Clean Clothes Campaign.
The second panel on What role for human rights metrics in the EU's taxonomy for Sustainable Investments? was moderated by Vincent Papa, Director of Financial Reporting Policy, EFRAG. He was joined by Alyssa Heath, Senior Policy Manager, Principles for Responsible Investment, Carel Cronenberg, Associate Director - MRV Manager, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Bertille Knuckey, Sycomore Asset Manager, and Gianluca Manca, Head of Sustainability, Eurizon Capital.
Cristina Tébar Less, Head of Responsible Business Conduct Unit, Investment Division, OECD, gave a keynote speech and closing remarks were given by Nick Robins, Professor in Practice - Sustainable Finance, London School of Economics and Political Science; Special Adviser on Sustainable Finance with UN Environment. Catherine Howarth, CEO, ShareAction wrapped-up the event.