2025 Australian Dialogue on Sustainability Governance

Registration Opens

Welcome to Country

Welcome Remarks

• Rachel Nicolson, Partner, Allens & Chair Sustainable Governance Technical Advisory Group, UNGCNA
• Dan Wilcock, Head of Sustainability Governance, UN Global Compact Network Australia

Keynote Address

• Baethan Mullen, Chief Executive Officer, The Superpower Institute

Response & insights from the UN Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals

• Professor Daniel Franks, Director of the Global Centre for Mineral Security

Panel discussion: The opportunity to deliver low carbon metals, and positive outcomes for Australians

Australia has a unique opportunity to harness its critical minerals reserves and abundant low-cost renewable energy opportunities – to provide a competitive advantage for domestic resource extraction and processing.

Domestically, the Albanese government has outlined plans to make Australia a renewable energy superpower, allocating more than $22.7 billion over the next 10 years to the “Future Made in Australia” agenda.

This panel discussion will consider where action, safeguards and good governance practices will be appropriate to ensure positive environmental, social and economic outcomes for Australia.

• Dave Filov, Counsel, Allens (Moderator)
• Dwayne Mallard, Founder and Managing Director, Arjaway
• Jessica Shaw, WA Program Director, The Superpower Institute
• Sabrina Genter, Our Social Impact and Cultural Heritage Partner, ERM
• A/Prof. Martin Brueckner, Pro Vice Chancellor Sustainability, Murdoch University

Morning Tea

Panel discussion: ESG and responsible approaches to investments and finance

ESG considerations have had a significant impact on global markets, driving policy changes to how financial institutions and businesses respond to the growing focus on sustainable development.

Climate and other sustainability-related factors are increasingly being incorporated into the investment decisions of retail investors, fund managers and the lending decisions of banks. Moreover, the The Commonwealth government’s Future Made in Australia agenda provides a comprehensive suite of financial and investment tools designed to reduce risk for private investors and accelerate the development of Australia’s critical minerals, renewable energy, and green metals sectors.

In this session, panellists will explore how these changes are shaping financing opportunities for the critical minerals, renewable energy and green metals industries and the challenges of navigating evolving ESG standards.

• Ben Farnsworth, Partner, Allens (Moderator)
• Andrew Strongman, Global Head of Mining & Metals, Westpac Institutional Bank
• Nicole Roocke, Chief Executive Officer, Minerals Research Institute of WA
• Rosemary Bisset, Head of Sustainability, Governance and Risk, National Australia Bank

Lunch

Keynote Address

• Jennifer Parker, Vice President Corporate Affairs, Lynas Rare Earths

Panel Discussion: Shifting geopolitical sands – the impacts of international policy changes on anti-corruption enforcement and the pursuit of critical minerals

Changes to anti-corruption policy have been extensive. In August 2024, the introduction of the Combatting Foreign Bribery Act established a ‘failure to prevent’ offence, making Australian corporations responsible for foreign bribery by their ‘associates’ unless they can demonstrate adequate procedures.

However, in February 2025 the United States paused the enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, stating ‘overexpansive and unpredictable’ enforcement against American citizens and businesses as a waste of prosecutorial resources and causing active harm to American economic competitiveness.

Elsewhere, greater corporate liability, tougher sanctions and broader extraterritorial reach continue to contribute to a robust anti-bribery and fraud prevention global framework.

This session will focus on how recent shifts in the international anti-corruption policy landscape have affected enforcement, and on the implications and ESG demands facing the critical minerals sector.

• Rachel Nicolson, Partner, Allens (Moderator)
• Jon Greenaway, Market Director for Western Australia, Control Risks
• Michael Lamson, Counsel, Litigation, Arbitration & Investigations, Linklaters Hong Kong
• Dr Sandy Chong, National Board Director & Chair of SDG Forum, United Nations Association of Australia (WA Division)

Afternoon Tea

Panel discussion: Latest developments in Australia’s integrity frameworks

Australian businesses now have almost a year’s experience with the amendments made by the Combatting Foreign Bribery Bill, particularly the “failure to prevent” offence and the “adequate procedures” defence. Moreover, the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Amendment Bill 2024 passed Parliament on 29 November 2024 making changes to the AML/CTF regime and expanding its application to Tranche 2 entities when the provisions commence on 1 July 2026

Additionally, this panel will examine the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), particularly its decision to investigate the Robodebt Scheme and the ongoing calls for reform. The session will also touch on the Albanese Government’s other integrity initiatives, such as beneficial ownership and whistleblower protections, while considering how the rapid adoption of Generative AI is reshaping governance and compliance.

• Kate Dundas, Executive Director, UN Global Compact Network Australia (Moderator)
• Andrew Wilcock, Managing Associate, Allens
• Clancy Moore, Chief Executive Officer, Transparency International Australia
• John Whitehead, Detective Inspector, Australian Federal Police

Workshop: GenAI, Bribery, and Corruption – Navigating the Future of Compliance

• Facilitated by Allens

Please note, the Workshop will only be available for in-person attendees

Closing Remarks

• Rachel Nicolson, Partner, Allens & Chair Sustainable Governance Technical Advisory Group, UNGCNA
• Kate Dundas, Executive Director, UN Global Compact Network Australia

Networking Reception