UNiting Business LIVE Australia 2026: Sustainability in Action
Business powering global action on climate, nature and human rights
- DATE: 13-14 May 2026
- VENUE: Jones Bay Wharf, Piers 19-21, 26/32 Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont NSW 2009
Sign up for event updates
Not ready to register yet? Sign up now to get exclusive event updates. Be the first to know when we announce speakers, release the full program, and more.
About the event
UNiting Business LIVE Australia will convene Australian and international C-Suite, board leaders and sustainability professionals to tackle the defining challenges of business resilience in an age of geopolitical uncertainty.
By diving into material climate and nature risks, shifting trade relationships, supply chain impacts, meaningful engagement with our First Nations communities, and new climate governance requirements, Australia’s senior business leaders will work together at UNiting Business LIVE Australia to drive sustainability action for the private sector—in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement, the targets of the Global Biodiversity Framework, the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact and the SDGs.
Topics include
- Actioning human rights across supply chains & business
- Advancing a nature-positive private sector
- Driving climate action through net zero business
- Innovation & the sustainability frontier
- Mandatory climate reporting
- Moral courage & self-care for sustainability professionals
- Sourcing, supply chains & scope 3 solutions
- Sustainability leadership & governance for impact
- Sustainable finance in action
UNiting Business LIVE Australia delivers sustainability in action — progressing the Australian sustainable business agenda via the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and UN Global Compact’s Ten Principles.
Join us to learn what’s next in sustainability leadership and set your organisation up for success in 2026 and beyond.
Why UNiting Business LIVE Australia matters:
- Risk management in a fractured world: Resilient companies need to navigate supply chain disruption, physical and transition risks, place-based relationships, resource competition, and political instability.
- Global credibility: With scrutiny on greenwashing, human rights and governance rising, learn how to sustain trust in your organisation at home and abroad.
- Strategic foresight: Move beyond identifying risks and operationalise opportunities by translating global sustainability trends into local advantage and boardroom strategy.
Program
Program subject to change, speakers coming soon
DAY 1 – 13 May 2026
Time
Session
Conference pillar
Registration
Welcome to Country
Coming soon
Coming soon
Keynote: Sustainable business leadership for climate action: Navigating the geopolitical storm
An increasingly turbulent geopolitical landscape highlights the need for truly resilient leadership. This session explores how global businesses are stepping up to lead on climate action with commercial strategies to drive the SDGs and align to the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Lunch & networking
Panel: The forefront of nature-positive business: Reimagining nature risk and resilience
The global spotlight is increasingly on nature & biodiversity, and the private sector is accelerating nature-positive action as part of Targets 15 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity framework (GBF) – often referred to as the Paris Agreement for nature and biodiversity. Likewise, domestically, there is an opportunity for Australian businesses and investors to capture this global moment on the world’s stage and tackle biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation.
This discussion aims to both explore the rationale for putting nature on the balance sheet and provide a space to reimagine private sector engagement with nature – especially in light of the Secretary General’s remarks that the world’s leaders must “maintain a pedagogy” with Indigenous communities to best understand how to navigate a complex “economic situation…aggravated by climate change.”
Afternoon tea
Fireside chat with keynote: Championing Climate Action: Australia & the Pacific on the Global Stage
The 2025 International Court of Justice (ICJ) Advisory Opinion on Climate Change provided a landmark interpretation of obligations under international law. The opinion, while non-binding, carries profound implications for the private sector. Notably, the opinion states that countries have obligations under international law – through treaties like the Paris Agreement – to protect climate systems and prevent significant harm.
This session will explore future impacts for the private sector in light of the ICJ Advisory Opinion on Climate Change. For the private sector, this means discussing how to navigate through increased global climate regulation; heightened corporate accountability and transparency; enhanced due diligence requirements; and the need to integrate climate into governance and risk decisions.
Executive Panel: Driving sustainability through NEDs, CEOs & CSOs
In the process of advancing sustainability leadership and long-term value creation, boards and executives are navigating complex geopolitical dynamics—such as trade tensions, resource security, and climate diplomacy.
This session will spotlight organisational leadership in conversation—including the board, the CEO and C-suite—to deliver practical insights for executive leadership action, including evolving business to integrate ESG priorities; managing stakeholder expectations; managing the trade-offs across climate, nature and human rights; creating a culture of effective communication that extends beyond the executive team; and turning good governance into the resilient corporate strategies that foster courage, integrity and leadership in turbulent times.
Welcome reception
Leadership Dinner: Executive actions for sustainable business (invitation only)
This invite-only dinner brings together Australia’s leading business executives to unlock mechanisms for driving sustainable business action in a rapidly evolving economy and shifting geopolitical landscape.
Lead
Day 2
Time
Session
Conference pillar
Registration & coffee
Welcome & Acknowledgement of Country
Keynote & fireside chat: Business security: Risk, resilience & Australian economic opportunity
Panel: Climate leadership, sustainability & the Pacific
Morning tea & networking
Concurrent sessions:
Beyond net zero: Real zero, absolute zero and a decarbonised economy
Stocktake on the just transition: Global developments and Australia’s contribution to a just and equitable transition
Lunch
Concurrent sessions:
Mobilising finance for sustainability action: Aligning Australian businesses and investors for global impact
Transparency & transformation: Actioning sustainability reporting for impact
Closing session: A business call to action
Closing reception
Conference registration
REGISTER BY
31 July 2025
Save up to $550
Participant Rate
2-day passNon-participant Rate
2-day passNFP / Government / SME
2-day passParticipant Rate
1-day passNon-participant Rate
1-day passREGISTER BY
31 Oct 2025
Save up to $350
Participant Rate
2-day passNon-participant Rate
2-day passNFP / Government / SME
2-day passParticipant Rate
1-day passNon-participant Rate
1-day passREGISTER BY
28 Feb 2026
Save up to $250
Participant Rate
2-day passNon-participant Rate
2-day passNFP / Government / SME
2-day passParticipant Rate
1-day passNon-participant Rate
1-day passFROM
01 Mar 2026
Participant Rate
2-day passNon-participant Rate
2-day passNFP / Government / SME
2-day passParticipant Rate
1-day passNon-participant Rate
1-day passConference highlights
- CEO forums exploring responsible leadership in an era of fractured geopolitics.
- Boardroom exchanges and insights on governance, disclosure, regulation, and investor expectations.
- Hear from international leaders who are driving SDG progress for climate, nature and more.
- Forward-looking sessions translating outcomes into business transformation and market advantage.
- Dedicated sessions with world-renown technical expertise for sustainability professionals.
- Case studies from ASX leaders and global peers on embedding resilience and accountability.
- Cross-sector dialogues on business’ role in strengthening institutions, communities, and trust.
- Connect to the world’s foremost climate conversations – such as the UN Climate Conference (COP) and UN General Assembly (UNGA).
Join the movement
By attending UNiting Business LIVE Australia, you become part of the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative and demonstrate your commitment to responsible business at a time when leadership matters most.
Our UNGCNA is designed by business, for business. This means, no pay-to-play, no sponsored panels, a focus on high quality debate, meaningful connections, and practical outcomes you can act on.
Your attendance keeps this platform independent, credible, and focused on impact. Your attendance keeps this platform independent, credible, and focused on impact. Secure your ticket today and stand with us. Indeed, when you attend the UNiting Business LIVE Australia, you’re not just joining another corporate event. You’re backing your own peak body, the one that exists to elevate Australian business leadership on sustainability.
Lead, Learn, Connect – our conference pillars
Through the three conference pillars – lead, learn and connect – the UNiting Business LIVE Australia provides specialised streams designed to support Australian business leaders as they drive sustainability action across sectors.
Lead: Position your business as a sustainability leader, setting benchmarks and inspiring a ripple effect of positive change across your sector.
Learn: Propel your career and your company’s sustainability agenda forward with cutting-edge knowledge, insights and technical guidance from those at the forefront of change.
Connect: Cultivate a vast network of like-minded professionals, thought leaders and changemakers dedicated to shaping the future of sustainable business.
Partnership enquiries
For all partnership enquiries please contact: partnerships@unglobalcompact.org.au
Topics include
- Actioning human rights across supply chains & business
- Advancing a nature-positive private sector
- Driving climate action through net zero business
- Innovation & the sustainability frontier
- Mandatory climate reporting
- Moral courage & self-care for sustainability professionals
- Sourcing, supply chains & scope 3 solutions
- Sustainability leadership & governance for impact
- Sustainable finance in action
UNiting Business LIVE Australia delivers sustainability in action — progressing the Australian sustainable business agenda via the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and UN Global Compact’s Ten Principles.
Join us to learn what’s next in sustainability leadership and set your organisation up for success in 2026 and beyond.
Who attends:
UNiting Business LIVE Australia attendees represent every part of the sustainability value chain including senior decision makers, sustainability practitioners, technical specialists, advisors, communications professionals, small and medium enterprise leaders, government, civil society and academic leaders.
These are our changemakers.
- C-suite and boards – dedicated sessions that capture emerging opportunities in sustainability; exclusive spaces to connect with fellow executive leaders; training and guidance on sustainable governance.
- Sustainability professionals and changemakers – practical tools and provocative conversations that deliver impact; extensive time to connect, network and collaborate with cutting-edge sustainability changemakers; regenerative spaces for sustainability leaders fighting for change.
- Small and medium enterprise leaders
- Government, civil society and academic leaders
Speakers
Event map
Partners
- All
- Networking function partners
- Event partners
- Program partners
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) partners
Community Supporters
Delegate Passes
Partnership enquiries
For all partnership enquiries please contact: partnerships@unglobalcompact.org.au
Natasha: 0409 790 530
Abdul: 0433 159 345
