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RMIT Business and Human Rights Centre, Newsletter April 2026 Edition
Dear members and friends of BHRIGHT,
We are well into the year now, and its fair to say there's a lot going on at BHRIGHT! Below you will find publications and other recent events and seminars from our BHRIGHT members, as well as recent news stories and relevant BHR publications.
Our BHRIGHT 2026 builds off a stellar 2025. And to capture the year that was, we have produced a short highlights video - A BHRIGHT 2025: Progress, Partnerships, Impact. We look forward to continuing our work into 2026 and beyond!
As always, thank you for your support and engagement with BHRIGHT! We are always interested to hear from BHRIGHT members and friends about your work and opportunities to amplify what you do, discuss and collaborate. If you have any projects, publications or events related to Business and Human Rights - or are interested in partnering with us for research or event workshop, we would love to hear from you! Please reach out via: bhright@rmit.edu.au.
I hope to see many of you at our future events - including:
Dr Simon Adams' public lecture - International Justice and Human Rights: Where to next? - next Tuesday 5.30pm, April 21 at RMIT City Campus and:
Making Digital Infrastructure Work for Women and Girls: Exemplar Stories -- Wed April 29, 3.30pm', RMIT City Campus. Details and registration links for both events are below.
in peace,
Assoc. Prof. Jonathan Kolieb
Director, RMIT Business and Human Rights Centre (BHRIGHT)
Research Funding Success
Professor Penelope Weller, BHRIGHT Theme Leader for Health and Professor Falk Scholer from the RMIT Centre for Human-AI Information Environments (CHAI) have been successful in receiving a grant of $194,000 through the India Cyber and Critical Technology Partnership (AICCTP) Grant. The grant is funding the project "Gender inclusive standards and best practice guide for DPG", led in collaboration with BHRIGHT, Law & Development partners and Ekstep Foundation.
This grant and project is a continuation of the work commenced by Prof. Weller in 2025 on digital public goods.
Recent Initiatives and events
Energy Justice in Policy: Lessons from Europe and Chile
On 26th February, BHRIGHT hosted the public seminar Energy Justice in Policy: Lessons from Europe and Chile, a half day event discussing the policy developments and decision-making needed for a just transition to low-carbon energy. The event heard from international speakers Prof Harriet Thomson, University of Glasgow and A/Prof. Alejandra Cortés, University of Chile, who shared how policy frameworks are being integrated in Europe and Chile, shedding light into how these successes and lessons can be applied in Australia.
The event was organised by BHRIGHT member A/Prof Nicola Willand and Dr Lee White, Horizon Fellow from the Sydney Environment Institute, University of Sydney and was co-hosted by the RMIT Enabling Impact Platforms. The seminar was part of the two-day event ‘Energy Justice in Action: Manifesto Writing Workshop and Global Lessons Seminar’, with the aim of producing a first draft of a policy document calling for change towards a more just energy system in Australia, inspired by the European Manifesto for a Ban on Energy Disconnections and the Chilean Salvaguardas para una Transición Energética Justa en Chile (Safeguards for a Just Energy Transition in Chile).
Book Launch: Global Business and Local Struggle
In February, BHRIGHT hosted the book launch Global Business and Local Struggle: Reimagining Non-Judicial Remedy for Human Rights, co-authored by BHRIGHT member Professor Shelley Marshall, Deputy Dean of RMIT School of Law. The book launch included hearing from guest speaker Dr Luke Fletcher, Executive Director of Jubilee Australia.
The book documented the research and findings of the struggles of affected communities and workers, and their attempts to achieve justice and remedy against big businesses in mines, palm oil plantations and factories in Indonesia and India, along with recommendations for effective practical actions.
To find out more about the book and to purchase copy, follow the link here
Seminar: Professor David Walters on the ILO and right to safe & healthy work environment
At the beginning of February, BHRIGHT hosted the lunchtime seminar Prof. David Walters - Fundamental principles and realities of practice: The ILO and the delivery of decent health and safety standards for workers at the ends of global supply chains in low- and middle-income countries, under the BHRIGHT Work in Transition Theme.
BHRIGHT had the pleasure of hosting visiting Scholar Professor David Walter, Cardiff University (UK), who spoke about his expertise in labour relations and regulation, in the context of his recent research and observations of the ILO in relation to workers health and safe work environments in low- and middle-income countries.
Online Workshop #1, BHRIGHT Methodology Series 2026
Back by popular demand, BHRIGHT is running a Research Methodology Series in 2026. In March, we hosted our first online workshop for the series: Social Network Analysis in Social Science Research. The workshop was led by Dr. Duy Dang-Pham, Senior Lecturer at RMIT University (The Business School, Saigon South Campus), and was facilitated and organised by Dr Thuy Nguyen, BHRIGHT Theme Leader for Labour and supply chains.
Stay tuned for information and dates on the upcoming workshops in the BHRIGHT Methodology Series for 2026!
BHRIGHT 2026 Strategic Planning Workshop
To plan for the work and projects of the Centre for the new year, BHRIGHT ran a 2026 Planning Session for BHRIGHT members. During the session, we heard from the BHRIGHT Director and Theme Leaders on goals, projects and ideas for the year ahead, heard from RMIT key stakeholders on maximising ways to assist in research and work. Importantly, BHRIGHT members shared and brainstormed research ideas, projects and collaborative opportunities for BHRIGHT and in Business and Human Rights. We are excited to showcase this work for a bigger and BHRIGHTER 2026!
BHRIGHT/COSC/CID Joint Networking Evening
To mark the beginning of 2026, BHRIGHT co-hosted a Joint Networking Evening drinks with RMIT College of Business and Law research centres, the RMIT Centre for Organisations and Social Change, and the RMIT Centre for International Development, for an informal networking evening for our Centre Members.
Which Way Forward? AI and Decent Work
BHRIGHT in collaboration with the Centre for Future Work and AIRAANZ (the Association of Industrial Relations Academics of Australia and New Zealand), held a half-day symposium: Which Way Forward? AI and Decent Work on 9th April on RMIT Melbourne CBD Campus. The event was led by RMIT researcher and BHRIGHT Theme Leader for Work in Transition, Assoc. Prof. Darryn Snell.
The symposium examined Australia’s options for effective AI regulation for the world of work and identifying what alliances and coalitions can do to obtain good institutional frameworks for regulation and for ensuring workers have a say in technology use and change. The event included hearing from a range of speakers including trade unionists, academics, and civil society advocates sharing their expertise and perspectives on the development of AI, employer surveillance and the rights of workers.
BHRIGHT Seed Grant Scheme 2026
BHRIGHT recently launched the BHRIGHT Seed Grants Scheme 2026. The scheme will award grants of up to $2000 to Centre members undertaking collaborative research projects with researchers internally or externally to BHRIGHT, which advances BHRIGHT’s mission and aligns with BHRIGHT’s themes. The grant will provide opportunities for outcomes such as developing publications, research assistance, research activities, or furthering the work of research through research-related events and workshops.
We are currently reviewing the submissions received. Stay tuned for some exciting research projects to be rolled out of 2026.
BHRIGHT Impact and Research
Recent publications, activities and research from the BHRIGHT team of interdisciplinary researchers are featured below
The BHRIGHT 2025 Showreel
2025 was a momentous and impactful year for BHRIGHT! We are proud to lead conversations in how businesses can respect human rights in Australia, the Asia Pacific and globally.
Some of our highlights for 2025 were:
Hosting the inaugural United Nations Business and Human Rights Regional Forum: Australia and New Zealand - with 700+ attendees and over 100 speakers represented across sectors and from all parts of the globe
'Karen Hao Talks AI' on the rise of AI and the inordinate power of tech companies - which was this NYTimes bestselling author's only engagement in Melbourne
Delivering Business and Human Rights Training for Vietnamese academics and delegates, with support from the Australian Human Rights Commission
Partnering with UN Women to host a workshop on leveraging digital public goods for access to justice, which led to securing funding to develop digital tools to improve access to justice for women and vulnerable groups
To capture the year that was 2025 for BHRIGHT, we have produced the 2025 BHRIGHT Showreel A BHRIGHT 2025: Progress, Partnerships, Impact.
We look forward to continuing our work into 2026 and beyond!
The video of the showreel can be found here
How additionality requirements of carbon markets could penalize Indigenous stewardship: article
Dr Vanessa Johnston, BHRIGHT Co-Theme Leader for Climate Change and Environment co-authored the journal article: Additionality requirements of carbon markets could penalize Indigenous stewardship.
The article discusses how current carbon market policies only reward carbon credits to those who restore degraded or damaged ecosystems, excluding and penalising long-term Indigenous stewardship who have continually protected ecosystems to remain intact. Dr Johnston co-authored the article with the RMIT Centre for Nature Positive Solutions Director Professor Peter Macreadie. The project was supported by BHRIGHT and RMIT Centre for Nature Positive Solutions. The topic was also explored in an article published by RMIT News, where Dr Johnston also provided her expertise.
The journal article was published in Nature Climate Change. The article published by RMIT News can be found here.
Assoc Prof Jonathan Kolieb delivers keynote speech at AI x Human Rights conference, MIT World Peace University in Pune, India
A/Prof Jonathan Kolieb, Director of BHRIGHT, was invited in March as keynote speaker at the MIT World Peace University, School of Law, for the inaugural conference on 'Socio-Legal Intricacies of Artificial Intelligence' in Prune, India.
In his address, A/Prof Kolieb spoke about the rise of AI and intersections on human rights, including how this looks like in conflict zones on the battlefield, and the need to include businesses who own the AI programs in conversations and regulatory frameworks.
Book Publication on Property Law and Climate Change
Dr Vanessa Johnston, BHRIGHT Co-Theme Leader for Climate Change and Environment has co-authored the book Property Law and Climate Change: Inextricably Linked. The book published by Routledge will be published and available from 23rd April.
The book co-authored with A/Prof Ben France-Hudson, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. The book explores that the failure to include property law in climate policy and regulatory frameworks undermines their effectiveness. As such, property law needs to become part of climate change policies.
BHRIGHT will also be hosting the upcoming book launch on 29th June, launched by the Honourable Brian Preston, Chief Justice of the New South Wales Land and Environment Court, in conjunction with the 17th Australasian Property Law Academics Conference hosted by RMIT's School of Law on RMIT Melbourne City Campus. Further details on location and where to register to follow soon!
Dr Johnston’s book can be found here.
“From Risk to Responsibility: Business and Human Rights in Conflict-Affected Regions” - Sedex webinar
Associate Prof. Jonathan Kolieb spoke at a webinar organised by Sedex Australia-New Zealand, for their client companies on addressing human rights risks in conflict-affected regions. A rather timely topic given ongoing Middle East conflict that is impacting corporate operations and supply chains across a range of sectors. Sedex is a leading provider of tools and resources to over 100,000 companies to support their efforts towards ethical and sustainable supply chains.
Opportunities to Partner and Collaborate with BHRIGHT
Practitioners-in-Residence and Scholars-in-Residence
BHRIGHT is Australia’s first and only research centre focused on Business and Human Rights and the only centre of its kind in the Asia Pacific region. Through multi-disciplinary research, engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, and education we provide thought leadership to advance Business and Human Rights related policy and practice nationally and internationally. Our mission is to contribute research, education and practical support to ensure that businesses respect the human rights of workers, customers, and communities where they operate, as well as throughout their national, regional and global value chains. The Business and Human Rights research agenda benefits from multidisciplinary approaches. We draw upon and contribute particularly to legal and management approaches to the field.
Are you a BHR or BHR-adjacent researcher or would like to become a BHR researcher? Are you a BHR practitioner looking to visit Melbourne? BHRIGHT is accepting applications from researching academics, or professionals engaged in business and human rights to visit BHRIGHT as Scholar-in-Residence or Professional-in-Residence. The BHRIGHT ‘in-residence’ program supports travel to and from Melbourne.
Visitors in-residence are further afforded space to work and research within BHRIGHT, library access, opportunities to contribute to BHRIGHT Seminars, and engage in scholarship, and undertake work, drawing on the expertise of BHRIGHT membership. If this is something that interests you, please forward on expressions of interest including outlining your interest in the program and potential research or projects that might be informed by access to BHRIGHT membership to bhright@rmit.edu.au.
Connecting BHR Interns with Industry
BHRIGHT currently teaches 300+ undergraduate Law and Business students a course on Business and Human Rights. This is unique to BHRIGHT and RMIT, in fact this is the first and only compulsory course specifically on BHR in any Law professional degree in Australia, (if not globally!).
As such, if you are looking for an intern or work experience student with knowledge of BHR, or perhaps you are on the lookout for grads with a passion and knowledge for BHR, then please reach out and connect with us.
If you are interested in any of these opportunities to partner with us, please get in touch with us via bhright@rmit.edu.au
We look forward to hearing from you!
Upcoming Events
We are witnessing multiple crises play out across the globe involving threats and challenges to the principles and institutions of international law and human rights - armed conflicts, authoritiarianism on the rise, and the advent of the AI age. Over decades, Dr Adams has helmed several prominent human rights organisations - including the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect and Center for Victims of Torture in New York.
In this public lecture, Dr Adams who has recently returned home to Australia will offer his reflections on the current state of human rights and the international rules-based order, and what the future may hold for these anchors of the post-WW2 world. Networking drinks will follow the lecture.
Location: Kaleide Theatre, 360 Swanston St, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000 (RMIT Building 8)
Date: Tuesday 21st April 2026
Time: 5:30-7:00pm
Follow the link here to register your attendance.
Making Digital Public Infrastructure Work for Women and Girls
Over the next decade, most countries will embark on a journey toward building digital public infrastructure (DPI) to solve society-wide challenges and promote equitable growth. DPI is digital capabilities that help governments, businesses, and individuals identify themselves, make payments, and share information for improved service delivery in a digital age. When designed with a gender-intentional lens, DPI has the potential to be transformative. By embedding equity and inclusion into the design and governance of DPI, countries can expand access to essential services—health care, education, social protection, economic opportunity, and justice—reaching women and girls who have previously been excluded.
This session will highlight examples of how countries and practitioners are leveraging DPI to improve outcomes for women and girls. It will explore what it takes to move from technical infrastructure to meaningful impact—focusing on design choices, policy frameworks, and partnerships that ensure DPI works not just at scale, but equitably. he event will also be celebrating the launch of Making Digital Public Infrastructure Work for Women and Girls: Exemplar Stories, a publication that highlights concrete examples of gender-intentional DPI in development and implementation around the world.
The event is co-hosted by the RMIT Centre for Human–AI Information Environments (CHAI), and organised in collaboration with UN Women, Co-Develop, the Centre for Digital Public Infrastructure and Tech Council of Australia, and led by Professor Penelope Weller, BHRIGHT Theme Leader for Health.
Location: Kaleide Theatre, 360 Swanston St, Melbourne, (RMIT Building 8) or online
Date: Wednesday 29th April
Time: 3.30-6.00pm
To register to attend and for more information on the event, follow the link here.
Acknowledgement of Country
BHRIGHT and RMIT University acknowledge the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nations on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. BHRIGHT and RMIT University respectfully acknowledge their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. BHRIGHT and RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.
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