Jaya Chakrabarti to Co-Lead Ethical Procurement Workshops at Anti-Slavery Wales Conference 2024

Jaya Chakrabarti DSc hc MBE, a prominent advocate for transparency in supply chains and ethical business practices, will be presenting and co-leading workshops at the Anti-Slavery Wales Conference 2024 on 16 October 2024. The conference, hosted by Aberystwyth University in partnership with the Welsh Government, has become a key annual event, bringing together experts, organisations, and advocates to combat modern slavery.

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Chakrabarti will join Dr. Sue Hurrell of the Welsh Government to co-lead workshops on socially responsible procurement, focusing on practical strategies that can help organisations prevent exploitation and foster ethical procurement practices.

As part of the workshops, Sue Hurrell will explore the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act and its upcoming Socially Responsible Procurement Duties, which are still being developed. The Welsh Government team, led by Sue, is currently working on secondary legislation and guidance, with a completion target of end of 2025. One of the main areas of focus is defining the annual reporting metrics that public bodies will need to provide. These metrics will ensure that public procurement reflects global responsibility, particularly around supply chain and contract management in sectors like construction. Model contract clauses for major construction contracts are also being developed.

In her section of the workshop, Jaya Chakrabarti will expand on how TISCreport tracks crucial transparency metrics for suppliers to the Welsh Public Sector. TISCreport, as the world’s largest open data anti-slavery register, enables organisations to identify and monitor risks in their supply chains, highlighting areas such as Modern Slavery Act compliance, ethical sourcing, and environmental and social governance (ESG) data. Chakrabarti will demonstrate how TISCreport’s public platform allows organisations to collaborate and address conflicting information, driving improvements in data quality and ethical practices. By providing real-time access to key compliance and risk data, TISCreport helps public bodies and private companies go beyond compliance and take proactive steps in tackling modern slavery.

Delegates attending in person will have access to the following workshops:

• Workshop 1: Exploring socially responsible procurement – Led by Dr. Sue Hurrell (Welsh Government) and Jaya Chakrabarti (TISCreport)
• Workshop 2: Anti-Slavery Wales online learning
• Workshop 3: Project RESTART: Utilising AI technology to improve modern slavery survivor support
• Workshop 4: Tackling Child Sexual Exploitation
• Workshop 5: County Lines and Cuckooing

For those participating online, the following virtual workshops will be available:

• Workshop 1: Exploring socially responsible procurement – Led by Dr. Sue Hurrell and Jaya Chakrabarti
• Workshop 2: Anti-Slavery Wales online learning
• Workshop 3: Project RESTART: Utilising AI technology to improve modern slavery survivor support
• Workshop 4: Tackling Child Sexual Exploitation
• Workshop 5: County Lines and Cuckooing

This year’s Anti-Slavery Wales Conference will also feature esteemed speakers such as:

• Dafydd Llywelyn, Police and Crime Commissioner for Dyfed-Powys
• Robyn Phillips, Director of Operations at the Human Trafficking Foundation
• Professor Ryszard Piotrowicz, Professor of Law at Aberystwyth University

The conference attracts a diverse audience from the public, private, and third sectors across Wales, along with those who have lived experience of exploitation. With both in-person and virtual attendance options, early booking is recommended due to limited in-person capacity.

Join the fight against modern slavery by attending Anti-Slavery Wales 2024. Gain insights from Jaya Chakrabarti, Dr. Sue Hurrell, and other leading experts as they share strategies to eliminate exploitation and ensure procurement practices uphold the highest ethical standards.

To register for the event, visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cynhadledd-gwrthgaethwasiaeth-cymru-2024anti-slavery-wales-conference-2024-tickets-988264294107.

About Jaya Chakrabarti
Jaya Chakrabarti DSc hc MBE is the CEO of TISCreport, the world’s largest open data anti-slavery register. Through TISCreport, she leads efforts to increase transparency in supply chains, empowering organisations to make data-driven decisions to prevent human trafficking and exploitation. A recognised leader in ethical business practices and a passionate advocate for leveraging technology to drive social change, Chakrabarti was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Bristol for her pioneering work in combating modern slavery in 2023.