This full-day event aims to advance dialogue between academics, businesses, associations and policymakers on how responsible business conduct can drive long-term business value and competitiveness. It will also explore how public policy can create an enabling environment to accelerate responsible business conduct across the EU.
The goal of the workshop is to identify best practices and actionable strategies to better align private sector interests with the EU’s sustainability goals through incentives.
The intention is to find these solutions by consolidating knowledge and therefore generating concrete policy ideas through enabling enabling constructive discussions during the event. By aligning the interests of businesses and policymakers, we can accelerate the transition to a more sustainable and resilient Single Market, benefiting businesses, society, and the environment alike.
If you would like to participate, please express your interest by 14 December. Your attendance will be confirmed in due course.
- corporate social responsibility
- Wednesday 28 January 2026, 09:30 - 16:00 (CET)
- Brussels, Belgium
Practical information
- When
- Wednesday 28 January 2026, 09:30 - 16:00 (CET)
- Where
- BRE2, ground floor meeting roomEuropean Commission, Avenue d'Auderghem 45, 1040 Brussels, Belgium
- Languages
- English
Description
The workshop will start approximately 9.30 am and finish by 4 pm, with coffee and lunch breaks in between.
There will be 3 keynote speeches, each of which will be followed by a panel discussion. These sessions will be interactive, including Q&A tools (e.g. Slido) and a townhall style session where participants can express their views and/or ask questions. The panel discussions will be framed by discussion papers with guiding questions, which participants will receive ahead of the meeting.
Keynotes
- "Why social sustainability makes business sense", Sarah Hechler, Project Manager Social, UN Global Compact
- "Corporate sustainability and resilience – how are they interconnected", María Paula Florez-Jimenez, Assistant Professor, University of Navarra
- "DG GROW study on leveraging public procurement to promote and reward responsible business", Kristin Tallbo, Business & Human Rights Adviser, Tallbo Advisory
Speakers
Sarah Hechler is a Social Project Manager with the UN Global Compact Network Germany. She works on a broad range of social sustainability topics, including human rights, labor standards, living wages, a just transition, and digital ethics, in line with the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact, UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and relevant European as well as national regulation. With an academic background in international political economy and human rights, Sarah leads capacitybuilding initiatives, programmes, and publications, designed to help German businesses translate social and human rights due diligence into concrete and systemic change.
María Paula Florez-Jimenez is an Assistant Professor at the School of Economics and Business at the University of Navarra and a researcher in the Purpose Strength Project. She is also an Associate Researcher at SHINE at Harvard University and at the International School of Economic and Administrative Sciences at Universidad de La Sabana. Her research examines purpose, well-being, sustainability, and resilience within organizations. Her work has been published in journals such as Review of Managerial Science, Management Decision, and Business Strategy and Development. She holds a Ph.D. in Economics and Business from the University of Navarra and a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of the Andes (Colombia), where she also completed undergraduate degrees in Environmental and Industrial Engineering.
Kristin Tallbo is a business and human rights lawyer working at the intersection of law, procurement, and human rights, where she drives change with passion and creativity. She has extensive experience in sustainable public procurement, including developing due diligence contract clauses, guidance and templates for the Swedish public sector, where she continues to provide advisory support. Her professional journey reflects a steadfast commitment to promoting human rights across various sectors, including renewable energy, automotive, electronics, garments, food and agriculture, and medical supplies and equipment.