Juncture Dialogue: Unseen Chains - Modern Slavery in Aotearoa New Zealand
Juncture Dialogue: Unseen Chains - Modern Slavery in Aotearoa New Zealand
Juncture: Dialogues on Inclusive Capitalism is a University of Auckland Business School Research Centre exploring how capitalism can better serve people and planet.
Join us on Thursday 30 October for our next Dialogue event on Modern Slavery in Aotearoa New Zealand. Our panellists are Professor John Dumay, Associate-Professor Christina Stringer, Rebekah Armstrong, Sharleen Gargiulo, and Oliver Christeller. The event will be facilitated by Professor Christine Woods (see bios below).
Modern slavery isn’t a distant problem – it’s a lived reality in Aotearoa New Zealand. encompassing severe forms of exploitation such as forced labour and debt bondage, it is a global issue that transcends borders, occupations and industries.
Modern slavery is embedded in supply chains both domestically and internationally, exposing New Zealand companies to significant reputational and ethical risks. Despite ongoing calls for action, New Zealand has no legislation requiring companies to identify or report on modern slavery risks in their supply chains. Introducing such legislation would align New Zealand with key trading partners—Australia and the United Kingdom—both of which have enacted modern slavery laws.
Currently more than 250 New Zealand-headquartered companies appear on Australia’s Modern Slavery Register, yet two private members’ bills proposing modern slavery legislation for New Zealand are still sitting in Parliament’s “biscuit tin”.
In practice, supply chain mapping remains a challenge for many businesses. This event will examine the scope and complexity of modern slavery, review Australia’s legislative approach, consider the potential for similar laws in New Zealand, and discuss the practical implications for businesses and their supply chains.
Event details
Date: Thursday 30 October 2025
Time: 5.30-6pm networking, 6-8pm panel event
Venue: Decima Glenn, Room 310, Sir Owen G Glenn Building, 12 Grafton Road, Auckland CBD
Drinks and finger food will be served. For catering purposes, please register by Monday 20 October. Please note this event will be recorded.
Event panellists:
John Dumay
Professor John is a Professor of Accounting and Finance at Macquarie University, Sydney. He has worked for over 15 years as an independent business consultant across various industries before completing his PhD in 2008. He undertakes research into modern slavery, sustainability accounting and reporting, intellectual capital, knowledge management, qualitative research methods and academic writing. He has achieved an outstanding record as the author or co-author of over 120 peer-reviewed academic journal articles, publishing in prestigious journals and Elsevier and Stanford University study has recognised him as one of the world's top 2% of scientists. The Australian newspaper has recognised him as Australia's Top Researcher in Accounting & Taxation for 2020, 2022 to 2024. He is currently an Associate Editor of Accounting Auditing and Accountability Journal and Meditari Accountancy Research.
Christina Stringer
Dr Christina Stringer is an Associate Professor of International Business and Director of the Centre for Research on Modern Slavery at the University of Auckland Business School. For over a decade, she has conducted research on the exploitation of temporary migrant workers in New Zealand, including research for the Human Trafficking Research Coalition and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). Christina has served on several advisory groups focused on modern slavery and migrant exploitation, most recently as a member of the Labour Government’s Modern Slavery Leadership Advisory Group.
Rebekah Armstrong
Rebekah Armstrong is a leading specialist in business and human rights and humanitarian law. As Head of Advocacy and Justice at World Vision New Zealand, she has spearheaded the campaign for modern slavery legislation, co-authoring the Combatting Trafficking in Persons and Modern Day Forms of Slavery Bill, which has directly influenced two private members bills tabled at parliament by New Zealand’s largest political parties. She served on the New Zealand Government’s Modern Slavery Leadership Advisory Group, is an advisory member of the Centre for Research on Modern Slavery at Auckland University, and chairs the Human Trafficking Research Coalition. Before joining World Vision, Rebekah held senior leadership positions at the New Zealand Human Rights Commission and the UNHCR in Iran. Her Master of Laws thesis critically examined New Zealand’s legal framework for trafficking in persons. She is also an enrolled barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand.
Sharleen Gargiulo
Sharleen Gargiulo is a sustainability professional with over 17 years’ experience advancing responsible supply chains and tackling complex social and environmental challenges. Her current role is Sustainability Lead at Air New Zealand, where she leads initiatives that embed fairness, transparency, and resilience into procurement and supplier relationships, with a strong focus on human rights, modern slavery risks, and environmental stewardship. Her work addresses the intertwined wellbeing of people and nature — spanning labour rights, climate resilience, circularity, biodiversity, and supplier inclusion. Sharleen is passionate about collaboration, partnering with government, science institutes, iwi, suppliers, and communities to drive systemic change.
Oliver Christeller
Oliver Christeller is the Senior Human Rights Advisor to the Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner at Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission. With a background in employment law, his work at the Commission has included a focus on addressing the systemic drivers of migrant exploitation and modern slavery. Oliver was a key contributor to the Commission’s human rights review of the Accredited Employer Work Visa, which was grounded on interviews with workers who had lived experience of exploitation and took into account the views of a broad range of stakeholders from civil society and business. He currently plays a leading role in the Commission’s ongoing work to advance pay equity.
Event facilitator:
Professor Chris Woods is the Dame Theresa Gattung Chair for Women and Entrepreneurship at the University of Auckland Business School and is the Director of the Aotearoa Centre for Enterprising Women. She gained her PhD at the University of Auckland. Her research interests are in women and entrepreneurship, SME and family business, social entrepreneurship, Māori entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship education
If you would like more information about this event, please email the Juncture Team. We hope that you can join us.
Professor Susan Watson
Director, Juncture: Dialogues on Inclusive Capitalism
..............................................................................................................................................
Seminars, conferences and events may be photographed or filmed for use by the University and the media in hard copy and electronic publications including in newsletters and brochures and posted on the University or conference websites to promote subsequent events and the University. If you do not wish to be photographed or filmed, please inform the organiser or photographer.
Juncture Dialogue: Unseen Chains - Modern Slavery in Aotearoa New Zealand
Juncture: Dialogues on Inclusive Capitalism is a University of Auckland Business School Research Centre exploring how capitalism can better serve people and planet.
Join us on Thursday 30 October for our next Dialogue event on Modern Slavery in Aotearoa New Zealand. Our panellists are Professor John Dumay, Associate-Professor Christina Stringer, Rebekah Armstrong, Sharleen Gargiulo, and Oliver Christeller. The event will be facilitated by Professor Christine Woods (see bios below).
Modern slavery isn’t a distant problem – it’s a lived reality in Aotearoa New Zealand. encompassing severe forms of exploitation such as forced labour and debt bondage, it is a global issue that transcends borders, occupations and industries.
Modern slavery is embedded in supply chains both domestically and internationally, exposing New Zealand companies to significant reputational and ethical risks. Despite ongoing calls for action, New Zealand has no legislation requiring companies to identify or report on modern slavery risks in their supply chains. Introducing such legislation would align New Zealand with key trading partners—Australia and the United Kingdom—both of which have enacted modern slavery laws.
Currently more than 250 New Zealand-headquartered companies appear on Australia’s Modern Slavery Register, yet two private members’ bills proposing modern slavery legislation for New Zealand are still sitting in Parliament’s “biscuit tin”.
In practice, supply chain mapping remains a challenge for many businesses. This event will examine the scope and complexity of modern slavery, review Australia’s legislative approach, consider the potential for similar laws in New Zealand, and discuss the practical implications for businesses and their supply chains.
Event details
Date: Thursday 30 October 2025
Time: 5.30-6pm networking, 6-8pm panel event
Venue: Decima Glenn, Room 310, Sir Owen G Glenn Building, 12 Grafton Road, Auckland CBD
Drinks and finger food will be served. For catering purposes, please register by Monday 20 October. Please note this event will be recorded.
Event panellists:
John Dumay
Professor John is a Professor of Accounting and Finance at Macquarie University, Sydney. He has worked for over 15 years as an independent business consultant across various industries before completing his PhD in 2008. He undertakes research into modern slavery, sustainability accounting and reporting, intellectual capital, knowledge management, qualitative research methods and academic writing. He has achieved an outstanding record as the author or co-author of over 120 peer-reviewed academic journal articles, publishing in prestigious journals and Elsevier and Stanford University study has recognised him as one of the world's top 2% of scientists. The Australian newspaper has recognised him as Australia's Top Researcher in Accounting & Taxation for 2020, 2022 to 2024. He is currently an Associate Editor of Accounting Auditing and Accountability Journal and Meditari Accountancy Research.
Christina Stringer
Dr Christina Stringer is an Associate Professor of International Business and Director of the Centre for Research on Modern Slavery at the University of Auckland Business School. For over a decade, she has conducted research on the exploitation of temporary migrant workers in New Zealand, including research for the Human Trafficking Research Coalition and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). Christina has served on several advisory groups focused on modern slavery and migrant exploitation, most recently as a member of the Labour Government’s Modern Slavery Leadership Advisory Group.
Rebekah Armstrong
Rebekah Armstrong is a leading specialist in business and human rights and humanitarian law. As Head of Advocacy and Justice at World Vision New Zealand, she has spearheaded the campaign for modern slavery legislation, co-authoring the Combatting Trafficking in Persons and Modern Day Forms of Slavery Bill, which has directly influenced two private members bills tabled at parliament by New Zealand’s largest political parties. She served on the New Zealand Government’s Modern Slavery Leadership Advisory Group, is an advisory member of the Centre for Research on Modern Slavery at Auckland University, and chairs the Human Trafficking Research Coalition. Before joining World Vision, Rebekah held senior leadership positions at the New Zealand Human Rights Commission and the UNHCR in Iran. Her Master of Laws thesis critically examined New Zealand’s legal framework for trafficking in persons. She is also an enrolled barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand.
Sharleen Gargiulo
Sharleen Gargiulo is a sustainability professional with over 17 years’ experience advancing responsible supply chains and tackling complex social and environmental challenges. Her current role is Sustainability Lead at Air New Zealand, where she leads initiatives that embed fairness, transparency, and resilience into procurement and supplier relationships, with a strong focus on human rights, modern slavery risks, and environmental stewardship. Her work addresses the intertwined wellbeing of people and nature — spanning labour rights, climate resilience, circularity, biodiversity, and supplier inclusion. Sharleen is passionate about collaboration, partnering with government, science institutes, iwi, suppliers, and communities to drive systemic change.
Oliver Christeller
Oliver Christeller is the Senior Human Rights Advisor to the Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner at Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission. With a background in employment law, his work at the Commission has included a focus on addressing the systemic drivers of migrant exploitation and modern slavery. Oliver was a key contributor to the Commission’s human rights review of the Accredited Employer Work Visa, which was grounded on interviews with workers who had lived experience of exploitation and took into account the views of a broad range of stakeholders from civil society and business. He currently plays a leading role in the Commission’s ongoing work to advance pay equity.
Event facilitator:
Professor Chris Woods is the Dame Theresa Gattung Chair for Women and Entrepreneurship at the University of Auckland Business School and is the Director of the Aotearoa Centre for Enterprising Women. She gained her PhD at the University of Auckland. Her research interests are in women and entrepreneurship, SME and family business, social entrepreneurship, Māori entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship education
If you would like more information about this event, please email the Juncture Team. We hope that you can join us.
Professor Susan Watson
Director, Juncture: Dialogues on Inclusive Capitalism
..............................................................................................................................................
Seminars, conferences and events may be photographed or filmed for use by the University and the media in hard copy and electronic publications including in newsletters and brochures and posted on the University or conference websites to promote subsequent events and the University. If you do not wish to be photographed or filmed, please inform the organiser or photographer.