Human Rights and Modern Slavery Risks within financial services sector – WEBINAR

RMA Australia is pleased to bring you our second June 2026 webinar – Human Rights and Modern Slavery Risks within financial services sector, hosted by Westpac.

Human Rights and Modern Slavery Risks within financial services sector, exploring how these risks can arise through complex value chains, customer financing activities (customer risk assessments), outsourced services and organisational activities. This session will also examine the implication of recent and upcoming Australian reforms, outline emerging regulatory expectations and provide practical insights into the role of risk (L1 and L2) and internal audit in identifying, assessing, managing and assuring modern slavery risks, with a focus on strengthening framework design, governance, and overall risk maturity.

FURTHER INFORMATION:-

About the Panel:-

Dr Kavitha Suthanthiraraj, Head of Social Policy and Human Rights, Westpac

Kavitha has over 20 years of experience in strategy, policy and sustainability roles across corporates and not-for profits. Kavitha currently leads Westpac’s social policy and human rights portfolio, which included responsibility for the ‘Safer Children Safer Communities’ social program, leading the business and human rights program of work and driving strategic projects across emerging social issues for the business. Before joining Westpac, Kavitha led policy and advocacy initiatives at Save the Children Australia and other international NGOs. Kavitha holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science and has published articles and reports across diverse human rights issues.

Callum Harvie, Senior Advisor, Hope for Justice

Callum is an operations and risk leader specialising in safeguarding, security, resilience and strategy, within the global fight against modern slavery and human trafficking. With nearly a decade of experience at Hope for Justice, he has led operations, programme development, risk management, and crisis response across diverse contexts including the UK, United States, East Africa, and Southeast Asia. His expertise spans counter-trafficking partnerships with policing and policymakers, child protection, organisational governance, and the intersection of technology and human rights. As a contributing author to the World Economic Forum’s Strategic Transformation Map on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking, and a recurring contributor to its Global Risk Report, Callum brings a perspective that bridges NGO operations and the realities of human trafficking, with global governance and strategic risk foresight. He has engaged with forums including the OSCE and the United Nations and is an emerging voice on the intersection of human trafficking with critical themes in international affairs.

Susan Banister, Business Development Director, Slave-Free Alliance Australia 

Susan has over 30 years of experience working in the commercial sector. She joined Hope for Justice in 2017 and co-founded the global human rights organisation Slave-Free Alliance (SFA) in 2018. Susan has direct experience working with survivor-victims of forced labour and understands the devastating effect this crime has and how people and businesses can find themselves exploited. In 2023, she moved to Australia, where she is now leading the way for SFA as Business Development Director, ensuring that businesses have the right support to develop their anti-slavery strategies and see progress in their human rights agendas.

Natalie Maxwell-Davis, Senior Manager, Modern Slavery Prevention & Response, Australian Red Cross

Natalie is a Senior Manager in the Australian Red Cross Modern Slavery Prevention and Response program focused on corporate partnerships. Consulting in the development and implementation of policies and communications regarding modern slavery and human rights-related behaviour change. Natalie brings extensive legal and managerial expertise. Her experience includes working with migrant workers in Singapore, enhancing her ability to address complex human rights issues. Natalie is dedicated to creating impactful, survivor-centred solutions to modern slavery. Natalie joined the Commonwealth Bank’s Modern Slavery Advisory Council in 2025. The Modern Slavery Advisory Council helps guide the strategic direction of the Commonwealth Bank Group’s Modern Slavery Strategy. The Australian Red Cross manages the Support for Trafficked People Program (STPP) funded by the Federal Government to support victims of MS referred by the Australian Federal Police.

About the Moderator:-

Chadi Khalifeh, Head of Audit for Sustainability Risk, Consumer, Business and Wealth, and BT, Westpac

Chadi is Head of Audit for Sustainability Risk, Consumer, Business and Wealth, and BT at Westpac Group. He has more than 15 years’ experience in internal audit and risk management in financial services, including leadership roles in banking, superannuation firms and Big 4 professional services. Chadi’s experience spans portfolios across the three lines of defence, including sustainability risk, financial crime, compliance and conduct, operational risk, finance and treasury, and financial risk. He is also passionate about human rights and currently holds several board and advisory roles focused on strengthening associated organisational practices.