World-class expertise to uphold human rights as part of doing business
Fair Futures advises stakeholders on how to make human rights a fundamental part of their organisation. We are trusted experts with a track record of delivering actionable and practical changes that incorporate anti-slavery practices and sustainability into operations.
We work with you to build a world where business thrives, communities flourish, and social impact is at the heart of every decision.
Tackle human rights challenges head-on with specialist research and advice
In a globalised economy, rampant forced labour, human trafficking, slavery, and migrant smuggling often remain undetected and deeply embedded in the operations of even the most diligent of organisations. Businesses are often just one player in a complex system where it can be difficult to disentangle human rights abuses from the entire value chain.
There are so many competing legal obligations and frameworks that navigating mandatory and ethical requirements can be a minefield for companies striving to stay compliant.
Fair Futures makes it simple for organisations to cut through the jargon and get down to the business of fighting global injustice:
We are specialist in modern slavery and migrant smuggling;
We put that expertise to work helping organisations from UN bodies to large corporations deal with the challenges of modern slavery and migrant smuggling.
We work with clients to diagnose complex human rights challenges, and design and build strategies that address immediate risk, and drive systems change.
Fair Future’s fresh perspective and experience of building viable solutions to solve complex system level problems has given us the edge needed to action a program to prevent migrant smuggling on behalf of a UN client working in Lebanon.
It is this evidence-based approach which has enabled us to elevate the voices of modern slavery survivors to become a central consideration in the Parliamentary Inquiry into the Anti-Slavery Commissioner Bill in Australia.
Ways to engage Fair Futures
Arrange a retainer for ongoing advice
Seek advice for a particular project
Ask Fair Futures to review a plan or project
Ask Fair Futures to provide best practice strategies
Retain Fair Futures to research and develop evidence-based strategies
For anything modern slavery or migrant smuggling related, we are the ones to contact.
Our expertise
Modern Slavery Risk
Director Fiona David is best known as the creator of the Global Slavery Index, an internationally acclaimed source on modern slavery that has driven numerous legal and policy changes around the world since its inception.
For over 30 years, Fiona has brought passion, knowledge and diplomatic nous to the complex task of stamping out modern slavery. We bring a thorough eye for detail to get right down to the roots of forced labour and slavery worldwide to deliver tailored solutions for every organisation we work with.
Make informed decisions with the backing of a renowned global expert who has worked with major corporations and governments alike to chart a course that maximises business outcomes without compromising on human rights and sustainability.
Delivering Social Impact
Directing capital to drive social impact is both an art and a science. We have been entrusted by leading philanthropists, UN organisations and foundations to design initiatives that deliver measurable social impact on critical human rights and sustainability challenges. We can work with you to embed evidence-based approaches to delivering social impact, through your philanthropic investments or your investments and business strategy.
Embed Ethical Procurement in Supply Chains
Fair Futures draws on deep expertise in systems and processes to ensure every link in the supply chain is free of modern slavery. We have worked with leading organisations to diagnose and respond to modern slavery risk, and to build processes to safeguard against forced labour. Having led the creation of gold standard guidelines to help businesses of all sizes tackle modern slavery in their supply chains, Fiona has also collaborated with the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply to develop training modules for procurement professionals globally.
We will work with you to identify and respond to modern slavery risks and equip you with the tools to implement remediation where needed.
Building Safe Migration
Fair Futures draws on deep expertise in systems and processes required to enable safe migration and decent work for migrant workers. This is particularly relevant for organisations that rely on high proportions of migrant unskilled labour. We can help you identify and respond to risk in the labour migration process, and develop well-considered programs of remediation where problems are identified.
Drive positive change towards a sustainable and equitable future.
Submission to the ACCC consultation on draft Guidance on Sustainability Collaborations
Australia's competition regulator has sought input on its draft guidance on “Sustainability collaborations and Australian competition law.” While Fair Futures supports efforts to enable business collaboration on sustainability, in our view, the current guidance falls well short of clearing the path to corporate collaboration on the genuinely pre-competitive aspects of sustainability due diligence. We recommend developing a fit for purpose regime on competition, specific to sustainability.
Survivor Perspectives on the Anti-Slavery Commissioner Bill
What matters most to survivors of modern slavery in the design of the Federal Anti-Slavery Commissioner role? This is an important question that this submission aims to answer from the perspective of lived experience. In January 2024, we interviewed six survivors of modern slavery in Australia, to understand their views on the Bill before the Committee. This submission is based on those interviews.
Lost hope, lost lives: Insights into Lebanese irregular migration
This report was prepared for the International Organization of Migration (IOM). Empirical research undertaken in early 2023 generated new insights into the irregular migration intentions of Lebanese nationals.
Submission to Inquiry into Australia's Human Rights Framework, Fiona David and Dr David Tickler
This submission examines some of the human rights issues embedded in Australia’s transition to a ‘net zero’ economy. This illustrates the urgent need for comprehensive, national human rights reform.
Submission to the Targeted Review of the Federal Criminal Code Act, Fiona David and Olivia Hicks.
This submission suggests several improvements to the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth), including closing gaps between existing legislation and the international legal framework.
Submission to the Inquiry into the Climate Change Amendment (Duty of Care and Intergenerational Climate Equity) Bill 2023
This Inquiry is considering a statutory duty for lawmakers to take the health and wellbeing of future generations into account when making 'significant decisions' regarding climate change. In this submission, the co-authors strongly advocate for the passage of the proposed legislation.
In this paper, Fair Future's Fiona David and Shannon Hobbs outline the forced labour risks embedded in Western Australia's energy transition supply chains, and advocate for action to be taken to adequately combat these risks.