In an age of existential threats for Australia and the world, what does society need from companies and how should companies respond? Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has a leading role to play in answering these fundamental questions. Yet current Australian and international debate remains stuck in polarised positions on CSR and related topics, including environmental, social and governance considerations (ESG), and diversity, equity and inclusion factors (DEI) for businesses.

In this groundbreaking book, Professor Bryan Horrigan provides a roadmap for navigating the complexity of CSR and the current controversies surrounding it. How is the corporate landscape changing for Australia and the world on corporate diversity, climate disclosures, and social and environmental harms? Do Australian businesses, the professions advising them, and even universities all have social licences to operate? Should they all speak and act publicly on controversial social and environmental issues, or stay out of the arena of partisan politics altogether?

How far should corporate governance standards for ASX-listed companies go in addressing social, environmental and climate issues? Do Australian company directors face legal liability for mismanaging climate risk and disclosure, and what safeguards can protect them? And how does the Trump administration’s war on so-called ‘wokeness’ create ripple effects for corporate Australia, Australian politics and Australian universities?

In Corporate Social Responsibility in an Age of Existential Threats, Professor Horrigan brings a unique blend of academic, practical and policy expertise to his insightful and provocative discussion of these topics. This book is essential reading for those in the public, private, not-for-profit and university sectors whose work concerns business and corporations in society.

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Attend our in-person lunch and discussion at 12:30pm or watch the live stream remotely.

The live stream will commence at:

1:00pm AEDT (NSW, ACT, VIC, TAS)
12:00pm AEST (QLD)
12:30pm ACDT (SA)
11:30am ACST (NT)
10:00am AWST (WA)

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Professor Bryan Horrigan holds a doctorate in law from Oxford University under a Rhodes Scholarship. He is an academic, published author, legal and governmental adviser, and public speaker. He has academic expertise, practical experience and an international reputation in public and corporate law and governance. His book Corporate Social Responsibility in the 21st Century was published internationally in 2010.

From 2013 to 2024, Professor Horrigan served as dean of the Faculty of Law at Monash University—the longest-serving dean in the sixty-year history of the faculty. He currently serves as one of only two Special Advisers to the vice-chancellor of the university. He is one of only a few Australian law deans to have more than twenty years’ experience simultaneously in commercial legal practice, university management and the legal academy. In various roles, he has confidentially advised numerous leaders across the public, private and university sectors.

The Australian Government appointed Professor Horrigan to a three-member expert panel to review three major pieces of national business regulation in 2010–11. All of the panel’s recommendations were accepted and became law.

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Per Capita is committed to keeping its events accessible to those who may not be able to purchase a ticket. For this reason we are making a number of Concession Tickets available for unwaged/student/full age pension concessions. These tickets cover the cost of lunch plus a free ticket to the discussion.

Free tickets are available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in recognition of the fact that this event is being held on stolen land. Please email info@percapita.org.au to request a free ticket.

If you are able to and would like to help us increase the number of Concession Tickets available, please consider a donation on top of your ticket purchase.

Contact the host of John Cain Lunch (March): Corporate Social Responsibility in an Age of Existential Threats

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