The Collaborative Advantage

The purpose of The Collaborative Advantage is to provide a forum for participants to learn and share information and practices relating to ethical and sustainable business. We are focused on the S in ESG.

The key objectives of the group are to:

• Learn from experts, government groups, and NGOs about new developments, tools, and initiatives impacting social sustainability
• Learn from each other about our social sustainability journeys - the good and the bad
• Accelerate broader impact and drive meaningful action within our organisations and across our supply chains
• Create a safe environment to share and ask questions in a non-competitive context
• Develop the mindset required to conduct truly sustainable business
  

The group shares best practices as well as imperfections and mistakes to learn what it means to take authentic action to achieve shared social sustainability goals, encouraging a deeper perspective on the purpose of good business, social impact, stakeholder benefit, performance measurement, and how to communicate these.

Meetings are structured to enable members to reflect on and gain greater insight on specific themes for their respective businesses, and to discuss practical ways to convert these insights into actions.

The group is open to all businesses throughout New Zealand actively strengthening social sustainability in their operations and supply chains, with a benefit-for-all mindset. Public sector professionals with procurement roles are also welcome.

To help address specific topics, select members of the academic, Government, or NGO communities are invited to participate.

The group brings together organisations of all sizes and sectors—from some of New Zealand’s largest companies to small retailers and start‑ups. Participants include sustainability specialists and professionals embedding responsible business practices across procurement, finance, supply chain, corporate affairs, marketing, strategy, risk, design, and quality.

The 2026 agenda topics in development include the following:

Modern Slavery Education:

• Reporting expectations for New Zealand legislation
• Practical approaches to governance & policy, risk assessment & due diligence, grievance, response & remediation
  

Human rights due diligence = Supply chain sustainability

• Implications from legislation in New Zealand or overseas
• Tech solutions that support due diligence
  

Embedding S in ESG / Governance of Supply Chain Risk

• Influencing upwards and across organisations
• Embedding responsibility and accountability for social sustainability
  

Social sustainability partnerships

• Case studies of long-term focus and impact
  

Embedding Social sustainability

• Preparation for Taskforce on Inequality and Social-related Financial Disclosures (TISFD) reporting framework
• Te ao Māori in a corporate setting - Cultural confidence and authentic engagement with Iwi and Māori businesses
  

Social risk trends in Aotearoa

• Social sustainability and supply chain risk - insights on labour rights, human rights, employment compliance, and supply chain vulnerabilities
  

Registrations are monitored centrally through the secretariat of The Collaborative Advantage. Please send your interest through to NZCollabAdvantage@deloitte.co.nz, and you will be provided with further details and a calendar invite to the next meeting.

Meetings are held under Chatham House Rule and with awareness of the Commerce Act.

• Thriving people: Strengthening the ‘S’ in ESG for Aotearoa businesses - A report from SBC and Deloitte
• Walk Free Modern Slavery Business and Investor toolkit
• Masterclass Series in Addressing Modern Slavery (2025) - Modern Slavery Masterclass Series | SBC