Tuesday 23 November
12.30
Opening Remarks by John Devitt, Chief Executive, Transparency International (TI) Ireland
12.40
Opening Address by Minister Michael McGrath, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
13.00 – 14.15
Panel Discussion – Developments in International Whistleblower Protections
As the EU Whistleblowing Directive is transposed into European law, this panel will discuss how the new standard will be implemented in EU Member States and explore how whistleblower protections are evolving in the US and elsewhere.
Wednesday 24 November
9.00 – 10.15
Insight Session – Managing Whistleblowing Reporting Systems
This session will explore key considerations for employers when establishing reporting systems – with reference to the recently published ISO 37002 Guidelines for Whistleblowing Management Systems – and will offer practical insights from compliance practitioners in managing whistleblowing systems.
13.00 – 14.15
Challenging Culture – Dr Tom Clonan and Katie Hannon in conversation with Prof Kate Kenny
Whistleblowers play a vital role in drawing attention to cultural and systemic problems within organisations. In this session, whistleblower Dr Tom Clonan and journalist Katie Hannon will share their experiences of highlighting sexual violence and gender based discrimination within the Irish Defence forces. Facilitated by Professor Kate Kenny from NUIG, the panel will discuss how cultural obstacles to supporting whistleblowers and addressing wrongdoing can be overcome.
Dr Tom Clonan – Academic, Writer and Journalist, Whistleblower on Sexual Violence in Ireland’s Armed Forces
Katie Hannon – Presenter and Journalist, RTE, Writer and Presenter of ‘Women of Honour’ Radio Documentary
Facilitator: Professor Kate Kenny – Professor of Business and Society, NUI Galway.
Thursday 25 November
9.00 – 10.15
Insight Session – Getting ready for the amended Protected Disclosures Act
This session will present an overview of the key changes that are proposed by the General Scheme of Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill and discuss some of the key considerations for employers in implementing these changes.
Dr Lauren Kierans BL – Assistant Professor of Law, Maynooth University
Clive Kelly – Non-Executive Director Azimut Life and Accelerant Agency; lecturer at University College Dublin and Institute of Banking
Colleen Cleary – Founder and Principal, Colleen Cleary Solicitors
Facilitator: Dr Lauren Kierans
13.00 – 14.15
Panel Discussion – Encouraging Integrity in the Workplace
Research consistently shows that one of the biggest barriers to staff in coming forward to raise a concern of wrongdoing in the workplace is a ‘fear of futility’, where the worker believes that nothing will happen in response to their concern. This panel will share their insights into best practice in fostering a workplace culture which encourages staff to act with integrity and speak up about unethical conduct.
Dr Daniel Malan – Assistant Professor in Business Ethics, Trinity College Dublin
Jade McDonagh – Head of Bank Staff Policy & Governance, Irish Banking Culture Board
Leo Martin – Co-Founder and Director, GoodCorporation
Facilitator: Peter Van Veen – Board Member Transparency International Netherlands, Interim Executive & Consultant
Tuesday 30 November
9.00 – 10.15
Insight Session – Assessing Reports of Wrongdoing
This session will discuss best practice tips and share insights from practitioners in triaging and assessing reports of wrongdoing in the workplace.
Philip Brennan – Founder and Managing Director, Raiseaconcern.com
Andy Noble – Head of Whistleblowing & Speak Up, Natwest Group
Marian Bergin – Independent Human Resources Consultant, Marian Bergin and Associates
Facilitator: Andrew Breakwell – Commercial Director UK, EQS London
13.00 – 14.15
Panel Discussion – Whistleblowing in Financial Services
In 2016, the UK financial regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) brought in new whistleblowing rules designed to encourage a culture in which individuals would feel comfortable raising concerns and challenging poor practice and behaviour in the sector. This panel will discuss the experiences of whistleblowers in the financial services sector and the findings of research carried out by the UK whistleblowing charity Protect (Silence in the City 2).
Martin Woods – Anti-money Laundering Expert, Trainer and Consultant
Mary Inman – Partner, Constantine Canon
Facilitator: Elizabeth Gardiner – Chief Executive, Protect
Wednesday 1 December
9.00 – 10.15
Insight Session – Investigating Disclosures
This session will discuss best practice tips and share insights from practitioners in investigating wrongdoing in the workplace.
Declan Walsh – Partner and Head of Forensic & Investigation Services, RSM Ireland
Niall Pelly – Partner and Head of Irish Office, GQ|Littler
Kate Marston – Chief Executive, Women in Ethics and Compliance Global
Facilitator: Jane Ellis – Director, Ellis Seabrook Limited
13.00 – 14.00
Challenging Culture – Dr Francesco Zambon in conversation with Mick Clifford
On 13 May 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) withdrew the report “An unprecedented challenge. Italy’s first response to COVID-19” from its website. The report examined how the Italian government and health system reacted after the country became the epicenter of the European outbreak in late February and noted that Italy went into the crisis with a pandemic plan which had not been updated since 2006.
In this session, lead author of the report Dr Francesco Zambon, the WHO’s chief field coordinator for Italy and its regions during the pandemic, will outline the retaliatory treatment he experienced after opposing undue influence to suppress key findings in the report.
In conversation with award winning journalist Mick Clifford, this session will explore the implications of the suppression of this report from a personal, national and international perspective.
Dr Francesco Zambon – Whistleblower, Former Coordinator at the World Health Organization
Facilitator: Mick Clifford – Special Correspondent, the Irish Examiner
Thursday 2 December
9.00 – 10.15
Insight Session – Getting ready for the amended Protected Disclosures Act (Regulators/Government Departments)
This session will present an overview of the key changes that are proposed by the General Scheme of Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill and discuss some of the key considerations for government departments and regulators (Prescribed Persons) in implementing these changes.
Pat Keane – Government Reform and Legislation Unit, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
Orla Christle – Senior Manager, System Governance, Higher Education Authority
Anne O’Connell – Principal, AOC Solicitors
Facilitator: Grainne Madden – Founder and Senior Consultant, GMJ Associates
You can read more about each of our speakers here.