A new University of Queensland consortium of multi-disciplinary researchers whose goal is to contribute to community building and responsible resource development will be officially launched at breakfast function at Customs House on Wednesday, November 28.
The Consortium on Community Building and Responsible Resource Development (ConCord UQ) brings together companies, communities and governments as well as other stakeholders for constructive dialogue about responsible resource development in conflict and conflict-prone situations.
The launch will be followed by a one day practitioner workshop titled "Conflict Sensitive Business Practice in the Resource Sector".
Professor Kevin Clements, Director of UQ’s Australian Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies (ACPACS) said that resources companies operating in volatile societal and political environments were frequently confronted with the risk of conflict escalation.
"Understanding and controlling this risk continues to be a major challenge for companies, despite advances in political risk methodologies, environmental and social impact assessment standards and internal management systems," he said.
"This workshop is designed especially for these companies and will cover topics such as early identification of conflict risk, key conflict-prone flashpoint issues such as resettlement, human rights, corruption and transparency, stakeholder engagement, security arrangements and compensation; and macro-level and project-level conflict risk and impact assessment."
ConCord UQ’s members have expertise in the extractive industries sector (mining, oil and gas), integrated rural development and large-scale agricultural projects (such as plantations), fisheries, forestry and tourism. They include UQ researchers from ACPACS, the Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit and the School of Natural and Rural Systems Management to name a few.
The workshop will be led by Nick Killick of the London-based peace-building NGO International Alert, and Radhika Hettiarachchi of International Alert’s Sri Lankan program. Mr Killick will also provide an introduction to International Alert’s recently developed resource kit on conflict-sensitive business practice.
Professor David Brereton, Director of the Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining said ConCord UQ would assist the business sector (from multinational enterprises to small and medium enterprises) to develop a comprehensive understanding of conflict-sensitive business practices; enhance the capacity of local communities to engage with resource developers, including drawing on traditional knowledge of Indigenous communities where relevant; and work with governments to develop and apply appropriate regulatory frameworks for responsible resource development.
ConCord UQ can initiate, assist and/or coordinate research, training, consultancy and capacity building.
The official launch and workshop will be attended by representatives of companies, government and NGOs as well as academics.
Media: Media are invited to attend the launch on Wednesday, November 28 (7.30am-9am) at Customs House in Queen Street, Brisbane and the workshop (10am-4.30pm) at Christie Corporate Conferencing, 320 Adelaide Street.
For more information please visit ConCord UQ’s website: www.uq.edu.au/concord or call (07) 3365 3163 (Professor Kevin Clements) or (07) 3346 4043 (Professor David Brereton).
