Date: 30-31 March 2026
Time: 13:00-16:00
Location: Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers
(AICB), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
In a rapidly evolving business environment, companies face increasing challenges and uncertainty, often adjusting their strategies to meet shifting expectations. Yet amid political and socioeconomic volatility, businesses frequently overlook one of their greatest assets – the ideas, innovation, and perspectives of young people. The over 1.1 billion young people in Asia make up over 60% of the global youth population.
Across the region, young people are already shaping change – as innovators, advocates, data analysts, and sustainability professionals working at the forefront of community action and policy momentum. And their insights yield tangible results. During COP27, youth advocacy resulted in the establishment of the loss and damage fund and increased pledges on adaptation measures. On climate justice, what started as a campaign by 27 university students in Vanuatu on climate impacts on future generations led to the historic International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion on State obligations on Climate Change.
In the business context, young workers, young consumers, and young community members often have forwardlooking insight into evolving social norms and consumer expectations, and they often experience risks first. Integrating their insights into sustainability and human rights due diligence processes can strengthen companies’ ability to identify emerging risks early, build trust, and strengthen long-term competitiveness. Yet youth are often excluded from corporate spaces where supply chain risk, due diligence implementation, and business strategy are defined and designed. To prepare for the future with confidence, youth must engage as equal partners in driving change.
The NextGenBHR Hackathon: Future-Ready Due Diligence Powered by Youth Perspectives brings together passionate young leaders from across Asia with industry leaders and experts to work through real-world human rights and environmental due diligence challenges.
As part of the Corporate Sustainability and Environmental Rights in Asia (CSERA) conference, this unique opportunity will see youth directly work with corporate sustainability plans and confront real-world business, human rights and environment (BHR+E) challenges. Under the guidance of expert mentors, youth will co-develop actionable solutions that bridge business priorities with lived realities of the rights holders.
How to Participate
Participation is based on application only, and the following selection criteria:
- All applicants to apply individually
- Selected participants (aged 20–32 years) must show demonstrated interest in human rights, environment or business operations
- Selected participants must be part of either an academic programme in related disciplines (at Masters’ Level), or part of a civil society organization working on environmental or human rights advocacy.
- Selected participants will be placed into diverse teams of four based on their chosen topic. Teams will work collaboratively to research, diagnose, and develop innovative solutions. Industry mentors will provide guidance throughout the process but will not solve the challenge on behalf of participants. Final ideas will be pitched to business representatives seeking practical, actionable insights from youth
Objectives
LEARN
Build practical skills in human rights and environmental due diligence. Understand how supply chain risk is identified, assessed, and managed, and where youth perspectives can strengthen fairness, and accountability.
ENGAGE
Turn your ideas into solutions for real-world corporate challenges. Work in diverse teams to analyze actual business case scenarios, identify gaps in existing due diligence approaches, and co-design innovative responses. Engage directly with industry mentors; bringing rights-holder realities into spaces where strategy is shaped.
CONNECT
Join a regional network of young agents of change, and responsible business leaders. Pitch your solutions to corporate representatives, build crosssector relationships, and position yourself as part of the next generation shaping rights-based, sustainable business practice.
