2025 OECD Global Anti-Corruption and Integrity Forum

Knowledge Partner Session - Getting influence right: The business case for responsible corporate lobbying and political engagement

Mar 27, 2025 | 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Knowledge Partner Sessions (Auditorium)

Description

Corporate political engagement is of substantive and increasing importance to the success of companies and to all corporate stakeholders. Through their interactions with government, businesses enable public decision-makers to learn about opportunities and trade-offs, consider the costs and benefits of business, and ultimately facilitate informed decision making on a given policy issue. They are also facing increased expectations to act with transparency and integrity when engaging with the policy-making process through lobbying and other influence practices and ensure these practices do not run counter to their commitments and goals on matters related to responsible business conduct. As such, getting influence “right” is a pressing challenge, both for business and government. Through the Trusted Dialogue on Getting Influence Right, an initiative of the Galvanizing the Private Sector (GPS) Program, the OECD works with a community of government and business representatives to develop practical guidance for companies on how to engage responsibly with governments. This session will provide key insights from the initiative and discuss the critical relevance of responsible corporate lobbying and political engagement to both society and business success. Drawing from best company practices in this area, participants will explore the core principles that should underpin responsible lobbying and political engagement, how companies can integrate them into everyday business practices and the role of governments in supporting business efforts to influence responsibly. Speakers: Hentie Dirker, Chief ESG and Integrity Officer, AtkinsRéalis Melissa Laurenza, Partner, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP Jakub Michalik, Head of International, Institutional Affairs and Communications Unit, European Securities and Markets Authority Peter Webster, Chief Executive Officer, EIRIS Foundation Pauline Bertrand, Policy Analyst, Anti-Corruption and Integrity in Government Division, Public Governance Directorate, OECD Jean-François Routhier, Lobbying Commissioner, Québec, Canada

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