“We build bridges between business, academia, governments and civil society”

 

OUR APPROACH

 
 

We strive to make human rights tangible for business and to initiate change. With this end in view, we support our clients in embedding human rights and environmental due diligence into their business practice – in a step-by-step approach, looking at environmental issues through a human rights lens. It is our belief that no business is too small or too large to implement meaningful measures fostering responsible business behaviour.

Our experience working in the private sector, solution orientation and our extensive international network including representatives from civil society, government, academia and business are what set us apart. We understand the challenges that arise from the need to embed responsible business conduct into existing processes and from diverging views and interests within companies. We support clients in finding pragmatic yet meaningful and impact-oriented solutions to these challenges and to capitalize on the opportunities that arise from actively addressing human rights topics.

As thought leaders in business and human rights, we align our work with international human rights standards and evolving legal frameworks and are keeping with the times in order to update our clients on recent developments in this topical field.

 

TEAM

 
 
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Sibylle Baumgartner

Director, Co-Founder

Sibylle has longstanding experience in the field of responsible business with a specific focus on social aspects. She has worked with companies from various industries focusing on elaborating responsible business strategies, implementing sustainable supply chain management and developing human rights due diligence frameworks.

Languages: German, French, English, Spanish

LinkedIn

 

Matthias Leisinger

Director, Co-Founder

Matthias is a specialist in corporate responsibility with extensive experience in the private sector. His professional goal is driving change to create a more sustainable business model, which delivers commercial success. He has a record of success in human rights due diligence, capacity building and developing and managing multi-stakeholder initiatives.

Languages: German, English, French

LinkedIn

 
 
 
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Regula Meng

Senior Consultant

Regula is a specialist in business and human rights with experience in the private and public sector. Prior to focusright, she conducted human rights field work with extensive stakeholder consultations for the United Nations in Colombia, was a child rights and business manager at UNICEF Switzerland, and supported LafargeHolcim’s human rights management as part of the Group sustainability team.

Languages: German, English, Spanish, French

LinkedIn

 

Yolinka Vossen

Consultant

Yolinka has several years of experience in the implementation of human rights due diligence in various sectors. Before joining focusright, she investigated success factors for the implementation of human rights due diligence in collaboration with large Swiss corporations for her Master's thesis and worked in a procurement optimisation consultancy on projects to optimise procurement processes and logistics costs for SMEs.

Languages: German, English, French

LinkedIn

 
 
 

Dominic Rietmann

Consultant

Dominic has several years of operational experience in responsible business conduct and the implementation of human rights due diligence. Before joining focusright, Dominic worked in sustainability at the Federation of Migros Cooperatives. There he worked on projects in the areas of sustainable supply chains and responsible business and was responsible for the implementation of human rights due diligence in the specialist markets.

Languages: German, English, French

LinkedIn

 

Carina Waser

Analyst

Carina has a legal background with a focus on international law. She wrote her Master’s thesis on the state's obligation to protect human rights in the face of environmental damage caused by transnational corporations in the Global South. Prior to joining focusright, Carina gained experience in human rights and corporate sustainability at the United Nations Global Compact, a human rights due diligence consultancy, and a legal advisory dedicated to the rights of refugees and migrants.

Languages: German, English, French

LinkedIn

 

JOBS

 
 

Senior Consultant Business & Human Rights (80-100%)

focusright is looking for a senior consultant to lead projects, shape focusright’s future, and deliver innovative, impact-driven solutions.

The position focuses on acquiring, leading and managing client projects, providing practical advice and thought leadership on Human Rights Due Diligence, and analyzing trends and developments around Business and Human Rights and related topics.

As a member of our small team, you will work directly with the Directors of focusright and play an important role in building up our company and continuously improving our services. The position is located in Zurich.

Deadline for application: January 15, 2025

Start date: April 2025

Job Description

 
 

EVENTS

 

Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) Peer Learning & Networking Group

focusright moderates the HRDD Peer Learning & Networking Group from the UN Global Compact Network Switzerland & Liechtenstein (GCNSL), which provides a platform for regular exchange among business and human rights professionals in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. The peer learning group meets about every three months for informal virtual or in-person discussions on questions, learnings, insights and challenges with peers. The group is open for employees of for-profit companies working on topics related to business and human rights – from beginners, intermediates and experts.

Participation requirements

  • Active participation in informal group discussions

  • Willingness to share own experiences and learn from others

  • Private sector staff with a professional link to business and human rights

  • Being a client of focusright, a participant of the GCNSL or a member of öbu

  • Since the goal of the group is for participants to share their challenges and learn from peers, consulting or law firms are not accepted into the group

Language: English

 

CLIENTS

 
 

Click on the logos below for more information about some of our clients from different sectors. To learn more about our completed projects, visit our services page.

 

Private sector

Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives, NGOs & Associations

State

 
 

NETWORK

 
 

When needed, we draw on specific expertise in our extensive international network of civil society, government, academia and business.

 
 

CONTACT US

 
 

focusright gmbh
Zweierstrasse 35
8004 Zürich
Switzerland

Ph: +41 (0)44 461 77 88

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