The Australian Corporate Accountability Network (ACAN) aims to be the peak body for corporate accountability in Australia. Comprised of a network of organisations and individuals, ACAN conducts research and advocates for greater corporate accountability for businesses operating in Australia and Australian corporations operating abroad.

ACAN’s mission is to:

1. Improve transparency surrounding the social and environmental impacts of corporate activities;

2. Increase the accountability of corporations for the impact of their operations on communities, individuals and environments;

3. Improve access to effective remedies by individuals and communities affected by corporate operations and abuses; and

4. Integrate responsibility for human, social and environmental rights into corporate decision-making, structures and practices.

As the national voice on issues relating to corporate accountability in Australia, ACAN seeks to:

• Lead and facilitate campaigns, support activities of members and participate in solidarity activities around corporate accountability. This involves influencing key decision makers in both government and business sectors, as well as the general public on corporate accountability.
• Provide opportunities for networking and communication between not for profit organisations and individuals working in the area of corporate accountability;
• Facilitate information sharing: Develop and maintain a web portal that shares information on the activities of researchers and  organisations in Australia and elsewhere in respect of corporate accountability;
• Undertake and facilitate research: Undertaking of research on issues relating to corporate accountability; research that informs our campaign strategy

ACAN Members

ACAN is a membership based organisation. It is ACAN Members that drive the work of the network. Members also drive the ACAN Working Groups too. ACAN Members also have rights which are included in the Network’s governance and function documents.

ACAN Secretariat

Since ACAN’s official launch in June 2010, a group of passionate individuals have been working closely together to develop the necessary structures, processes and framework to ensure ACAN’s effectiveness as Australia’s national voice on corporate accountability issues. This group of people are referred to as the ‘ACAN Secretariat’ and the role of this body is to coordinate all non-Working Group activities of the Network. If you like, you can contact them by emailing secretariat@acan.org.au

ACAN Working Groups

The Working Groups drive the substantive corporate accountability research, campaigning, information sharing and advocacy activities of the Network. Currently there are three Working Groups in operation, the Mining WG, Labour WG and the Regulation and Transparency WG.  You can find more about these on the ‘Get Involved‘ page.