Sustainability at the forefront
Our 2024 Sustainability Forum, held on November 26 at the Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park and online, brought together leaders from various sectors to share their expertise and experiences on their ESG journeys.
The event addressed the advantages of embedding best practices in sustainability and highlighted the critical role of sustainability in organisational strategy. An insightful panel discussion on navigating the current ESG landscape, chaired by Dr. Kaushik Sridhar FGIA and featuring John Lydon, Karen McWilliams, and Tamara Somers, set the tone for the day.
Throughout the forum, delegates engaged in thought-provoking sessions. Tim Timchur led a deep dive into the ‘S’ in ESG, with insights from Susan Mizrahi and David Braga. A session on leveraging AI for sustainability, chaired by Governance Institute’s Daniel Popovski and featuring Aurélie Jacquet and Llewellyn Spink, provided valuable perspectives on using technology to achieve sustainability goals.
After a networking lunch, Pauline Vamos FGIA FCG and Patrick Viljoen introduced the new ESG Explainer, designed to give members a comprehensive understanding of ESG. The Explainer is the result of a collaboration between Governance Institute with its Sustainability Committee and CPA Australia, and promotes purpose-driven ESG practices. This tool aims to simplify the implementation of ESG frameworks, particularly for SMEs, by providing a comprehensive guide to sustainability reporting and standards.
The state of climate litigation was explored in a session sponsored by Gilbert + Tobin, chaired by Daniel Popovski and led by Ilona Millar, which illuminated the current landscape and emerging trends. This discussion seamlessly transitioned into an exploration of environmental stewardship, chaired by Tim Nelson and featuring Sarah Denman, who provided a deep dive into the importance of measuring and reporting on nature’s impact.
In the final sessions, after afternoon tea, the forum covered sustainable development goals, chaired by Tim Timchur, with insights from Ro Coroneos, Catie Shavin and Siobhan Toohill. Tim Nelson and Governance Institute’s CEO, Megan Motto, then shared practical governance tips and key takeaways to implement the day’s learnings. Klaus Moosmayer presented an international address from Switzerland, emphasising the importance of an integrated ethics and assurance approach for corporate sustainability strategy.
For more information on our ESG course and all of our events and resources, head to our website.