#UnitingBusiness in meaningful action towards the Sustainable Development Goals

From promises to performance: it’s complex but we need to “knuckle down and get on with it” (Dr. Ken Henry AC, UNGCA 2024 Conference).

Last week, the United Nations Global Compact Network Australia (UNGCA) held its 2024 conference, bringing together business leaders and international sustainability experts. I learnt many new things and met or reconnected with some great people. Most importantly, I left with a greater sense of hope of what can be achieved if we lead boldly, learn actively and connect with like-minded others to put people and planet at the heart of everything we do. Here are some of my key takeaways and tips from two excellent days (there was a lot more than I can't do justice to):

Leading

• Don’t wait for legislation or certainty, providers of capital and other stakeholders will be expecting action. For example, be an early adopter of the TNFD recommendations and understand your organisation’s impact on nature, including through your supply chain
• Embed circularity in your product development and reframe growth from new product sales to new services
• Great CEOs lead their companies to long-term success by building organisations that their employees are proud of, their suppliers learn from and customers and communities support (nb - they exist! We heard from a few)
• Great governance matters (just read the AFR for the latest examples). Directors: this means bringing value and values to the table

Learning

• From First Nations peoples, the first sustainability leaders, as Assoc. Professor Susan Moylan-Coombs put it
• Sustainability is a complex and ever-evolving area but there are lots of resources around - it’s a matter of being open to learning. Useful resources can be found at https://unglobalcompact.org.au/
• You can also check out some of the initiatives and guidance that were mentioned over the two days: https://www.naturepositivematters.org.au/; https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/environmental-markets/nature-repair-market; https://www.accc.gov.au/about-us/publications/making-environmental-claims-a-guide-for-business and of course, the Governance Institute of Australia and the AICD.

Connecting?

• We can’t do it alone (building sustainable futures or building personal resilience): collaborate for impact, and connect with others who share the same passion and values!