Publication,

NEXT: Edition 6

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WELCOME TO KWM'S SIXTH EDITION OF NEXT

Professional services organisations have developed a strong appetite in defining, capturing and reporting on the environmental and social impact of their operations and advice they offer clients. To do this effectively, organisations need to consider four key elements:

  1. define your organisation’s core values and purpose
  2. actively listen to stakeholders
  3. apply an ESG lens in all aspects of strategy, planning and decision making
  4. decide relevant impact frameworks and commit to thoughtful information collection and reflection.

“Navigating risk and opportunity will require calibrated solutions that balance these competing priorities, and which are aligned with long-term sustainability and profitability. It will demand targeted, measurable and trackable action plans and—in some cases—trade-offs”
– Harvard Law School. 

Responsibility in the digital age criss-crosses a minefield of overlapping and complex challenges and a significant challenge for business and government is to marry advancements in technology with social responsibility. A critical factor is the cyber landscape and educating businesses on cyber security obligations and how organisations can play a more proactive role to navigate cyber threats.

‘Equitable futures’ is a key theme within the ESG agenda of most organisations. In this issue, we explore topics driving this theme, including impact investing and clean, affordable energy as well as shining a light on how inequality affects us all.  You can read this eidition's articles below.

Featured In Next

Insight

Equitable fuel of the future? Developing the hope of hydrogen

The global appetite for cost-competitive green hydrogen has seen the US, the EU, Australia and others introduce incentives to lure investment and encourage development.

17 July 2023

Insight

Australia’s cyber landscape – how do we compare?

Cyber incidents are increasing in regularity and becoming more high-profile. It’s a constant and costly reminder that effective cyber resilience is fundamental to realising the promised benefits of digitisation.

17 July 2023

Insight

Inequality affects us all

Australia is witnessing a concerning trend. Rising inequality. As the gap between the very wealthy and low-income people and households widens, it not only threatens the fabric of society but also imposes significant costs on health, business, and the environment.

17 July 2023

Insight

Social impact investing – the best things in life are free

The 2023 Federal Budget allocated nearly $200 million over 6 years to address entrenched community disadvantage, including $11.6 million to promote social impact investment. It’s not huge, but a start.

17 July 2023

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Latest Thinking
Insight
In July 2026 an Expert Panel of the Fair Work Commission (the Expert Panel) determined that given the then drop in national diesel prices, and despite the obligations imposed on primary and secondary parties under the Road Transport Contractual Chain Order – Fuel Cost Recovery – 2026 (RTCCO) having already ceased as a result, the RTCCO itself would nonetheless live on.

22 October 2026

Insight
ASIC has announced its sector-specific supervisory priorities for 2026-27, signalling its focus areas, expectations of industry and the potential targets of future enforcement action.

21 October 2026

Insight
The duty to act with utmost good faith is a foundational principle of insurance in Australia. An insurer’s failure to comply with that duty is a contravention of s 13(2A) of the Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth) (ICA) and can attract civil penalties.

21 October 2026