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:
- define your organisation’s core values and purpose
- actively listen to stakeholders
- apply an ESG lens in all aspects of strategy, planning and decision making
- 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
Download Previous Editions
Publication
NEXT: Edition 4
Business is navigating a moment of great responsibility. On the issues that matter - like climate change, economic security and social equality – business is being called to lead.
15 June 2022
Publication
NEXT: Edition 3
Gain a deeper perspective on emerging digitisation considerations around privacy, and cyber risk and its litigation potential. We look at the climate challenge from both business and political perspectives, and explore the communication challenge for any business facing a crisis.
18 October 2021
Publication
NEXT: Edition 2
Businesses large and small are facing the weight of community, investor and regulatory expectations amid the greatest upheaval of our time; the COVID-19 pandemic. Keeping businesses’ lights on, ensuring employment, safety and supply continuity have suddenly become community as well as commercial imperatives.
09 December 2020
Publication
NEXT: Edition 1
The current environment presents an unparalleled opportunity for business to lead – to prove that the same agility shown in responding and adapting to the pandemic can be applied to tackling society’s greatest environmental, safety and technological challenges.
22 June 2020
