Sustainability Reporting and Strategy

Sustainability reporting is rapidly becoming a global and Australian expectation.

Whether you are beginning your journey or strengthening existing processes, this program gives you a practical and holistic understanding of sustainability reporting, strategy and assurance so you can build capability across your organisation.

What to expect

Sustainability requires a collaborative, multi disciplinary approach. For reporting to be meaningful and effective, everyone involved needs a clear understanding of its purpose, process and strategic value. This program helps you build that shared understanding and connect the work of individual roles to the broader sustainability landscape.

You will explore the full sustainability reporting process, including prioritisation, stakeholder engagement, reporting systems, sustainable supply chain management and sustainability assurance. The program also covers the latest guidance and requirements from global and Australian reporting and assurance standards so you can navigate the evolving regulatory environment with confidence.

Through practical examples and discussion, you will examine how sustainability can be integrated into business as usual, how metrics and targets are developed and how organisations measure performance across environmental, social and governance dimensions. You will also consider climate related issues, sustainable finance and the practices that support responsible sourcing and ethical value chains.

By the end of the program, you will have a clearer understanding of how sustainability reporting fits together and how your role contributes to the credibility and impact of your organisation’s disclosures.

Is this program for you

This program is ideal for individuals who are beginning or improving their sustainability reporting processes. It is suitable for a wide range of roles, including sustainability managers, accountants, engineers, lawyers, procurement managers, risk managers, sustainability assurers, environmental scientists, community engagement managers, and communication officers. The content is relevant to for-profit, not-for-profit, and government organisations.

What you will explore

By the end of this program, you should be able to:

Understand global and Australian trends and requirements in sustainability reporting and assurance
Begin or improve sustainability reporting processes with confidence
Recognise the significance of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and how they integrate into reporting practices
Evaluate how sustainable investment decisions affect long-term financial performance
Develop strategies for promoting sustainability across the supply chain
Apply relevant assurance standards to support accurate and reliable disclosures
Understand how individual roles contribute to the broader reporting process

Where this program can take you

Global and Australian trends and requirements in sustainability reporting and assurance

Global frameworks and bodies:

International Sustainability Standards Board (IFRS S1 and S2)
Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards
International Accounting Standards Board
European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS)
SEC rules
UN Sustainable Development Goals
International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (ISSA 5000).

Australian frameworks and requirements:

Australian Accounting Standards Board
Auditing and Assurance Standards Board
ASX Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations
ASIC requirements
Modern Slavery Act (2018).

Getting started with or improving sustainability reporting

Integrating sustainability into business as usual
Four sustainability pillars: Governance, Strategy, Risk Management, Metrics and Targets
Target setting and metrics
Performance measurement at organisational, divisional and individual levels
Sustainable finance and responsible investing
Climate related issues including GHG accounting, Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, ACCUs, emission trading schemes, carbon pricing and Science Based Targets initiative
Climate related disclosure in financial statement notes
Sustainable supply chain management and value chains
Assurance for sustainable practices
Greenwashing
Taskforce on Nature Related Financial Disclosures.

How your role fits into the broader sustainability reporting process

Reflection and discussion on opportunities to strengthen reporting in your organisation.

About the Facilitator

Dr Lyndie Bayne

Dr Lyndie Bayne is a qualified chartered accountant with more than twenty years of experience as a sustainability researcher and accounting lecturer. She began her career in the audit department at KPMG and has since developed a diverse academic and professional background. Lyndie holds degrees in Accounting and Mathematical Statistics, an Honours degree in Economics, a research Master’s degree in Supply Chain Management and a PhD in Accounting with a focus on sustainability.

Lyndie is the Chair of the CA ANZ Sustainability Working Group WA and a member of the CA ANZ WA Corporate Advisory Panel. She promotes a practical, strategic and collaborative approach to integrating sustainability principles and practices into organisational behaviour.