Hitting the mark on climate disclosure: lessons from New Zealand, insights, and practical support for Australian companies

Richard Evans is the Founder and CEO of Talent Nation. As a founding B Corporation, Talent Nation’s purpose is to enable sustainable futures through the search and selection of talent for clients that are striving to generate positive social and environmental outcomes in Australia, and the broader Asia-Pacific region.

Richard has more than 25 years of recruitment sector experience, having specialised in ESG, Environment, and Sustainability for the last 15 years. Organisations regularly engage him to ensure that they structure their ESG resources to address their compliance obligations or to position themselves as industry leaders.

Sarah Holden is the Founder and Director of Oxygen Consulting, with 25 years of experience helping organisations advance their climate and sustainability goals. She has worked with more than 100 companies across most industries, guiding businesses from strategy through to implementation.

Before establishing Oxygen Consulting in 2018, Sarah held senior sustainability roles at Westpac and IAG in both New Zealand and Australia.

She holds a PhD in environmental and marine science, is a recognised B Consultant with B Lab ANZ, and a trained Carbon Auditor (CEP).

Sarah is a member of the NZ Government’s Climate Business Advisory Group and the ISO/TC 207 SC7 committee on Greenhouse Gas and Climate Change Management. She is a member of the Institute of Directors, Climate Reality Leadership Corps, and Carbon & Energy Professionals Network.

Jack is Climate Implementation Lead at the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB). Jack’s focus is on engaging with Australian preparers and users to build capacity for the implementation of Australia’s climate-related financial disclosure standard and to understand shared challenges. Prior to joining the AASB, Jack was involved with writing the New Zealand Climate Standards at the External Reporting Board and supporting implementation in New Zealand. Before joining the standard setting world, Jack worked on a range of climate and sustainable finance related policy areas at the New Zealand Ministry for the Environment in the Office of the Chief Executive.

Tim Rodsted has extensive experience in corporate sustainability roles, and brings deep experience in sustainability strategy, ESG reporting frameworks, non-financial assurance and stakeholder engagement.

Tim currently serves as the Head of Sustainability at BlueScope where he is responsible for the organisation’s external sustainability disclosures (including new mandatory climate disclosures), responding to external ESG assessments, and supporting BlueScope’s key sustainability governance bodies.

Based in Melbourne, Tim is a frequent contributor to industry forums and investor briefings, and plays a key role in shaping BlueScope’s environmental and social governance agenda.

Prior to BlueScope, Tim was a Senior Manager to EY providing sustainability strategy and assurance services to Global organisations across Mining, Manufacturing and Energy.

Kate Dundas is the Executive Director of the UN Global Compact Network Australia (UNGCNA), the Australian Local Network of the United Nations (UN) Global Compact. As Executive Director, Kate leads a team of experts across the fields of business and human rights, environment and climate change, anti-bribery and corruption and sustainable development.

Kate is an experienced and well-regarded executive leader with 20 years of experience across the public and private sectors in sustainability, strategic foresight, strategy and city planning. She holds degrees in Industrial Design, Landscape Architecture and Urban Design, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership, Harvard Executive Education for Sustainability Leadership program and is an Executive MBA candidate.