Spotlight on: Sustainability Superstars
Now is the time for action. So how are New Zealand’s seasoned sustainability leaders making progress on New Zealand’s gnarliest sustainability challenges?
Join hosts Jay Crangle (Head of ESG, SBC), Rebecca Lowe (Head of Communications & Events, SBC), Alec Tang (Sustainable Value Partner, KPMG) and Qiulae Anthony (Sustainable Value Associate Director, KPMG) in our new podcast series, as they explore this question. In this series they will interview some of the sustainability superstars who form part of the SBC membership, revealing insights on both their individual and organisational efforts to shift the dial on sustainability here in Aotearoa.
Podcast hosts
Jay Crangle
Head of ESG
Sustainable Business Council
Rebecca Lowe
Head of Communications & Events
Sustainable Business Council
Alec Tang
Sustainable Value Partner
KPMG
Qiulae Anthony
Sustainable Value Associate Director
KPMG
Dawn Baggaley
In Episode One of Spotlight on Sustainability Superstars, Dawn Baggaley (previously NZ Post Group Sustainability Manager) discusses the ‘wicked problem’ of sustainability cutbacks in the face of tough economic times. She talks about the need to ensure sustainability is seen as an investment for business, and not just a discretionary cost, and how to maintain your personal resilience in the face of some of these gnarly challenges.
Phil Cumming
In Episode Two of Spotlight on Sustainability Superstars, Phil Cumming, GM Sustainability & Ethical Sourcing at The Warehouse Group discusses the fact that sustainability should not feel like a luxury, rather it should be easy and affordable. He also delves into using your businesses voice to advocate for change and tackling wicked problems.
Adele Rose
In Episode Three of Spotlight on Sustainability Superstars, Chief Executive of 3R Group, Adele Rose, discusses encouraging behaviour changes to help people make choices that protect the environment and Papatūānuku. She gives insights into 3R Groups successful partnership with Resene for their Repaint Scheme – recycled paint sold through Mitre10 – and explores the obstacles they had to navigate in order to succeed.
Sam Bridgman
In Episode Four of Spotlight on Sustainability Superstars, Head of Sustainability at Pāmu, Sam Bridgman discusses the challenges of embedding organisational change in a way that will stick. From getting alongside people, to finding leverage points in business operations. He explains how he sees sustainability strategy as akin to building a house, a project that requires many different experts and has many steps required for success.
Emily Davies
In Episode Five of Spotlight on Sustainability Superstars, Emily Davies Head of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability for Tower Insurance shares her insights and reflections on the deepening challenge of managing natural risk while ensuring insurance remains affordable and accessible for people – and the importance of maintaining trust throughout that.
As a self-described ‘facilitator of conversations’ – she shares her reflections as a sustainability professional in convening conversations – and why she believes listening is the key to truly understanding shared challenges and the pathways forward.
Tom Newitt
In Episode Six of Spotlight on Sustainability Superstars, Tom Newitt, Sustainability Lead at Spark, discusses the many layers of sustainability challenges and re-framing short-term human-centric problem-solving to longer-term solutions. Tom’s insights and reflections touch on a range of areas from the Emissions Reduction Plan to Spark’s ten-year renewable partnership with Genesis Energy and learning to fail well. Tom also reflects on the need for sustainability professionals to become more commercially minded to keep up with business.
Claire Waghorn
In Episode Seven of Spotlight on Sustainability Superstars, Claire Waghorn, Sustainability Transition Leader at Christchurch International Airport, discusses the complex problem of decarbonising aviation while balancing the urgency of climate action within an interconnected global system.
She also delves into clean alternatives to aviation fuels, the positive engagement from investors, regulators and communities in sustainability and her belief that if business and government collaborate, we have a real shot at finding long-term solutions to the climate crisis.
Carrie Gage
In Episode Eight of Spotlight on Sustainability Superstars, Carrie Gage, Head of Sustainability at ASB, discusses the interconnected nature of sustainability and how collaboration can grow both our economy and natural environment.
She draws on her political and business experience to dive into the complexity of sustainability – it’s hard to quantify and classify, but inherently a part of all decision-making, as it poses both a risk and a challenge.
Wendi Bains
In Episode Nine of the Spotlight on Sustainability Superstars Podcast, Wendi Bains, Chief Safety & Sustainability Officer at Fletcher Buildings discusses the challenge of creating a collective ‘why’ for sustainability across a billion-dollar company.
She delves into the need for businesses to create a strong value proposition for sustainability and their own incentives and long-term goals, rather than relying on targets and regulations, which can be removed. As well as reflecting on and celebrating the progress we have made, point-and-case – ‘circular economy’ was a foreign term in boardrooms just seven years ago.
Tom Kelly
In Episode Ten of the Spotlight on Sustainability Superstars Podcast, Tom Kelly, Director of Sustainability at Beca discusses the internal and external challenges of reducing a company’s handprint and helping people and businesses do their best work from a sustainability point of view.
He delves into the fact that a ‘baked-in sense of urgency’ means sustainable professionals don’t often reflect on their wins. As well as how important it is to strike a balance of hope and optimism despite the obvious plight of our ecosystems and communities.
Tom also explains his wicked challenge – the duplication of effort at a business, community and nations level. He hopes we can learn to collaborate on shared sustainability problems.