Embedding purpose into corporate decision making

About this episode

Stakeholders are insisting on greater transparency around companies’ risks and strategies not just relating to ESG but also embedding corporate purpose and placing shared value at the centrepiece.

Consideration of businesses’ role in society is moving from the periphery of boards’ agendas to main stream. Increasingly, investors, customers, employees and other stakeholders expect companies to understand the total impact of their strategy and actions.

With a younger activist workforce on the move, there is a new landscape of expectations, calling for businesses to not only do more around ESG considerations but to show proactive leadership around key social issues to drive change.

Many CEOs would like to take action but don’t know where to begin. Others have found ways to respond with creativity, energy and even optimism – attacking global, national and local problems with powerful ideas and new platforms for change that unleash human potential.

In this episode Tamara Cannon, a lawyer in Ashurst's ESG practice with over 20 years commercial experience, discusses how to best embed purpose into corporate decision making with Audette Exel, Elena Lambros and Rob Hanley.

Audette is a pioneer of social entrepreneurship in Australia. Almost 25 years ago she founded Adara Advisors, a for-profit business which seeks to alleviate extreme poverty and disadvantage. Audette is also a non-executive director of Westpac.

Partner Elena Lambros leads Ashurst's climate change and sustainability practise, and partner Robert Hanley, who heads up Ashurst's legal governance advisory team.

The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.