Corporate Strategy

GPT moves into refurbished, greener headquarters

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 19 AUG 2011  |  NEWS
The GPT Group (GPT) is aiming to have its newly refurbished headquarters in the MLC Centre in Sydney recognised with a 6 Star Green rating within an existing building that has not undergone a major refurbishment.

AGL wins three awards for sustainability reporting

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 19 AUG 2011  |  NEWS
AGL has won three awards at the Australian Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Reporting Awards - the top prize of Best Sustainability Report as well as Best Sustainability Reporting of an ASX 50 Company and Best Sustainability Reporting ...

Interview: Anthea McIntyre, Australian Institute of Company Directors

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  WEDNESDAY, 17 AUG 2011  |  NEWS
The Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) last week launched Tomorrow's boards: Creating balanced and effective boards, a book that details the current composition of Australia's boards, selection practices and the advantages inherent in diversity.

Women make strides in recent board appointments

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  WEDNESDAY, 10 AUG 2011  |  NEWS
Women have comprised 29% of all new appointments to ASX200 boards so far this year, according to research compiled by the Australian Institute of Company Directors. However, overall, women only make up 12.7% of directors on ASX200 listed companies.

Forthcoming GRESB report to benchmark RE environmental, social performance

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 5 AUG 2011  |  NEWS
In September, the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) will release its second survey assessing the environmental and social performance of public and private real estate investments. GRESB will be used by institutional investors to engage ...

FSC, ACSI release ESG reporting guide for ASX companies

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 5 AUG 2011  |  NEWS
The Financial Services Council (FSC) and the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI) have launched their ESG Reporting Guide for Australian Companies, a framework for assisting companies in identifying and reporting their ESG risks.

Chartered Secretaries advise EU to use comply or explain codes

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  WEDNESDAY, 27 JUL 2011  |  NEWS
Chartered Secretaries of Australia (CSA) have advised the European Commission (EC) to adopt a "comply or explain" principles-based approach to corporate governance. CSA is responding to a green paper on corporate governance codes published by the commission ...

Majority of ASX100 report on ESG issues

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 3 JUN 2011  |  NEWS
A majority of ASX100 companies now report on ESG issues, with an increased focus on material issues and increased acceptance of sustainability risks such as human capital management, according to an analyst at Macquarie Bank.

OECD guidelines to promote more responsible business conduct

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 27 MAY 2011  |  NEWS
Ministers from countries belonging to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and developing economies have agreed to a new set of guidelines to promote more responsible business conduct by multinational enterprises (MNEs).

Companies investing in sustainable operations showing returns

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  WEDNESDAY, 25 MAY 2011  |  NEWS
A study of five Australian organisations, including Blackmores and Woolworths, has shown that companies that invest in sustainable business operations and incorporate ESG factors into their financial reporting are seeing returns on investment much sooner ...