Global Reporting Initiative Presentation 
Hamilton, 18 July 2012
Global Reporting Initiative Focal Point Australia invites all CSNZ Members, Affiliates and Colleagues to join Lena Geraghty for an unique insight into the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). This event occurs during an exciting time for GRI. It is in the middle of a Public Comment period that requests global input for G4 - the next generation of GRI guidelines. It will discuss the outcomes of The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), where GRI will promote the change to a sustainable global economy, calling on member states to use policy to encourage sustainability reporting. In particular, GRI will be promoting whats called the Report or Explain approach to sustainability reporting policy, which states that companies should report their sustainability performance or explain why if they do not. In addition the debate around integrated reporting continues. GRI indicates that by 2020, there should be a generally accepted and applied international standard which would effectively integrate financial and sustainability reporting by all organisations.
The session will also include highlights and outcomes of the inaugural Australian GRI Conference on Sustainability and Integrated Reporting held earlier this year. It was the largest multi-stakeholder conference in the region to date focusing on sustainability and integrated reporting. More than 250 participants from 11 countries representing a broad cross section of the community expressed broad support for the continuous innovation of reporting and reporting frameworks in the transition to a sustainable economy and the adoption of a report of explain why not approach to policy by government, regulators or stock exchanges.
The session will end with a robust discussion that will explore critical challenges like How can sustainability disclosures be made safe for company directors? Will Sustainability reporting be made redundant when Integrated Reporting is in place? There will also be opportunity to explore ideas about Waikato Universitys role in sustainability reporting.
Event Details
| Date | Wednesday 18 July 2012 | |
| Time: | 1:00pm to 2:00pm | |
| Venue: | Room SB 4.02, Waikato University, Knighton Road, Hamilton 3240 |
About Lena Geraghty
Lenawas the first Manager of the GRI Focal Point in Australia which started in 2009. She has significant business experience as the first Corporate Social Responsibilitymanager for Corporate Express Australia. During her time at Corporate Express she was responsible for developing and implementing their CSR strategy, which led to Corporate Express Australia being named Sustainable Company of the Year at the 8th Australian Sustainability Awards 2008.Prior to this, Lena was General Manager ofa successful sustainability consultancy with state government and major corporate clients. Lena has been involved in Not for Profit committees including the Sydney St Patricks Day parade and Family Day that reach some 50,000 people. She was also the former ChairofBuy Recycled Business Alliance in Australia, where organisations including Fuji Xerox, McDonalds and VISY, among others, came together to help promote the use and purchase of recycled products.
Lena has a BA in History, Sociology and Politics, and post graduate Certificates in Business and Sustainability. She is currently job sharing this role with her colleague Victoria Whitaker.
There will be light refreshments served at this event so please register your attendance by e-mail to: andreac@waikato.ac.nz.
CSNZ confirms that this event qualifies for CPD Structured credits based on 1 credit per hour of attendance.
