Jake Majerovic

By Jake Majerovic and Marina Garza, Directors and Principal Consultants, Thinkless

With the new Australian Sustainability Reporting Standards (ASRS) being enforced 1st July 2025, it’s time for businesses to face the music. As we stare down the five-month countdown, let’s get one thing straight: sustainability is not a fad. It’s about resilience, leadership and long-term value creation.

The days of using sustainability as a marketing gimmick are over. Stakeholders, investors, and regulators are demanding substance. It’s time to cut the fluff, stop the virtue-signaling and really prove your ESG impact through sustainable business planning, decisioning and reporting.

By procrastinating ASRS, or by doing your version of an ASRS ‘MVP’, the flow-on effects will hit your bottom line in one way, shape or form. Whether it’s missed opportunities, reputational damage or other financial impacts, Australian Sustainability Reporting Standards go beyond ticking ESG compliance boxes to well-overdue levels of accountable transparency.

Whether your business is just starting to think about sustainability, or is already making strides, the ASRS disclosures mandate is a defining moment. An opportunity to prove your commitment, sharpen your strategy and show the market exactly what you stand for.

Marina Garza

ASRS Isn’t About Compliance; It’s About Action

When looking at taking action on ASRS, ask two questions: “Do you know your data?” and; “Do you know how to use it?” If your answer isn’t a resounding “yes!” to both, then you need to turn plans into actions.

1. Get Your Data in Order
Understanding what’s material to your business is step one. A materiality assessment helps you zero-in on the sustainability factors that matter most – from your board to executive leadership, through to your workforce, suppliers, customers and shareholders. Your bottom line needs to be sustainable – literally.

But it’s not enough to gather data. You’ve got to ensure it’s credible, consistent and comprehensive across all departments and throughout every nook and cranny of your value chains. After all, inaccurate data is worse than no data at all – it erodes trust and invites costly revisions.

2. Integrate ASRS with your Financial Strategy
This is where the rubber meets the road. ASRS isn’t just about risk mitigation; it’s about value creation. By embedding sustainability data into your financial performance metrics, you can:

• Quantify risks like climate change impacts and supply chain disruptions.

• Identify opportunities for new revenue streams and efficiencies.

• Demonstrate the direct link between sustainability and profitability to investors.

It’s time to turn the ASRS requirements from a compliance obligation into a value driver.

Stakeholder Engagement: Transparency Is Non-Negotiable

Building trust in today’s business environment means being transparent in a consistent manner. A clear communication strategy is essential to keep investors, employees and the public informed about your progress.

This isn’t a one-way street. Stakeholder feedback is invaluable when it comes to refining your commercial approach to sustainable business practices and disciplines. Set up mechanisms to listen, respond and evolve. Your stakeholders aren’t just watching, they’re shaping your reputation – and your bottom line.

Five months might not sound like much, but it’s enough to lay a strong foundation if you focus on the right priorities. Here’s what to prioritise:

• Lay the Foundation: Start with the basics: good data is the backbone of any credible Sustainability Strategy. Implement systems to collect, store and analyse sustainability data across departments, throughout the value chain right up to the boardroom. A materiality assessment will help you identify the sustainability factors that matter most to your business and its stakeholders. Build a sustainability risk and opportunity register to catalogue potential ESG impacts and begin prioritising areas for improvement. This will serve as your compass, guiding your strategic decisions that help you mitigate risks before they materialise, while maximising opportunities that unlock sustainable advantages.

• Launch Key Projects: Five months might not be long enough to overhaul your entire operations, but it’s the perfect window to roll out pilot projects as proof of concepts. Test and refine your initiatives on a smaller scale to learn what works before rolling them out more broadly. For example, consider launching decarbonisation initiatives to reduce your carbon footprint, or engaging suppliers to improve sustainability environmentally and socially throughout your value chains. These small steps can yield valuable insights while building momentum for larger initiatives.

• Empower Your Team: ASRS isn’t just a job for your CFO. It’’s a company-wide effort. Equip your finance and operations teams with the training they need to understand ASRS concepts, reporting requirements and risk management. Cross-department collaboration is essential to ensure that ASRS becomes a seamless part of your business processes rather than an isolated set of obligations. Break down silos, maximise interactions and reap the benefits through empowerment, not compliance-driven commands.

The Long-Term Payoff

Getting ASRS right isn’t just about avoiding penalties or satisfying regulators. It’s actually about future-proofing your business. The benefits of embedding ASRS requirements within your strategy, in your organisational design and throughout your operating models go far beyond compliance, touching every aspect of your value chains.

• 1. Attracting Investors: Sustainable business performance is increasingly a key driver for securing investment. Institutional investors, private equity firms and lenders are all looking for businesses that demonstrate sustainability through action, not just words. This includes the ability to demonstrate strategic resilience, agility and value creation. With sustainability metrics embedded into your financial reporting, you’ll not only meet these expectations, but also stand out as a forward-thinking, responsible organisation. With ESG metrics bedded into ASRS, contributing positively to society and the planet no longer has to be a trade-off against your bottom line.

• 2. Gaining a Competitive Edge: Consumers are savvier than ever about spotting greenwashing and virtue signalling, and regulatory watchdogs are stepping in to hold businesses accountable. Companies with strong sustainability practices and disciplines have a significant advantage in winning customer loyalty, attracting top talent and building lasting relationships with stakeholders.

• 3. Ensuring Sustainability and Resilience: Proactively addressing ASRS isn’t just about complying to reporting criteria or even doing the right thing; it’s about making your business sustainable. Climate-related risks, the impact of financial decisions on the environment and shifting societal expectations are no longer ideological concerns. With ASRS, the playing field is levelling up to help bring accountability and traceability on decisions, plans, actions and ultimately impacts. Companies that use ASRS to their advantage will better anticipate and address even the most complex commercial challenges that lay ahead, and will be better equipped to thrive in ever-emerging uncertainties.

The intent underpinning ASRS isn’t just about ticking compliance boxes – it’s about being a sustainable business in an era that calls for more transparency, accountability and collaboration. The question isn’t whether your business can afford to embrace ASRS; it’s how you can turn ASRS requirements into a commercial advantage.

Ready to turn obligation into opportunity? 

From Sustainability Strategy to Transformation and Regulatory Roadmaps, through to Precision ESG, Thinkless acts as a trusted partner, transforming ASRS from a mandated compliance obligation into a powerful lever for resilience, market leadership and value creation. Sustainability is now about being a better business, by doing business better.

Jake Majerovic Bio

Linkedin: Jake Majerovic – thinkless Group | LinkedIn

Website: Thinkless

A seasoned Strategy Director, Jake Majerovic specialises in Operational Governance and Agility. During his 25-year career in the mental health sector, Jake has established systems and governance structures for prominent mental health NGOs, including Stride, Richmond Fellowship NSW and the Mental Health Coordinating Council. He’s also led agile transformations for major institutions like Westpac, Commbank and Telstra, implementing frameworks for governance, business planning, funding models, performance management, risk management and assurance.

Driven by innovation and disrupting with purpose, Jake backs bold ideas and practical outcomes with true accountability. With a passion for personalised care, holistic health and supporting the wellbeing of veterans and first responders, Jake drives positive change through social impact. Jake has an intuitive understanding of start-ups, ensuring positive environmental, social and commercial practices from the get go. Fact-fuelled and data-driven, Jake uses an evidence-based approach to create meaningful and positive change in society.

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Sustainable Winegrowing Australia

Casella Family Brands Yenda

(Left to right) Chris Molineaux, Nicholas Schirripa, John Casella & Joey Sergi

Highlights:

• As Australia’s largest family-owned winery, Casella Family Brands (CFB) has earned Sustainable Winegrowing Australia certification for its wineries, vineyards, and grape supply.
• This achievement is a major milestone for the industry, ensuring that over 1 in 10 grapes will now be grown sustainably (based on 2024 vintage crush figures¹)
• CFB exports 16% of Australia’s total wine exports, meaning this portion of Australian wine will be sustainably produced (from the 2025 vintage release²)
• Starting with the 2025 vintage release, wines from [yellow tail], Peter Lehmann Wines, Brand’s Laira, Morris of Rutherglen, Baileys of Glenrowan, Casella Family Wines, and Atmata will proudly carry the Sustainable Winegrowing Australia certification.

Casella Family Brands (CFB), producer of [yellow tail] wine, Peter Lehmann Wines, Morris of Rutherglen, Baileys of Glenrowan and Brand’s Laira Coonawarra has announced the certification of its winemaking sites, vineyards and grape supply under the Sustainable Winegrowing Australia scheme.

Sustainable Winegrowing Australia is Australia’s national program for grape growers and winemakers committed to making sustainable wine.

CFB’s involvement in the Sustainable Winegrowing Australia initiative demonstrates its dedication to sustainable practices and the long-term growth of Australia’s wine industry. The CFB-owned Riverina, Barossa, Rutherglen, and Glenrowan wineries are now certified by Sustainable Winegrowing Australia. From the 2025 vintage release, wines from [yellow tail], Peter Lehmann Wines, Brand’s Laira, Morris of Rutherglen, Baileys of Glenrowan, Casella Family Wines and Atmata will be Sustainable Winegrowing Australia-certified.

In 2024, CFB contributed 12% of Australia’s annual wine grape crush, showcasing the company’s pivotal role in advancing sustainability within the sector through this certification. As a result, more than 1 in 10 grapes harvested will now be grown under the Sustainableinegrowing Australia program.

Sustainability Manager Joey Sergi said the certification was a significant step in the company’s sustainability journey, “After investing in installing our large-scale solar farm last year, we’ve focused on achieving Sustainable Winegrowing Australia certification across our wineries and grower base. Consumers are increasingly choosing brands that prioritise sustainability, and with Sustainable Winegrowing Australia certification, they can trust our wines are produced with environmental care.”

Dr Mardi Longbottom, General Manager Industry Development and Support at the Australian Wine Research Institute, who manages the technical aspects of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia, says, “We are encouraged by the momentum and increasing ambition of our growing membership and are confident we will achieve world-leading recognition. By purchasing wines from a certified producer, consumers can feel confident that they’re supporting sustainable minded growers and winemakers, who are on a journey to shape the Australian wine community for good.”

Casella Family Brands has supported its grower base in achieving vineyard certification. Nic Schirripa, Grower Services Manager and Senior Winemaker, acknowledged the enormous effort and commitment to obtaining the certification from the winery staff and the company’s grower network. He said, “We’re incredibly proud of the dedication to sustainability demonstrated by all those involved in this process. This program formalises our current operations by providing a structured framework to document sustainability practices. It helps us identify risk areas and uncover opportunities for improvement, and we look forward to advancing our efforts in this space.”

Jade Rogge, Viticulturist and Winemaker at Peter Lehmann Wines, comments, “We recognise the time and investment in the training and auditing process; however, it is an important future step for all of our brands as we progress our sustainability journey. At its core, the program is about adopting innovative, sustainable practices to safeguard the land we depend on and ensuring that it remains healthy, productive, and valuable for future generations.”

What does Sustainable Winegrowing Australia Involve?

The program helps Australian wine producers reduce their environmental impact. Based on the well-known ISO 14001 standard, it encourages producers to be more eco-friendly and responsible. To get certified, wineries must undergo an independent audit by approved auditors.

It assists businesses in managing the environmental aspects of their operations. This includes minimising the harmful environmental effects caused by a business’s activities, including environmental risks through the supply chain. Environmental aspects included in the standard are biosecurity, land and soil management, chemical and nutrient management, water, biodiversity, waste, air quality, energy and fuel efficiency.

In addition, the program addresses overall business management processes, such as sustainability action planning, employee management, customer and supplier management, and incident management. The main goal is to help producers lower their environmental risks, follow regulations, and keep improving their green practices, leading to a more sustainable future for the industry.

About Sustainable Winegrowing Australia

Sustainable Winegrowing Australia is a collaboration between The Australian Wine Research Institute,
Wine Australia and Australian Grape & Wine. The voluntary program takes a holistic approach to managing, supporting, and promoting sustainability. It is modelled on global best practices and aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, with progress towards these monitored annually.

About Casella Family Brands (CFB)

Founded in 1969 by Filippo and Maria Casella, Casella Family Brands has evolved from a modest handbuilt winery into Australia’s largest family-owned drinks company. The pivotal moment for the company was the launch of [yellow tail] in 2001, An easy-to-enjoy wine designed to captivate a new global audience. [yellow tail] quickly achieved international acclaim for its quality, value, and distinctive packaging. Today, Casella Family Brands boasts a diverse portfolio with leading brands across multiple categories, including wine, beer & cider, RTD & seltzers, and spirits. The company is also committed to offering a range of zero, low, and mid-alcohol alternatives, reflecting its dedication to innovation and consumer choice.

For more information, visit www.casellafamilybrands.com.

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Linda Sparrow calls the plantings a brilliant pit stop for dispersing koalas 

WWF

What was once a treeless field in a nut plantation in northern NSW has become “a koala oasis in a sea of macadamias”.

Just last month, in the space of a week, three koalas were spotted among the eucalypt plantings in Binna Burra.

The stunning transformation from grassy slope to koala haven has taken less than two years after 1630 koala food and habitat trees were planted in March 2023.

It’s another success story in the partnership between Bangalow Koalas and the World Wide Fund for Nature-Australia as they strive to save koalas.

Habitat destruction and fragmentation is one of the biggest threats to this iconic species.

Heatwaves, droughts and bushfires made worse by climate change, disease, and vehicle strikes are also causing significant population declines.

Without strong intervention, it’s predicted koalas could become extinct in the wild across eastern Australia by 2050.

“Back in early 2023 this treeless field stood out like a sore thumb. Now we’ve created a koala oasis in a sea of macadamias. It’s a brilliant pit stop for koalas dispersing through the landscape,” said Linda Sparrow, President of Bangalow Koalas.

“Koalas can stay shaded among the macadamia trees during the day and feed on eucalypts at night before continuing their journey in a corridor we’re creating, stretching from Byron Bay out towards Tenterfield.

“Some of the trees have grown to be more than 5 metres high in under two years. Our thanks to the plantation owner who saw koalas on his property and wanted to do something to help,” Ms Sparrow said.

“What a wonderful success story with three koalas photographed in the plantings last month. Once a eucalypt can take the weight of a koala they will climb it and start chewing. It shows that these trees fill a gap,” said Tanya Pritchard, Senior Manager Koala Recovery, WWF-Australia.

“It’s amazing seeing koalas using such young trees, it shows the urgency of the situation, we need to plant a lot more trees if we are to reverse the koalas’ continuing decline. Farmers are helping play a crucial role in creating future habitat and we are hoping many more landholders will join the corridor to support the long-term survival of koalas,” Ms Pritchard said.

Bangalow Koalas has planted more than 413,000 trees since 2019 and is on a quest to reach 500,000 trees by the end of 2025.

WWF’s Koalas Forever program aims to double the number of koalas across eastern Australia by 2050. In total, WWF has assisted Bangalow Koalas to plant more than 238,000 trees since 2021.

WWF and Bangalow Koalas work with Githabul Rangers, Minyumai Rangers and the Jagun Alliance on the mission to save koalas.

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• A new World Economic Forum report series identifies $1.4 trillion in nature-positive opportunities across four sectors globally, including $160 billion for the Chinese automotive sector.
• Just 37% of the world’s 500 most populous cities have strategies to sustainably manage and protect nature, and spending in urban nature has declined between 2018 and 2023.
• The new research finds that the four sectors impact nature loss through drivers such as land and ocean use, pollution, and emissions, and identifies five actions per sector to curb these impacts.
• Read the sectors reports here and cities reports here. Follow more on the Annual Meeting here and on social media using #WEF25.

The World Economic Forum recently published six reports aimed at accelerating the global shift toward a nature-positive future. Five of the reports focus on sector-specific strategies for critical industries – offshore wind, mining and metals, ports, and automotive (global and a China Deep-dive) – while the sixth examines urban financing solutions for building sustainable, nature-positive cities. The report series, developed in collaboration with Oliver Wyman, outlines actionable pathways to protect biodiversity, achieve climate goals, and ensure economic resilience across sectors and geographies amid growing environmental challenges.

While 78% of Fortune 500 companies have set climate targets, only 12% have established targets to halt or reverse biodiversity loss. Similarly, just 37% of the world’s 500 most populous cities have strategies to sustainably manage and protect nature, and spending on urban nature – natural areas and ecosystems within cities, such as parks, green roofs, wetlands, and other green or blue spaces – has shown a decrease between 2018 and 2023. Yet safeguarding nature is essential to tackling climate change and healthy ecosystems underpin human health, well-being and economic stability.

Despite positive momentum in corporate actions, efforts to address nature and climate challenges remain insufficient to restore planetary health, according to new World Economic Forum research. Corporates urgently need more investment pathways and opportunities that demonstrate how profits, growth, and jobs can – and should – align with ecological prosperity. In response, the report series highlights the critical dependencies and impacts of urban areas and four key sectors on nature, offering actionable, sector-specific strategies for corporate leaders to drive transformative change in their industries. Companies such as Volvo Cars, Anglo American, Vattenfall, CATL and the Port of Antwerp are among those that have provided guidance and insights to inform sector transitions for a more nature-positive future.

“The business case for safeguarding nature is clear, and companies can start with no-regret actions today,” said Akanksha Khatri, Head, of Nature Action Agenda, World Economic Forum. “Every industry has unique challenges and opportunities when it comes to protecting nature. By offering tailored, sector-specific strategies, we are equipping leaders with the tools to accelerate meaningful action and deliver transformative change now.”

Nature is not only critical for a healthy climate; it is the backbone of the global economy. An estimated $44 trillion of economic value generation – more than half the world’s GDP – is estimated to be moderately or highly dependent on nature. Yet biodiversity and functioning ecosystems worldwide are threatened by pressing issues such as land and sea use change, climate change, pollution, water scarcity and invasive species. Companies, investors and government leaders cannot afford to delay addressing nature loss any longer. Although momentum among companies and cities is on the rise following the COP16 biodiversity summit in Colombia in October 2024, sectoral guidance and strategic steps to inform nature-positive efforts have so far been lacking.

The report series aims to fill this gap and guide industries forward at pace. It highlights priority actions both within and beyond value chains. These include tailored, industry-specific steps that companies can take to become nature positive, such as avoiding and reducing impacts from operations and materials, as well as cross-sector collaboration on policy and standards. In addition, the new research identifies $1.4 trillion in nature-positive opportunities across four sectors globally, including $160 billion for the Chinese automotive sector specifically, highlighting the urgent need for unlocking new financing models and advocating for systems change.

“We are beginning to see nature emerge as a key issue for leaders across industries, the financial sector, and the public sector,” said Nick Studer, President and Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Wyman. “These reports are critical to translate ambition on nature into action, by providing clarity around a complex landscape and offering leaders the tools they need to start transforming their operations towards a nature-positive future, today.”

“The ocean is essential to supporting life on Earth and drives the global economy – ports and shipping cover 80% of global trade in terms of volume, and offshore wind is one of the fastest growing renewable energies,” added Alfredo Giron, Head, Ocean Action Agenda, World Economic Forum. “Businesses must take the lead in transitioning to sustainable practices within the blue economy, safeguarding ecosystems and ensuring a prosperous future for communities and industries alike.”

About the World Economic Forum’s Nature Positive Transitions work
The World Economic Forum’s Nature Positive Transitions series, developed in collaboration with global management consultancy Oliver Wyman, Business For Nature and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, outlines different pathways to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030, the mission at the heart of the Global Biodiversity Framework. The series consists of three transitions: sectors, cities and finance.

• Sector Transitions to Nature Positive engages key sectors and businesses to build nature-positive pathways, develop sector-specific strategies, and catalyse transformation and innovation across business operations and value chains, in support of global nature and climate goals.
• Nature–Positive Cities drives practical, coordinated action at the city level, aiming to transform urban development by embedding nature into the fabric of city planning and design.
• Financing the Nature-Positive Transition engages banks, insurers, asset managers and asset owners to allocate and scale capital towards the transformation of corporates’ operations and value chain.

About the World Economic Forum Centre for Nature and Climate
The Centre for Nature and Climate is a multi-stakeholder platform that focuses on protecting the environment and fostering sustainable practices. The 2025 State of Nature and Climate Briefing Paper presents the latest data on planetary health and global corporate progress in addressing climate and nature challenges.

About the Annual Meeting 2025
The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2025, taking place in Davos-Klosters from 20 to 24 January, convenes global leaders under the theme Collaboration for the Intelligent Age. The meeting will foster new partnerships and insights to shape a more sustainable, inclusive future in an era of rapidly advancing technology, focusing on five key areas: Reimagining Growth, Industries in the Intelligent Age, Investing in People, Safeguarding the Planet, and Rebuilding Trust. Click here to learn more.

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• Major report shows one third of shark and ray species are endangered, and two thirds of the endangered species are at risk of extinction by overfishing

• Report highlights Australia’s improved fisheries management but our governments still allow the fishing of some of our most endangered sharks and rays

• Australians still being served up endangered sharks in their fish and chips

The Australian Government must do more to protect our endangered sharks and rays despite a new report highlighting some improvements in our fisheries management, the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) and Humane Society International (HSI) Australia said after the world’s leading endangered species authority released its second report on sharks, rays and chimeras.

The 2000-page International Union for the Conservation of Nature report says that one third of shark and ray species are endangered, and two-thirds of those endangered species are at risk of extinction by overfishing. The report noted shark meat demand has doubled since 2005 – when the IUCN released its first groundbreaking report on sharks, rays and chimeras – from US$157 million in the early 2000s to US$283 million in 2016.

AMCS shark expert Dr Leonardo Guida said: “Globally, Australia is positioned relatively well in terms of efforts towards shark conservation, but the bar is low and Australia cannot rest on its laurels – the Australian Government must deliver strong new nature laws to protect our environment and endangered species and fix our fisheries.

“The report highlights Australia’s improved fisheries management, but some of our endangered sharks are still being caught and ending up in your fish and chips. Most Australians would be appalled to be served up endangered species when they order  ‘flake’, a label that should only be used for gummy shark.

“The Australian Government still allows the catch and sale of some of our most endangered shark species from its largest shark fishery, the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF). Endangered school shark has been overfished for nearly four years, with total mortality limits exceeding scientifically recommended limits by 14-18% each year from 2021 to 2024.

“More than 1500 critically endangered whitefin swellsharks are killed and sold on average each year, with 1281-1953 taken annually from 2019 to 2022. While the IUCN considers the whitefin swellshark as Critically Endangered, the Australian Government is still currently assessing whether to add it to our threatened species list.

“Meanwhile the Maugean skate is being driven to extinction by the overstocking of salmon in its only home in Tasmania’s Macquarie Harbour.”

HSI Australia marine biologist Lawrence Chlebeck said: “The report is clear. And governments around the globe have a responsibility to enact regulation and legislation to ensure we don’t lose these species so vital to ocean health, and Australia is no exception. We are an endemic shark and ray hot-spot, with nearly half of our shark and ray species found nowhere else on Earth. No one can save these species but us.”

The report highlighted the bycatch of endangered species in Australia and the need for better monitoring of fishing activity, making the recommendation: “Fisheries that target sharks or regularly interact with species of conservation interest and/or concern have meaningful observer coverage, either human or electronic. Where electronic monitoring occurs, there is a requirement for a minimum amount of video to be reviewed to allow the accurate estimate of discards.”

The report also said Australia needed better coordination of its shark research and population studies conducted independently of fisheries: “There is also a need for improved information on the status of stocks that could be improved by the implementation of long-term fishery-independent surveys.”

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Accounting and advisory firm HLB Mann Judd has entered a strategic partnership with Adelaide-based sustainability consulting firm 2XE, to strengthen its support for clients in meeting their sustainability requirements.

2XE specialises in helping companies achieve net zero emissions and meet their climate-related financial disclosures obligations.

Tony Fittler, chair of the HLB Mann Judd Australasian Association, said accountants are ideally placed to help businesses on their sustainability journeys, particularly with the recent regulatory changes.

“We already work closely with our clients across areas of governance, measurement, reporting and assurance, and are therefore well-equipped to help them meet the new regulatory changes,” Mr Fittler said.

“The new rules, which kicked off on 1 January 2025, won’t just affect the big end of town – all businesses, regardless of size, will potentially be impacted.

“By combining HLB Mann Judd’s financial expertise with 2XE’s sustainability knowledge, the firm is well-positioned to guide clients through the complexities of ESG compliance and sustainable growth.

“Our approach is underpinned by an internal engagement strategy that helps clients better understand the risks and opportunities presented by environmental sustainability issues.”

Nick Palousis, CEO of 2XE, said the partnership provides a holistic and more accessible process for businesses needing the full suite of advisory services to meet and maintain their climate-related financial disclosures obligations, and take advantage of the significant business opportunities available through decarbonisation.

“2XE has helped guide more than 1,000 companies and government agencies on ESG, net zero, circular economy, and sustainability consulting services, both in Australia and internationally,” Mr Palousis said.

“This partnership will provide comprehensive support for clients navigating a pathway to a more sustainable future.”

Mr Fittler added:  “As businesses increasingly recognise the importance of sustainable business practices, and with important legislation now in place, this collaboration between HLB Mann Judd and 2XE is perfectly timed.

“The collaboration will enhance HLB Mann Judd’s sustainability service offerings and expertise in supporting clients in sustainable business practices in three key areas:

• Delivery of specialised services to clients, focusing on decarbonisation planning, climate-related disclosures, and other technical services
• Internal sustainability education through staff training across the Australasian Association
• Support for HLB Mann Judd’s sustainability strategy, which has been formulated in alignment with HLB International’s 2027 global strategy, Innovative People, Brighter Futures.”

About HLB Mann Judd Australasian Association

HLB Mann Judd is an Australasian association of independent advisory and accounting firms, with member firms in Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji. For further information please visit www.hlb.com.au.

About 2XE

2XE is a sustainability consulting firm based in Adelaide, South Australia, dedicated to helping organisations achieve and sustain net zero emissions with the best possible holistic return on investment. With a proven track record of working with over 1,000 companies and government agencies across Australia and internationally, 2XE delivers expert services in ESG strategy, net zero planning, circular economy solutions, and sustainability consulting. For more information, please visit https://2xe.com.au/

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