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Dawn Baggaley, Head of Sustainability, NZ Post; NED, Sustainable Business Network
Dawn is a highly experienced sustainability business leader. She has a passion for embedding sustainability into core business strategy, building purpose led brands and strong customer and employee value propositions. Over the last 5 years, Dawn has worked with the integrated thinking and reporting (International Integrated Reporting Council) framework as a critical tool for understanding all forms of value creation.
Dawn has worked for 11 years as a sustainability professional working in New Zealand and Denmark, 8 years as Head of Procurement at Westpac Banking Corporation, New Zealand and 10 years in social housing in the UK.
She is the editor and initiator of the Change the World for $15 book in New Zealand.
Dawn holds a Masters of Science in Responsibility and Business Practice from Bath University, UK and is an alumni of the Cambridge Institute of Sustainable Leadership Executive programme.
Jo Cain, Executive Director, Materiality Counts; NED, Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (AUASB); NED, Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) Board
Jo Cain has successfully operated her own business, Materiality Counts, for 6 years with continued growth, working at the Board and Executive level with many major organisations in Australia, New Zealand and further afield. She brings significant value to her Non-Executive Director roles through her extensive governance experience; executive experience; leadership in integrated reporting and sustainability; and track record in materiality, risk, stakeholder engagement, strategy, audit and assurance.
With 30+ years’ experience, Jo is a recognised leader in integrated reporting. She has assisted with the development of many award-winning Integrated Reports. Jo’s integrated reporting leadership was recognised in her appointment to the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) Emerging Forms of External Reporting (EER) Project Advisory Panel (PAP). She has also performed expert roles for the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC). Jo’s clients include ANZ, AGL, Downer, Toyota Australia, PanAust and Ok Tedi in Australia; and NZ Post, Port of Tauranga, NZ Ministry for the Environment and Watercare in New Zealand.
Justin Dillon, Founder & CEO, FRDM
Justin Dillon is an artist, entrepreneur, public speaker, and abolitionist. He is the founder and CEO of Made In A Free World, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending forced labor, human trafficking, and modern-day slavery through increased public awareness, action, and advocacy.
In 2008, Justin made his directorial debut in the film Call + Response, which revealed the world’s 27 million dirtiest secrets: there are more slaves today than ever before in human history. The “rockumentary” was one of the top documentaries of the year and combined commentary by social luminaries such as Cornell West and Nicholas Kristoff with musical performances by artists such as Moby, Natasha Bedingfield, and Matisyahu.
In 2011, Justin founded the nonprofit organization Slavery Footprint. Partnering with the U.S. State Department, they launched a multiple-award-winning website that asks the question, “How Many Slaves Work For You?” The website and associated mobile app allow consumers to visualize how their consumption habits are connected to modern-day slavery and provides them with an opportunity to have a conversation with the companies that manufacture the goods they purchase.
Richard Donovan, Global Head of Social Innovation, Experian
Richard graduated from Loughborough University with a BSc (hons) in Communication & Media Studies, holds an MBA from the University of Derby and is a Fellow of the Institute of Internal Communications (IOIC). Over 18 years Richard worked in a range of communication and brand roles, predominantly in the field of Internal Communications for organisations including Egg, Capital One, EY and Citi. In 2012 he joined Experian to lead their UK & Ireland Internal Comms team and led the team to success in winning the IOIC’s in-house team of the year in 2014. In 2015, Richard also adopted accountability for Corporate Responsibility in Experian UK&I and in early 2019 he shed his Internal Communications accountabilities to lead Experian’s global Social Innovation programme. Outside of work, Richard sits on the board of Governors at Nottingham College, one of the UK’s largest FE institutions.
Francesca Hunter, Manager, Sustainability & Partnerships, Yarra Trams
Francesca has been creating and delivering social impact programs for around a decade – from NAB’s Corporate Responsibility team, to City of Melbourne’s social investment branch, and currently as Manager Partnerships for Yarra Trams. Melbourne has the largest tram network in the world, and while the CSR journey is young for Yarra Trams, the moving billboard of a tram is proving effective in creating tangible impacts for community partners.
Tara James, Senior Consultant, Corporate Citizenship
A chartered Environmental Engineer by trade, Tara’s professional career has tracked a course through sustainable water management and design, including for the London 2012 Olympics, to the broader remit of corporate social responsibility and sustainability. She has spent over eight years in the CSR/sustainability space in both consulting and in-house roles, including as CR Manager at Royal Mail Group through its transition from a government-owned entity to a publicly listed company.
Her experience covers a broad range of CSR issues including community and environmental projects, reporting and assurance, benchmarking, materiality assessments and impact assessments. My client relationships have included companies from Royal Mail Group and BT to Lloyds Banking Group and IFM Investors.
Katherine Leong, Impact Strategist, Spark Beyond
Katherine Leong is on a mission to help those changemakers who are at the frontline shaping the world she wants her children to grow up in.
After spending six years at National Australia Bank (NAB) as an intrapreneur on an amazing journey to build a new market for impact investment and sustainable finance, Kath continues to contribute in a small way through the advisory panel for the Department of Social Services’ Growth Grants (something she’s proud to say started at NAB) which provides grants of up to $140k to social enterprises seeking to scale. Access to finance is great to scale ideas into businesses, but where do new ideas come from…
SparkBeyond is a company which was built by, and is built for, people looking to shape the future. Rather than using AI to help us predict the right answers we start with asking the right questions.
They work with the largest companies in the world to help them shape their future direction while also partnering with them to lean into some of the biggest social challenges that touch their business. SparkBeyond aspires to demonstrate how business can be a force for good and operate by the ethos of “doing well and doing good”.
Helen Maisano, Director, Group Sustainability, Optus
Helen established the CSR function at Optus 12 years ago and now leads the Optus sustainability team which includes key focus areas such as; community investment, employee engagement, environment, supply chain and sustainability reporting.
Helen is responsible for developing and driving the corporate sustainability strategy. As an ‘intrapreneur’, Helen focusses on developing innovative programs and partnerships that create value for the business stakeholders as well as creating a positive impact and outcomes for communities and the environment.
Optus’ sustainability approach is holistic, leveraging the capabilities, resources, skills and digital technologies of the business to create shared value and sustainable change.
Helen and her team are responsible for a broad range of social impact and environmental sustainability programs including staff engagement initiatives. As part of the Singtel Group, Helen and her teamwork collaboratively with the regional Associate companies across Asia in leading and implementing a range of sustainability programs and initiatives.
In 2016, Helen led the development and launch of a new program, Optus Future Makers–a social innovation Accelerator and Grants program to support social purpose organisations who are leveraging technology to address societal challenges and support disadvantaged communities. The program has since extended to Asia with the Singtel Group of companies.
Susan Mizrahi, Chair, LBG Steering Group, Chief Sustainability Officer, Australia Post & Conference MC
Susan Mizrahi is a senior sustainability strategist and has almost 20 years’ experience working in Asia, Europe, North America, as well as domestically, on international, business and human rights issues. Susan is committed to leading positive, systemic change on social and environmental issues and has achieved this through working collaboratively across and within the private, public and not-for-profit sectors.
Susan has particular expertise in business human rights obligations, sustainable supply chains, forced and child labour, and the China-Tibet issue. She is skilled in strategy, communications, public policy and advocacy, and is actively committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Global Compact principles. Susan holds a Master of International Relations and Asian Politics (UoQ) and a Master of Management (UoM). She was appointed Chair of the London Benchmarking Group (A&NZ) in April 2017.
Professor Kristy Muir, CEO, Centre for Social Impact; elected member of UNSW Sydney’s Council, Chair of Allan & Gill Gray Philanthropy Australasia; NED, ARACY
Professor Kristy Muir is the CEO of the Centre for Social Impact (CSI) and a Professor of Social Policy at UNSW Sydney Business School. She is an elected member of UNSW Sydney’s Council, Chair of Allan & Gill Gray Philanthropy Australasia, a Director of ARACY, and member of the NSW Premier’s Council on Homelessness.
Kristy has worked for almost three decades with for-purpose organisations. She is driven to help understand and find solutions to complex social problems and measure whether and where they are making a difference. She has partnered with dozens of not-for-profit, corporate and philanthropic organisations, and government departments on more than 70 projects to help increase social impact. Her research and capacity building projects have attracted almost $16m. She teaches non-executive directors, facilitates strategic workshops, gives invited keynotes and has published widely in academic journals and popular media.
Kristy was formerly CSI’s Research Director, the Associate Dean (Research) for the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and the Director of the Disability Studies and Research Centre at UNSW Sydney. She has a PhD in social history, is a graduate of the AICD and previously worked in the not-for-profit sector.
Sara Parrott, Head of Corporate Responsibility, Suncorp Group
As a corporate affairs professional, Sara has more than twenty years’ experience in corporate responsibility, stakeholder relations, communication and marketing, with both corporate and community organisations, holding staff and board positions.
As head of Suncorp Group’s corporate responsibility function, Sara is leading the development of environmental and social responsibility strategy group-wide.
Previously, Sara worked for resources giant Xstrata, global investment firm Babcock & Brown and accounting firm Ernst & Young, leading the implementation of sustainability policy, social impact management, stakeholder engagement and community investment at regional, national and global levels.
Sara has held executive and management roles in advocacy, communications and marketing in the community sector with Australia’s largest social enterprise and childcare provider Goodstart Early Learning, international development agency TEAR Australia and the human services agency Uniting Church Queensland.
Sara is on the Board of Climate KIC Australia, the National Steering Group of LBG Australia New Zealand and the Queensland Steering Committee of the Social Impact Measurement Network Australia.
Sara volunteers her professional skills in Australia and overseas to support international relief and development agencies. She is a proud alumni of QUT, and holds Bachelor of Business-Management and a Master of Business-Marketing.
Kylie Porter, Executive Director, Global Compact Network Australia
Kylie Porter is the Executive Director of the Global Compact Network Australia (GCNA). Kylie is a sustainability expert with over 15 years of experience in corporate affairs, sustainability and strategy roles across a broad range of industries, including the financial services sector in Australia, the UK and Singapore. Kylie’s expertise is in responsible business and corporate responsibility practices and strategies and managing reputation risk associated with environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. Kylie also has experience in developing and implementing policies across thematic areas such as climate change, human rights, child rights and industries such as mining and metals, oil and gas and forestry.
Before joining the GCNA, Kylie was the Stakeholder Engagement Manager for Corporate Responsibility at National Australia Bank (NAB) where she held responsibility for internal and external engagement on NAB’s corporate responsibility strategy and management of reputation risk issues; and immediately prior she worked on NAB’s Corporate Affairs team for the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Financial Services Industry where she held responsibility for engagement with consumer advocates.
Kylie holds a Bachelor of Business, Bachelor of Arts and a Master’s degree in Social Science majoring in International Development. She was a director of the Council for Single Mothers and their Children from 2017 to 2019, and an advisory committee member for the Australian National Contact Point.
Gemma Rapson, Social Investment Manager, Woodside
As Woodside’s Social Investment Manager, Gemma is responsible for designing and implementing Woodside’s social contribution strategy both in Western Australia and international communities of interest.
Gemma has held several Corporate Affairs roles across operations and developments in her 9 years at Woodside. Her experience extends across one of Australia’s largest oil and gas resource developments the North West Shelf Project and it’s marketing and shipping agencies.
Before joining Woodside she had a work history in the hard rock mining and construction industries with extensive experience in community and stakeholder engagement, specifically the remote Pilbara and Kimberly regions in Western Australia and the diverse community of East London for the London 2010 Olympic Games.
She holds a Bachelor of Business with a Double Major in Marketing and Indonesian from the University of Notre Dame Australia. Gemma is Chair of the Corporate Volunteer Council in WA and also represents the Corporate sector on the State Ministers Volunteer Community Reference Group.
Simon Robinson, LBG Director, Corporate Citizenship
Simon is a specialist in the measurement and benchmarking of corporate community investments and impact assessment using the LBG methodology. Simon has been a CSR professional, and accredited partnership broker, connecting business and communities, since the early 1990s. He has held a range of senior positions including Deputy Regional Director for Business in the Community (UK), GM for Corporate Responsibility at Sensis and was the inaugural CEO of Melbourne / Australia Cares. Simon has been the Director of Corporate Citizenship since 2016 and leading the facilitation of LBG n Australia and New Zealand since 2009.
In 2014, Simon was named one of the 25 most influential people in the social sector as voted by peers in the sector
Jennifer Saunders, Associate Director, Corporate Citizenship
Jennifer has worked with design and manufacturing multinationals for over 15 years to develop and optimise their business processes both across functional areas and within departments. She has also worked across continents with clients around benchmarking CSR data, DJSI and GRI based sustainability reporting.
Before joining Corporate Citizenship, Jen was a business development and process improvement consultant at CSRHub in Seattle, Washington, USA. She is a chemical engineer, with a postgraduate diploma in management, having had a corporate career working in logistics, engineering design, supply chain management, manufacturing and sustainability reporting.
Jen’s relationships have included Owens Illinois, The Woodbridge Group, General Motors, Ford Australia, Toyota Australia and University of Washington – Milgard School of Business. She continues to research in the area of CSR and remains committed to sharing those results.
Louisa Scott, Sustainability Coordinator, Mirvac
Louisa is passionate about building more efficient, environmentally friendly urban environments. She joined Mirvac in 2016 and works at the Group Sustainability level, embedding sustainable practices into the way Mirvac delivers its vision to Reimagine Urban Life. She has a Masters of Sustainability and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications (Media Arts and Production).