Consider the following when rating your organisation:

Clearly articulated and compelling vision and purpose
– The vision and purpose are articulated in a simple, memorable statement that resonates with all stakeholders.

Strategic Alignment:
– The vision aligns with core values and long-term objectives, guiding decision-making and resource allocation.

Consistent Communication:
– The message is consistently conveyed across all platforms and embedded in the organisational culture.

Consider the following when rating your organisation:

Our vision and purpose create shared value
– The vision and purpose explicitly combine economic success with social and environmental impact, addressing real community needs.
– The company drives innovation that addresses societal challenges and commits to long-term strategies, reinforcing both competitive advantage and community benefit.

*Shared value refers to a business strategy where an organisation creates economic value in a way that also generates social or environmental benefits. It goes beyond corporate social responsibility (CSR) or philanthropy by integrating social impact into the core business model, making it both sustainable and profitable.

Examples of this in relation to vision and purpose:

– Vision: An organisation’s vision describes its long-term aspirations—what it aims to achieve in the world. If an organisation embraces shared value, its vision will likely include both financial success and a meaningful contribution to society.

– Purpose: An organisation’s purpose defines why it exists beyond making a profit. Organisations that embrace shared value often have a purpose centred around solving social, environmental, or economic challenges while maintaining a strong business model.

(e.g. Nestlé’s Creating Shared Value Strategy: Nestlé integrates shared value by improving nutrition, rural development, and water sustainability—strengthening their supply chain while benefiting communities.)

Consider the following when rating your organisation:

We have these in place:

1. Strategic Oversight & Accountability
– Governance aligned with the organisation’s purpose and stakeholder expectations
– Board and/or leadership balances short-term performance with long-term sustainability
– Clear accountability for both board and executives

2. Ethical Leadership & Decision-Making
– Decisions made with integrity and transparency
– Well-defined code of conduct actively enforced
– Whistleblower protections ensure safe reporting of misconduct

3. Strong Board/Advisor Composition & Effectiveness
– Diverse, skilled and independent members drive decision-making
– Regular evaluations maintain objectivity and performance

4. Solid Risk Management & Compliance
– Robust framework to identify, assess, and mitigate risks
– Full adherence to legal, ethical, and financial reporting standards
– Crisis management and business continuity plans in place

5. Stakeholder Engagement & Sustainability
– Inclusive governance that values employees, customers, investors, and communities
– ESG factors and social responsibility integrated into decision-making

6. Transparency & Reporting
– Open, regular and accessible communication with stakeholders
– Accurate financial disclosures and independent audits
– Clear metrics track both financial and non-financial performance

Alignment to the ISO ESG Principles and KPIs:

KPI 2: Annual number of cases involving bribery/corruption-related penalties or dismissal.
KPI 3: Annual number of violations of local environmental regulations, permits and legal requirements.
KPI 4: Ethics policy violation rate: Annual percentage of personnel found in violation of the organisation’s code of conduct.
KPI 6: Total recordable occupational injury and illness rate.
KPI 8: Percentage of annual income spent on fines, penalties, compensation and damages resulting from violation of applicable laws and regulations.

Consider the following when rating your organisation:

We have this in place:

1. A Clear Strategy: A one-page plan that supports the vision and purpose.

2. Evidence-Based Approach: Objectives driven by market research, stakeholder insights and industry trends; uses performance metrics and scenario planning to address real challenges.

3. Our Strategy is Structured & Aligned: SMART objectives and prioritised actions that align with the organisation’s mission and governance.

4. We Highly Value Stakeholder Buy-In: Developed inclusively with clear, accessible communication, leadership advocacy and targeted training.

5. Sustainability Commitment: Our strategy embeds ESG practices with clear social, economic, and environmental impact goals.

Consider the following when rating your organisation:

We have this in place:

1. A Strategic Approach to Implementation & Execution:
– Actionable roadmap with clear roles
– Integrated and embedded across teams
– Aligned resources: Budgeting, workforce planning, and partnerships are structured to support strategic priorities
– Ongoing Monitoring & Adaptation: Regular review, learning, and course correction

2. Measurable Outcomes & Accountability:
– Defined KPIs and success indicators
– Transparent, regular reporting
– Leadership oversight and stakeholder feedback

3. 80% Strategy Achievement:
– Consistent attainment of 80% or higher against operational plans

Consider the following when rating your organisation:

We have in place:

1. Strong Cash Flow Management:
– Maintain positive operating cash flow
– Keep 3–6 months’ cash reserves
– Ensure timely invoicing and debt management

2. Sustainable Revenue Model:
– Achieve healthy profit margins
– Diversified revenue sources
– Regularly review costs

3. Strategic Budgeting & Forecasting:
– Use data-driven, realistic financial projections
– Plan for contingencies with scenario planning
– Monitor budgets frequently

4. Financial Governance & Compliance:
– Provide transparent, timely financial reporting
– Implement robust risk management
– Comply with tax, legal and financial standards

5. Economic Contribution:
We understand and celebrate our economic contribution to the community/sector in which we operate – job growth, education, entrepreneurship, supply chain success, etc. (These may also be aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.)

Consider the following when rating your organisation:

Our brand has:

1. Clarity & Differentiation:
– Simple, clear, and unique messaging
– Consistent across all touchpoints

2. Relevance & Customer-Centricity:
– Addresses real customer needs
– Emotionally engaging and purpose-driven

3. Authenticity & Deliverability:
– Backed by consistent actions
– Embraced internally and trusted externally

4. Inspiration & Future Orientation:
– Forward-thinking and motivates action
– Scalable and adaptable as the brand evolves

Consider the following when rating your organisation:

We have in place:

1. Clear Value & Relevance:
– Deep understanding of stakeholder needs
– Tangible, tailored benefits
– Personalised content and interactions

2. Authentic Two-Way Communication:
– Active listening and feedback loops
– Transparent, consistent messaging
– Interactive channels (workshops, Q&A, social media)

3. Proven Engagement Metrics:
– Measurable indicators like high NPS, survey scores, and participation rates
– Data demonstrating sustained and positive stakeholder interaction

4. Co-Design Approach:
Customers/stakeholders are involved in the design of products and services.

Consider the following when rating your organisation:

We have in place:

1. Proactive Risk & Opportunity Mapping:
– Comprehensive risk framework to identify and manage key internal/external risks and opportunities
– Evaluate trends and strategic openings
– Use scenario planning to anticipate challenges

2. Resilient Decision-Making & Adaptive Strategies:
– Make agile, data-driven decisions
– Embed risk management into leadership discussions
– Balance risk tolerance with strategic goals
– Continuity plan

3. Strong Controls, Culture & Continuous Improvement:
– Implement robust internal controls and compliance
– Engage stakeholders for diverse input
– Continuously review and refine risk strategies

Alignment to the ISO ESG Principles and KPIs:

KPI 9: Percentage of assets and business activities covered under the organisation’s business continuity plan.

Consider the following when rating your organisation:

We have the following in place:

1. Continuous Learning & Experimentation Culture:
– Empowers creative thinking and testing new ideas
– Embraces smart risks and learning from failure
– Invests in R&D and upskilling

2. Structured Innovation & Agile Decision-Making Approach:
– Innovation is systematic, not ad-hoc
– Clear processes for identifying and scaling ideas
– Adaptive leadership that pivots based on insights
– Cross-functional collaboration

3. Stakeholder-Centric & Future-Focused:
– Innovations driven by stakeholder insights
– Leverages emerging trends and technologies
– Measures and rewards impactful innovation

4. Effective Use of AI:
– Integrates AI to reduce costs, accelerate innovation, and improve customer satisfaction

Consider the following when rating your organisation:

Our systems are:

1. Efficient & Scalable:
– Optimised processes boost productivity
– Scalable systems support growth
– Technology and automation drive data-based decisions

2. Have Strategic Alignment & are Flexible:
– Processes align with long-term goals
– Adapt quickly to market shifts
– Regular reviews ensure continuous improvement

3. Are User-Centric & Stakeholder-Focused:
– Enhance customer/stakeholder experience
– Promote cross-functional collaboration
– Use real-time analytics for strategic insights

Consider the following when rating your organisation:

We have the following in place:

1. Robust Security & Compliance:
– Multi-layered Controls: Uses encryption, MFA, and intrusion detection to secure all access points
– Continuous Audits: Regular vulnerability assessments ensure adherence to the Australian Privacy Principles of the Privacy Act

2. Proactive Threat Detection & Response:
– Real-Time Monitoring: Constant surveillance for unusual activities and breaches
– Incident Response Team: Dedicated team with tested protocols for rapid mitigation

3. Employee Training & Awareness:
– Regular cybersecurity training to empower staff in recognising and preventing threats

Alignment to the ISO ESG Principles and KPIs:

KPI 1: Annual number of reportable/material data breaches of customer privacy.
KPI 10: Percentage of personnel completing physical security awareness training and cybersecurity training.

Consider the following when rating your organisation:

Think about people in the broader context – employees, volunteers, interns, board members, contractors, partners, suppliers etc.

We have in place:

1. High Engagement & Satisfaction Practices and Evidence:
– Frequent, actionable feedback (surveys, forums)
– Low turnover reflects high retention
– High NPS shows strong recommendations

2. Comprehensive Wellbeing Approach for Employees:
– Holistic health initiatives (mental, physical, financial)
– High participation in wellbeing programs
– Work-life balance policies (remote work, flexible schedules)

3. Positive Workplace Culture & Inclusive Leadership:
– Transparent communication and inclusive decision-making
– Regular recognition and clear growth opportunities
– Strengths-based approach ensuring we get the best from our people

Alignment to the ISO ESG Principles and KPIs:

KPI 9: Percentage of personnel participating in interviews or satisfaction surveys about their workplace experiences.

Consider the following when rating your organisation:

This has become one of the most important elements of having a successful business/organisation. Myself (and/or my leader) have the following:

1. A Balanced Work-Life & Self-Care Approach:
– Prioritises regular self-care (exercise, mindfulness, rest)
– Maintains clear work-life boundaries (vacations, disconnecting)

2. Proactive Stress Management & Resilience:
– Demonstrates calm, clear decision-making under pressure
– Remains optimistic and composed in challenges

3. Positive Leadership & External Validation:
– Receives consistent, positive feedback from peers and team
– Inspires through transparency, empathy, and proactive communication

Consider the following when rating your organisation:

Our organisation has the following in place:

1. Embedded Approach to Leadership Development:
– Structured and non-structured approaches to training, mentoring, and coaching to nurture leadership skills.

2. Empowerment & Autonomy:
– Delegation of authority with accountability to foster decisive and confident leadership.

3. Leadership Recognition:
– Regular evaluations, feedback loops, and reward systems to recognise and reinforce outstanding leadership.
– Solid succession plans and development pathways.

Consider the following when rating your organisation:

We have in place:

1. Clear Vision & Communication:
– Ensures teams fully understand the organisation’s goals and strategies.

2. Decision-Making Framework:
– We have a clear and understood decision-making framework that is used across the business.

3. Decentralised Authority & Trust:
– Our teams are empowered with autonomy and accountability, fostering a culture where decisions are encouraged and supported.

4. Access to Resources & Training:
– Provide the necessary tools, data, and ongoing training to build confidence and enable informed decision-making.

5. Celebration Mechanisms:
– Brave decisions are celebrated and rewarded.

Consider the following when rating your organisation:

We have the following:

1. Integrated Diversity Strategy:
– Embed DEI goals into the business plan with clear policies and measurable outcomes.

2. An Inclusive Culture & Leadership:
– Foster an environment where leaders champion inclusivity through training, resource groups, and supportive practices.
– Practices are in place to foster diverse thinking.
– Practices and principles are in place to build a multigenerational workforce and leadership.
– Work practices are inclusive for everyone.

3. Accountability & Performance Metrics:
– Track DEI progress with specific metrics and regular reviews to ensure commitment to equality.

Also consider the KPIs within the new ISO ESG guidelines:

KPI 1: Annual number of work-related incidents of discrimination, hate, and violence.
KPI 2: Gender pay gap.
KPI 4: Percentage of products and services provided meeting accessibility standards.
KPI 6: Percentage of women in senior management.
KPI 7: Average total weeks for paid parental leave.
KPI 8: Percentage of personnel that are representative of diverse groups, including senior management.

Consider the following when rating your organisation:

We have the following in place:

1. Competitive Compensation & Benefits:
– Attract and retain top talent with benchmarked and attractive remuneration packages.

2. Inclusive, Engaging Culture:
– Foster a supportive work environment that values diversity and employee well-being.
– Our team are actively engaged in our social and environmental impact strategies.

3. Role Clarity:
– Roles are clear and understood and aligned to vision and purpose.
– We have effective measures of employee/contractor/partner success and accomplishment, and we celebrate these.

4. Professional Development Opportunities:
– Provide ongoing training, mentorship, and clear career pathways.
– We have clear and documented succession plans across the organisation.
– We have a coaching culture to develop our employees and teams.

5. Positive Feedback & Retention Metrics:
– Demonstrate strong employee engagement and low turnover through regular reviews and measurable performance indicators.

Alignment to the ISO ESG Principles and KPIs:

KPI 5: Annual percentage of personnel that participated in regular performance and career development reviews. (Consider – not an annual review process but an ongoing commitment to development)

Consider the following when rating your organisation:

We have the following in place:

1. Inclusive Leadership & Clear Vision:
– Leaders actively champion diversity, model inclusive behaviour, and set clear expectations for an inclusive culture.

2. Values and Behaviours Defined:
– We have clearly defined values and behaviours aligned to these values (above and below the line).
– Our values are inclusive in nature.
– Our commitment to social and environmental impact is clearly articulated in our values and behaviours.

3. Open Communication & Collaboration:
– Transparent channels and regular feedback loops empower employees to share ideas and feel heard.

4. Equal Opportunity & Diverse Hiring:
– Policies and initiatives promote diversity at every level, ensuring equal access to opportunities.

Consider the following when rating your organisation:

We have strategic partnerships and a partnership framework in place that helps build our business. We have a track record of successful partnerships that have improved our bottom line and increased our reach and impact. These partnerships have been underpinned by:

1. Shared Vision & Strategic Alignment:
– Collaborations are built on a common mission and aligned goals, ensuring all partners work toward the same impact.

2. Complementary Capabilities:
– Partners are selected for their unique strengths and resources, creating synergy and enhancing overall effectiveness.

3. Transparent Communication & Governance:
– Clear communication channels, defined roles, and accountability structures foster trust and smooth collaboration.

4. Measurable Impact & Continuous Improvement:
– Success is tracked with defined metrics, allowing for adjustments and ensuring that collaborative efforts drive scalable impact.

Consider the following when rating your organisation:

Our community and social impact approach is underpinned by the following:

1. Strategic Alignment & Vision:
– We integrate community engagement and social impact into the core business mission and strategy.

2. Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration:
– We have a team-driven approach to community engagement and social impact.
– Foster inclusive partnerships with employees, community members, and other organisations to drive shared impact.

3. Measurable Outcomes & Impact Assessment:
– Define clear KPIs and success metrics to track both social and business outcomes.

4. Transparent Reporting & Continuous Improvement:
– Regularly communicate progress and adjust strategies based on stakeholder feedback and impact data.

Alignment to the ISO ESG Principles and KPIs:

KPI 10: Percentage of annual charitable contributions directed to the local community and regional community.
KPI 11: Hours of personnel time in organisation-led volunteering and/or charitable initiatives as a percentage of total employee hours.

Consider the following when rating your organisation:

We have in place:

1. Clear Sustainability & Social Standards for our Suppliers:
– A robust supplier/partner code of conduct aligned with our social and environmental values (including adherence to our modern slavery statement, if in place).
– Regularly reviewing supply chains and partners’ approach to ethical management and production, including reviewing their modern slavery statement (if there is one in place).

2. Selection & Due Diligence of our Suppliers:
– Incorporate ESG criteria into partner selection and conduct thorough audits and assessments before onboarding.
– Supply chains and partner policies and agreements detail our expectations around environmental management and social impact.
– We have a commitment to and believe in educating our supply chains and partners in good environmental and social practices.
– We have a Modern Slavery statement that is also used to assess our suppliers.

Alignment to the ISO ESG Principles and KPIs:

KPI 8: Percentage of procurement budget spent with sustainable suppliers or those committed to developing sustainable practices over time.
KPI 5: Percentage of third-party relationships that have undergone due diligence checks and are compliant with anti-corruption policies.

Consider the following when rating your organisation:

We have the following in place:

1. Clear Public Commitment:
– We have a written commitment statement/policy, which is publicly available, that is aligned to the positive environmental and social responsibility impact we wish to make in our community.

2. Clarity on What is Important:
– We are clear on what our ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) priorities are (e.g. we have conducted a materiality assessment).
– We understand which ESG priorities are critical to our financial success.
– Our people and stakeholders are actively engaged in the process.

Consider the following when rating your organisation:

Our approach to sustainability is underpinned by the following:

1. Clear Understanding:
– We understand what ‘being sustainable’ means for us (e.g. we are sustainable when our impact on society, the planet, and our economic model is repeatable, forever).

2. Strategic Integration:
– Sustainability is woven into the company’s purpose, vision, and core strategy, or we have a separate sustainability strategy that we work to achieve.
– We have a strategy in place to address the negative environmental and social impacts we make.

3. Operational Embedding:
– Sustainable practices are integrated across operations, from supply chain management to product design.
– We understand from our stakeholders how we are (negatively and positively) impacting the environment and people as we complete a materiality assessment every 2-3 years.

4. Leadership & Culture:
– We have a top-down and bottom-up approach to sustainability. Our Board and executive are committed to leading a sustainable business, and our team is empowered (and enabled) to act (e.g. establishing an ESG committee).

Consider the following when rating your organisation:

Our approach to measuring and tracking our impact is underpinned by the following:

1. Defined Metrics & KPIs:
– We have annual and quarterly environmental and social goals that link to our sustainability strategy.
– Board/leadership regularly reviews progress against our sustainability goals.

2. Established Frameworks:
– We have selected a framework to align our goals to (e.g. UN Sustainable Development Goals, B Corp, ISO ESG Principles, SME Climate Hub, GRI, SBTi or other).
– We utilise a sustainability platform/internal management system to keep track of our efforts (e.g. Brownee).

3. Team and Stakeholder Engagement & Continuous Improvement:
– We have a team-led approach for providing feedback on impact across the organisation.
– We consult with our team and stakeholders on how we can do better.
– Our team members understand how their actions contribute to achieving our sustainability goals (e.g. team member KPIs).

Consider the following when rating your organisation:

Our approach to reporting our impact is underpinned by the following:

1. Set Clear KPIs & Targets:
– Define measurable objectives with baselines and targets for both environmental and social impacts.

2. We Ensure Transparency & Accountability:
– Progress against our goals is reported in our impact reports, annual reports, and website.
– We report against actions taken to achieve these goals.

3. We Engage Stakeholders:
– We incorporate stakeholder feedback.

4. We Comply with Regulatory Requirements:
– We are ready to/currently reporting our climate-related financial disclosures in line with the Australian Sustainability Reporting Standards.

Consider the following when rating your organisation:

Our approach to the management of resources is underpinned by the following:

1. Clear Sustainability Targets:
– We have targets in place to manage/reduce the usage of water and energy.
– We have targets in place to reduce our waste and adopt the 5 R’s approach to waste management: refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle.

2. Effective Monitoring & Reporting:
– We measure and monitor usage of water and energy across our value chain.
– We measure and monitor waste across our value chain.

3. Operational Integration:
– Sustainable practices are embedded in operations, supply chain, and facility management to optimise resource use.
– We utilise renewable energy where possible.

Alignment to the ISO ESG Principles and KPIs:

KPI 1: Percentage of energy consumption from on-site renewables.
KPI 2: Water consumption.
KPI 4: Total waste produced by type (hazardous versus non-hazardous).
KPI 5: Percentage of operational waste diverted from landfill, incineration, etc.
KPI 6: Energy consumption.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse gases (also known as GHGs) are gases in the Earth’s atmosphere that trap heat.

Consider the following when rating your organisation:

We have in place:

Fit for Purpose Tracking of Emissions:
– We utilise a fit-for-purpose system to measure our scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions (e.g. SME Climate Hub, utilising Xero climate calculation apps, carbon footprint agencies, etc.).
– We understand what our scope 1 emissions are and have calculated them (e.g. emissions from our vehicles, on-site use of fuels such as gas, etc.).
– We understand what our scope 2 emissions are and have calculated them (e.g. emissions from purchased electricity, heating, cooling, etc.).
– We understand what our scope 3 emissions are and have plans to/have successfully calculated them (e.g. emissions from business travel, employee commuting, waste disposal, use of sold goods, transportation and distribution, etc.).

Alignment to the ISO ESG Principles and KPIs:

KPI 3: Scope 1, 2, and 3 Greenhouse gas emissions.
KPI 11: Percentage of suppliers adopting science-based Greenhouse gas targets.

Consider the following when rating your organisation:

We have in place:

1. We Understand Our Impact on Biodiversity:
– We have conducted a biodiversity audit to assess the impact of our organisation’s activities on local ecosystems and have identified areas for improvement.

2. We Deploy Biodiversity-Friendly Practices:
– For example: Implement sustainable land use, minimise chemical use, and enhance green spaces to foster local ecosystem health.
– Where possible, we work to actively support conservation projects and create our own green spaces.

3. Community & Employee Engagement:
– We engage with employees and the community to raise awareness about biodiversity and encourage collective action to protect and enhance local ecosystems.
– We recognise the importance of educating our employees about the importance of biodiversity.

4. Local Conservation Partnerships:
– Where possible, we collaborate with community groups and conservation organisations to support habitat restoration and preservation projects.

Alignment to the ISO ESG Principles and KPIs:

KPI 9: Percentage of the organisation’s annual expenditure action plans directed towards improving local biodiversity as a percentage of annual total expenditure.

Consider the following when rating your organisation:

We have in place:

1. Climate Risk Assessments:
– We have conducted a climate risk assessment and understand the potential risks posed by climate change.

2. Strategic Integration:
– Incorporates climate risks into overall business strategy, guiding investments in sustainability and adaptation measures.
– Where appropriate, we invest in improving the resilience of our operations to withstand extreme weather events and other climate-related disruptions.

3. Resilience & Adaptation Measures:
– Implement proactive resilience measures, such as diversifying supply chains and investing in renewable energy, to mitigate climate change impacts.

Alignment to the ISO ESG Principles and KPIs:

KPI 7: Organisation’s annual expenditures directed to climate resilience as a percentage of annual total expenditures.
KPI 10: Percentage of organisation’s buildings registered under voluntary environmental performance schemes.