Projects

Building on our existing relationship, the Global Compact Network Australia (GCNA) engaged Think Impact to develop two guides to support Australian businesses, their leaders and employees, to better understand and take action to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Titled 'Every Australian's Business', the guides provide practical insights from Australian companies leading in their commitments and actions to sustainable business, demonstrating the power of the SDGs to unlock business opportunities and drive sustainable innovation that benefits people and the planet.

Stakeholder engagement

Drawing on our deep knowledge of sustainability and impact management, Think Impact led a series of stakeholder engagement workshops to gain insight into the challenges and best sustainability practices from a broad cross section of Australian companies including Australia Post, Brambles, IMPACT 2030, Lendlease, Officeworks, Optus, Melbourne Water, SA Water, Transurban, Treasury Wine Estates and Yarra Valley Water.

Our team then conducted a series of in-depth interviews with senior leaders and employees from Lendlease, Officeworks and Yarra Valley Water to capture practical examples and advice on meeting the challenge of sustainable action in the workplace. Interviews were developed into case studies and included in the guides to provide other businesses with inspiring and relatable examples of Australia companies leading the way with how they integrate and take action on achieving the SDGs.

Research, Communications and Design

Using our research and communications expertise, Think Impact authored the two guides, drawing on our knowledge of tools including Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards, International Integrated Reporting (IR) Framework, Social Return on Investment (SROI), Materiality Assessment and Sustainability Assurance and Reporting. Our research drew on a range of SDG related tools and initiatives from the United National Global Compact, including SDG Compass while ensuring wherever possible, resources reference examples that were relatable for Australian businesses.

Our work included leading on the content curation and visual design of the guides, working closely with a graphic designer to bring the guides to life.

View and download a copy of the guides here:

• Senior leaders guide
• Employees guide

About the Sustainable Development Goals

The SDGs outline 17 universal global goals that set a path to 2030 to end extreme poverty, fight inequality and injustice and protect the planet. The SDGs are a common guide and language to support and unite local and global sustainable development efforts to address the world’s social inequalities and environmental challenges and provide a road map for collective action for an inclusive and sustainable world. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was agreed by 193 Member States at The United Nations Sustainable Development Summit in New York in September 2015, including Australia, and culminated in the 17 clear goals to reach by 2030. The Goals apply equally to Australia and Australians as they do internationally.

'All of the SDGs require collective action - the task ahead of us is complex and ambitious: it cannot be the sole responsibility of any one single player. Government, business, academia and communities all have a role to play and collaboration is key' – Christine Holgate, Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Australia Post Ltd

About the Global Compact Network Australia (GCNA)

Grounded in promoting responsible business practices, the Global Compact Network Australia (GCNA) is the Australian business-led initiative of the UN Global Compact. We work alongside leading companies and guide businesses on how uniting profit and responsibility can be at the core of their business by advancing the Ten Principles and ensuring that contribution to social and environmental investment drives long-term business success.