The Rise of the Chief Sustainability Officer

More Chief Sustainability Officers were appointed in 2021 and 2022 than in the previous 10 years combined. We are firmly in the era of the sustainability function. Who's getting these jobs? What challenges do they face? How will the role evolve?

Underpinned by research from Hedley May, we heard from leading experts - Harry Friend (Hedley May), Illana Adamson (Be Better Sustainability), Rob Colmer (Aston Martin) and Jaclyn Kaminski (VP Sustainability) on how to get the best out of a sustainability function. Topics covered included:

• the range of approaches and strategies that have emerged,

• how to make a sustainability function really deliver,

• how we can ensure the mistakes of the past 15 years by many risk and compliance functions are not repeated; and,

• how to ensure the sustainability function has the right expertise, support and resources.

With the right objectives, a thoughtful approach to how to build and support the sustainability function, and sustainability leadership with a broad range of technical and 'soft' skills we can build resilient organisations fit for a net zero, biodiversity and people positive future.