I'm honoured to have been featured alongside leading Australian business experts in Dynamic Business's "Let's Talk: How to Develop a CSR Strategy" article.
The piece brings together insights from nine industry leaders on building Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategies that drive real impact, not just tick compliance boxes.
What I Shared: The Triple C Framework
In the article, I outlined the Triple C Framework for Sustainable Strategy, the foundation of my approach to helping businesses embed sustainability into their operations.
The framework breaks down into three essential pillars:
1. Confidence
Build capability and understanding across your organisation.
Before you can execute a sustainability strategy, your team needs to understand:
- What ESG and CSR actually mean for your business
- Why it matters commercially (not just ethically)
- What your stakeholders expect
- Where the risks and opportunities lie
Confidence comes from:
- Board and executive education
- Materiality assessments that identify what matters most
- Clear, plain-English communication
- Access to expertise (internal or fractional)
Without confidence, initiatives stall. With it, momentum builds.
2. Commitment
Secure leadership buy-in and align sustainability with business value.
Sustainability fails when it's treated as a side project or marketing exercise. It succeeds when it's a strategic priority with visible leadership support.
Commitment requires:
- Board oversight and accountability
- Executive sponsorship
- Integration into business planning and KPIs
- Resource allocation (budget, people, time)
- Clear communication that this is a business priority, not a "nice to have"
Commitment signals to employees, customers, investors, and suppliers that you're serious.
3. Consistency
Embed sustainability into operations, culture, and decision-making.
The hardest part isn't starting, it's sustaining. Consistency means making ESG part of how you operate, not a separate initiative.
Consistency looks like:
- Clear ownership and accountability at every level
- Regular reporting and progress tracking
- Integration into procurement, HR, finance, operations
- Continuous improvement, not one-off projects
- Governance frameworks that ensure resilience
Consistency turns strategy into culture.
Why the Triple C Framework Works
This framework is designed for practical implementation, not just theoretical planning.
It's built on 20+ years of experience helping businesses, from family-owned SMEs to billion-dollar multinationals, embed sustainability in ways that stick.
The framework works because:
- It's sequential, each pillar builds on the last
- It's commercial, focused on business value, not just compliance
- It's scalable, applies to businesses of any size or sector
- It's board-ready, speaks the language of decision-makers
- It's actionable, provides clear steps, not vague aspirations
Whether you're a 50-person manufacturer or a 5,000-person services firm, the Triple C Framework provides a roadmap.
Other Expert Insights from the Article
The Dynamic Business article features perspectives from eight other leaders across diverse sectors. Here are some key themes:
Jennifer McKennariey (Australian Workforce Compliance Council)
Emphasises compliance, ethical practices, employee welfare, diversity, and governance as foundational to CSR.
Sharon Melamed (Matchboard)
Highlights the "internal" (culture, values) and "external" (initiatives, partnerships) components of CSR.
Martin Creighan (Commvault)
Stresses alignment with business objectives, regulatory frameworks, and stakeholder landscapes.
Ali Lawes (Australasian Waste & Recycling Expo)
Provides practical steps for waste and recycling initiatives, including audits and green teams.
Pamela Jabbour (Total Image Group)
Outlines a five-pillar approach and the journey toward B Corp certification.
The common threads: authenticity, alignment with values, stakeholder engagement, measurement, and integration into core operations.
Why CSR Matters More Than Ever
As I noted in the article, businesses face increasing scrutiny from:
- Consumers who expect ethical and sustainable practices
- Investors who assess ESG risks and opportunities
- Regulators introducing climate disclosure and modern slavery requirements
- Employees who want to work for organisations that reflect their values
- Suppliers and partners who prioritise ESG alignment
CSR is no longer optional. It's a business imperative.
The organisations that get ahead of this shift aren't just managing risk, they're building competitive advantage, attracting talent, winning tenders, and strengthening stakeholder relationships.
Read the Full Article
The complete Dynamic Business article features all nine expert perspectives and provides a comprehensive view of CSR strategy development across sectors.
Read the full article on Dynamic BusinessGet the Book
The Triple C Framework is explored in depth in my book, How to Build Sustainability into Your Business Strategy.
The book provides practical, board-ready guidance for leaders who want to embed sustainability in ways that drive commercial value and long-term resilience.
How ESG Strategy Can Help
If you're ready to develop or strengthen your CSR strategy, here's how we can support you:
Fractional CSO Services
Senior ESG leadership embedded in your organisation. Typical engagement: 6–12 months. Pricing: $8k–$15k/month.
ESG Strategy Development
Comprehensive strategy including materiality assessment, target-setting, governance frameworks, and implementation roadmaps.
Board Education
Upskill directors on ESG risks, opportunities, and governance best practices (ASRS, Modern Slavery, TCFD).
ESGenius Benchmarking
See where you stand compared to peers. Comprehensive report with gap analysis. $2,500.