We're proud to announce that Lee Stewart, founder of ESG Strategy, has been honoured with a 2025 Global Recognition Award for exceptional contribution to sustainability leadership, practical innovation, and thought leadership within the ESG sector.
This award celebrates Lee's pioneering development of the Fractional Chief Sustainability Officer (fCSO) model and the impact of his Amazon bestselling book, How to Build Sustainability into Your Business Strategy. Both have significantly shaped how organisations around the world are rethinking sustainability, not as a compliance burden, but as a core driver of strategy, resilience, and business value.
The Book Shaping ESG Strategy Globally
Published in late 2024, How to Build Sustainability into Your Business Strategy has become one of the most widely used practical ESG guides globally. With over 250 five-star reviews and a consistent 4.8-star rating on Amazon, it has reached executives, educators, consultants, and founders in more than 20 countries.
Why This Book Stands Out
- Clarity without compromise: Simplifies ESG without watering it down
- Real-world relevance: Practical, step-by-step framework for any organisation
- Board-ready insights: Designed for decision-makers, not just sustainability teams
- Proven impact: Used by CEOs, CFOs, and boards to embed sustainability into strategy at any stage
The fCSO Model: Innovation That's Changing the Market
The award also acknowledged the market-leading impact of the fCSO model, a breakthrough in delivering senior-level sustainability expertise virtually.
This innovation has enabled hundreds of businesses across sectors and geographies to access strategic ESG leadership at a fraction of traditional costs, unlocking opportunities for growth, funding, and resilience that were previously out of reach.
Why the fCSO Model Works
- Senior expertise, accessible pricing: Fractional CSO services at $8k–$15k/month (vs. $250k+ full-time hire)
- Board-ready outputs: Strategic, commercially relevant, and decision-useful
- Capability-first approach: Build internal capacity, not dependency
- Proven results: >80% client retention, 40–50% conversion from consultation to engagement
Rigorous Adjudication: The Rasch Measurement Model
The Global Recognition Award was adjudicated using the Rasch measurement model, a rigorous methodology that scores applicants across dimensions such as ethical decision-making, innovation, impact, and leadership.
Lee received top marks for both ethics and service innovation, reflecting the values that underpin ESG Strategy's work.
"Lee Stewart's work exemplifies the intersection of ethical leadership and practical innovation. His contribution to sustainability strategy is both globally significant and commercially grounded."
, Global Recognition Award Judges
What This Award Means for Australian Businesses
At ESG Strategy, we believe that sustainability should be ambitious and achievable. Lee's recognition is a powerful reflection of that mission. It represents not only the impact of his personal leadership, but also the work of a growing community of businesses committed to doing things differently.
How We Help Organisations Like Yours
- Fractional CSO services: Senior ESG leadership on retainer (6–12 months typical)
- ESGenius™ benchmarking: AI-driven ESG maturity reports ($2,500, reviewed by Lee personally)
- Board education: Workshops, briefing packs, and scenario analysis
- Compliance readiness: ASRS, TCFD, Modern Slavery, IFRS S2
- Strategic integration: Embed sustainability into business strategy, not bolt it on
Next Steps: Build Sustainability into Your Strategy
Whether you're facing regulatory pressure, customer demands, or board expectations, ESG Strategy can help you build a practical, commercially relevant sustainability strategy that drives value, not just compliance.
Read the Book
Over 250 five-star reviews, 4.8-star rating
Explore fCSO Services
1-minute overview of our innovative model
Book a Consultation
Discuss your ESG strategy with Lee directly
Try ESGenius™
AI-driven ESG maturity report