What is a Fractional CSO and how does it work?

A Fractional Chief Sustainability Officer (fCSO) provides expert ESG leadership that integrates into your team without the full-time hire. ESG Strategy's fCSO service, led by Lee Stewart (Amazon #1 bestselling author, former Head of Sustainability at Fonterra and Fujitsu), includes strategic roadmap development, embedded execution support, and internal capability building. This helps mid-tier businesses ($20M-$500M) meet sustainability requirements. Typical investment is $8-15K/month vs $250k+ for a full-time CSO.

When does mandatory climate reporting start in Australia under ASRS?

Mandatory climate-related financial disclosures under the Australian Sustainability Reporting Standards (ASRS) started from 1 January 2025 for Group 1 (large) entities. Group 2 entities must report from July 2026. Companies need to prepare for Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions reporting, climate risk assessments, and governance frameworks.

How much does ESG consulting cost in Australia?

ESG consulting costs vary depending on the scope, complexity, and provider. A full-time Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) typically costs $250,000+ per year, while senior consultants from the Big Four charge $5,000-$8,000 per day. ESG Strategy's Fractional CSO service is priced at $8,000-$15,000 per month, with direct involvement from Lee Stewart.

What industries does ESG Strategy serve?

ESG Strategy serves mid-tier Australian businesses across logistics and transport, manufacturing, retail, hospitality, property and infrastructure, and professional services. We specialise in companies with $20M-$500M revenue who need expert ESG leadership without the overhead of a full-time sustainability executive.

What is a Fractional CSO?

A Fractional Chief Sustainability Officer (fCSO) is a senior sustainability executive who works with your organisation on a part-time or retained basis. You get board-level ESG leadership, strategic direction, and execution support without the $250,000+ annual cost of a full-time hire. It's ideal for mid-market companies ($10M-$500M revenue) who need expertise but can't justify a full-time role yet.

Is a Fractional CSO only for big companies?

No. It's often most valuable for mid-market organisations that need senior leadership but don't need (or can't justify) a full-time CSO yet. Companies with $10M-$500M revenue facing ESG requirements from customers, lenders, or regulators are the ideal fit.

What's the difference between a Fractional CSO and a full-time CSO?

A full-time CSO costs $250,000+ per year plus benefits and requires a lengthy recruitment process. A Fractional CSO delivers the same strategic leadership at $8,000-$15,000/month, starts immediately, and brings cross-industry experience from multiple clients. Most mid-market companies don't need 40+ hours per week of CSO time, they need the right expertise at the right moments.

Will you do the work, or just advise?

Both. We embed with your team to create the plan, set governance, and drive delivery, while building internal capability so you're not reliant on us long-term.

Do you replace our existing consultants?

Not necessarily. We often work alongside specialists (carbon accounting, climate risk, ESG data). The fCSO role ensures everything is aligned, prioritised, and governed.

How quickly will we see progress?

Within 90 days you should have a clear direction, a board-ready plan, owners, and a cadence. Most clients also identify quick wins early. Our 90-day program delivers governance setup, materiality assessment, and implementation roadmap.

How much does a Fractional CSO cost in Australia?

Typical Fractional CSO retainers in Australia range from $8,000–$15,000 + GST per month depending on scope and complexity. This compares favourably to $250,000+ for a full-time hire or $5,000-$8,000 per day for Big Four consultants. Project-based work is also available for specific deliverables.

Do Australian mid-market companies need a Chief Sustainability Officer?

Many do, especially those facing ASRS climate disclosure requirements, customer ESG questionnaires, modern slavery obligations, or sustainability-linked financing. However, most mid-market companies don't need a full-time CSO. A Fractional CSO provides the expertise to establish strategy, governance, and capability, then transitions to lighter-touch support once foundations are in place.

Fractional Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO)

Senior sustainability leadership embedded in your organisation, without the cost, risk or delay of a full-time executive hire.

Talk to a Fractional CSO ASRS compliance & readiness

Start with an ESGenius assessment

Board-ready ESG leadership for Australian mid-market organisations.

Who this is for

CEOs/Managing Directors of Australian and NZ businesses (typically 100–5,000 staff)
CFO/COO-led organisations where ESG sits across finance, risk, operations, procurement and HR
Teams getting ESG questions from customers, banks, insurers, boards, or tender panels

What a Fractional CSO actually does

A Fractional CSO provides the leadership, governance and decision-making capability organisations need, without relying on fragmented consulting support. A key part of the role is establishing claims governance and accountability to reduce greenwashing exposure.

Strategy & roadmap

ESG and climate strategy aligned to business priorities
Clear sequencing of initiatives and investment

Governance & board support

Board-level accountability and reporting
Support for director oversight and decision-making

Execution & coordination

Translating strategy into action
Coordinating internal teams and external advisers

Capability transfer

Building internal ownership over time
Reducing reliance on external consultants

When Fractional CSO support makes sense

ASRS or climate reporting is becoming mandatory
ESG responsibility is fragmented across teams
The board needs clearer oversight and confidence
You need leadership now, but not a permanent hire
Consulting reports exist, but execution is stalling

How we work

We embed as senior leadership, working alongside executives and boards, with a focus on governance, execution and capability-building.

Embedded, not advisory

We work inside your decision-making cadence, not outside it.

Governance-first

Reporting and disclosures stand up to board and regulator scrutiny.

Capability-building

Our goal is to build internal ownership and reduce reliance on us.

Related services

Directors & Boards

Board governance and ESG oversight

Learn more

ASRS compliance & readiness

Governance and reporting for mandatory climate disclosure

Learn more

ESGenius assessment

Comprehensive ESG maturity diagnostic

Learn more

Greenwashing risk

Claims governance and accountability

Learn more

What you get in the first 90 days

A structured approach that delivers clarity, momentum, and board-ready outputs

Days1–30

Confidence (clarity + risk control)

Goal: Replace "ESG noise" with a clear view of what matters for your business.

You'll receive:

CEO-ready ESG snapshot: what's driving ESG expectations in your market (customers, tenders, finance, workforce, regulation)
Material issues shortlist: the few ESG topics that truly move risk, cost, revenue, and reputation for your sector
Governance set-up: executive sponsor, working group, decision rights, meeting cadence
Data reality check: what you can measure now (and what's missing) across emissions, energy, waste, supply chain and social metrics
Tender response review: immediate audit of your ESG tender questions, what you can claim, what needs work
Greenwash sanity check: quick review of sales and marketing language, what you can and can't say safely

Outcome: You can explain your ESG direction in plain language to your board, customers, and leadership team.

Days31–60

Commitment (priorities + owners)

Goal: Turn intent into a focused plan with accountable owners.

You'll receive:

Plan on a Page (board-ready): priorities, goals, KPIs, owners, milestones and risks, in a clean, executive format
Quick wins pipeline: cost and risk actions you can start immediately (energy, waste, procurement, policy gaps)
Stakeholder map: who you need to satisfy (and what they actually care about)
Capability build plan: what your internal team needs to learn, own, and run
Sales & marketing coaching: working sessions with your teams on ESG messaging, client conversations, and credible claims

Outcome: You have a practical roadmap your team can execute, with clear accountability.

Days61–90

Consistency (cadence + delivery rhythm)

Goal: Build momentum and a repeatable operating rhythm.

You'll receive:

Implementation rhythm: weekly check-ins, monthly working group, quarterly exec/board updates
Reporting approach: what you'll track, how often, and how it will be presented to leadership
Risk and greenwashing guardrails: how you talk about progress safely and credibly
Next 6–12 month roadmap: what to tackle next (and what to park)

Outcome: ESG becomes a managed program, not a side project.

Proof points (results you can expect)

Every business is different, but in year one clients commonly see:

5–15%Energy savingswhere operational levers exist

10–25%Waste disposal savingsthrough improved processes

ProtectedTenders wonthrough credible ESG responses

ReducedRisk exposurevia governance and data discipline

Why ESG Strategy

Senior leadership, not junior delivery

22+ years' ESG experience at multinational scale, with governance credentials (GAICD)

Commercial lens

We connect sustainability to risk, resilience, cost, tenders and reputation

Capability-first

We build your internal leaders from day one

Board-ready outputs

Clear, practical, designed for time-poor decision-makers

What it looks like in your calendar

We respect your time. Here's the typical commitment:

1 hour

Kickoff session

30–45 min

Weekly 1:1s for the first 6–8 weeks

60–75 min

Monthly cross-functional working group

60–90 min

Quarterly executive/board update

*Depending on scope, there may be need for additional workshops which can be delivered in person, online or hybrid.

Investment

Typical retainers range from

$8,000–$15,000

+ GST per month depending on scope and complexity

Project work also available

A Different Approach to ESG Consulting

The Fractional CSO model fills a critical gap in the Australian market. Many mid-market businesses recognise the need for sustainability leadership but cannot justify the $250,000 or more annual cost of a full-time Chief Sustainability Officer. At the same time, traditional project-based consulting often delivers reports that sit on shelves without driving real change.

A Fractional CSO gives you the best of both worlds: senior leadership embedded in your business, building governance and capability that lasts beyond any single engagement. Lee Stewart personally leads every fCSO engagement, bringing over 22 years of corporate sustainability experience from roles at Fonterra and Fujitsu.

The 90-day sprint structure ensures rapid progress without the open-ended timelines that characterise many consulting projects. At the end of 90 days, you will have clarity on what matters, a board-ready plan, accountable owners, and a sustainable rhythm for ongoing execution. Most importantly, your internal team will have developed the skills and knowledge to drive ESG performance independently.