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The 50 most influential ESG corporate professionals in Australia named

FS Sustainability 4 mins read

The 50 most influential environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) professionals working at ASX-listed companies have been named by trade publication FS Sustainability in the 2024 ESG Power50 guide.

Running for the second year, the ESG Power50 comprises individuals that hail from diverse industries, each wielding significant influence in their respective spheres.

This year’s Power50 entrants are addressing ESG challenges that need urgent attention. Climate change mitigation remains paramount, with emphasis on renewable energy adoption and carbon neutrality targets.

Furthermore, governance reforms are crucial, ensuring transparency, accountability and ethical conduct across industry. Accordingly these elements were essential in determining the ESG Power50.

“As we strive for a brighter future, the pivotal role of individuals who live and breathe sustainability as a profession cannot be overstated. Their passion, innovation, and collective action drive transformative change,” said Michelle Baltazar, executive director of media at FS Sustainability.

“We were blown away by the diversity of skills, experiences and backgrounds. The ESG Power50 members are from a variety of positions across ASX-listed companies, from the big end of town to the small caps.”

Of the 50 individuals in the ESG Power50, four were representatives of mega cap organisations, 13 were from large caps, 17 from mid caps, five from small caps and 11 were from micro caps.

The 50 professionals on this list work at a variety of companies from financials and fast-moving consumer goods to mining, with the common good of protecting the long-term performances of their companies across a vast range of material ESG issues.

“One of the prevailing themes this year is how consumers can be educated about ‘greenwashing’. There is a heightened awareness against false claims and we see a strong commitment among our Power50 entries towards improved reporting of their sustainable practices,” Baltazar said.

“While there’s still a lot of work to be done across all of these aspects, the road to success is made easier thanks to their concerted efforts.”

The 2024 ESG Power50 members (listed alphabetically by surname) are:

Name

Company

Position

Amarjot Bagga

Head of environmental and social impact

Iress

Amanda Bartley

Sustainability and ESG lead

Medibank

Tomm Ben-David

Head of environmental affairs

National Australia Bank

Anna Bennett

EGM strategy, sustainability and innovation

Elders

Rosemary Bissett

Head of ESG risk management

National Australia Bank

Steve Black

Head of ESG

Insignia Financial

Ricky Bridge

Group general manager environment, sustainability and reporting

Downer Group

Sue Brown

Executive group director sustainability

Worley

Alicia Burgmann

Head of sustainability and ESG

WiseTech Global

Michael Chen

Executive director, head of ESG

Westpac Institutional Bank

Sarah Clarke

Group general manager, sustainability

Mirvac

Yasmina Elshafei

Managing director, global carbon

Commonwealth Bank

Lachlan Feggans

Senior director ESG and sustainability regeneration

Brambles

Steven Ford

Head of sustainability and energy

GPT

Kathryn Franklin

Head of ESG

Qantas

Alison George

Head of impact and ethics

Australian Ethical

Luke Gleeson

Chief sustainability officer

Bellevue Gold

Will Hart

Director, ESG and sustainable investment

E&P Financial Group

Amy Hogan

Head of ESG and sustainability

Transurban

Jack Holden

GM sustainability

Fonterra

Jo Hynes

Manager sustainability

Atlas Arteria

Ramana James

Head of sustainability

Dexus

Siobhan Leach

Group chief sustainability officer

Ramsay Health Care

Hilary Macdonald

General counsel and company secretary

Northern Star Resources

Anna Matysek

Head of climate change

Bluescope

Kirsty McCartney

Director, debt products - sustainable finance

Westpac Institutional Bank

Lee McDougall

Head of group sustainability and climate action

IAG

Maria Helena Meinert

Sustainability director

Cochlear

Karena Milios

Head of sustainability

Elders

Charlotte O'Meara

Senior ESG specialist

Challenger

Michael Parks

Director of sustainability

Treasury Wine Estates

Dean Parsons

Sustainability manager

CHEP Australia

Tom Penny

Head of environment

Telstra

Brooke Pettit

Head of ESG and sustainability

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank

Richard Pittard

Head of sustainability

Cleanaway Waste Management

Blaise Porter

Group director sustainability and corporate responsibility

Sims Limited

Kylie Porter

Group head, sustainability

SunRice

Troy Powell

Head of sustainability

Orica

Kaitlin Priestley

Sustainability manager

Pinnacle Investment Management Group

Fiona Reynolds

Chair of ESG board

Qualitas

Justine Rowe

Chief sustainability officer

Telstra

Michael Tangonan

Legal counsel

AMP

Katharine Tapley

Head of sustainable finance

ANZ

Roslyn Toms

Group executive legal and chief risk officer

nib Group

Siobhan Toohill

Chief sustainability officer

Westpac

Mary Ann van Bodegraven

Director sustainability

Macquarie

James Vesper

Group head of sustainability

Goodman Group

Ben Walker

Head of ESG analytics and advisory

ANZ

Heidi Westlake

Group manager sustainability strategy

Origin Energy

Clair Wilson

ESG manager

Liontown Resources


About us:

 

About FS Sustainability:

FS Sustainability reports on the most important Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues impacting Australian companies and investors regarding how they manage and disclose their ESG risks and opportunities.

The publication also explores how Australian institutional asset owners, asset managers and financial advisers are using best-practice ESG principles to mitigate risk and provide sources of long-term investment returns.

Content is delivered through news, thought leadership articles and whitepapers.

FS Sustainability is part of ISS STOXX’s Market Intelligence (ISS MI) business unit.

www.fssustainability.com.au

 

About ISS Market Intelligence

ISS Market Intelligence (MI) is a leading global provider of data, analytics, insights, media, and events solutions to the global financial services industry.

ISS MI empowers global asset and wealth management firms, insurance companies, distributors, service providers, and technology firms by providing cutting-edge market-engagement platforms and the actionable intelligence necessary to fully assess their target markets, identify and analysze the best opportunities within those markets, and execute on comprehensive go-to-market initiatives to grow their business.

ISS MI clients benefit from our increasingly connected global ecosystem that leverages a combination of proprietary data, powerful software and analytics, timely and relevant insights, in-depth research, as well as an extensive suite of industry leading media brands that deliver unmatched market connectivity through news and editorial content, events, training, ratings, and awards.

www.issmarketintelligence.com


Contact details:

Julian Clarkstone 
P. 02 8234 7514 
E. julian.clarkstone@rainmaker.com.au

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