Overview (PRINZ event - Public Relations Institute of New Zealand)
Communications professionals play a complex and crucial role when it comes to sustainability communication. As sustainability has become a core factor in business strategy, Navigating Sustainability Communications is designed to equip communications practitioners with the knowledge, tools, and strategic insights needed to lead and support sustainability initiatives within their organisations.
Across three interactive sessions, participants will explore the evolving landscape of sustainability communications, from foundational concepts and regulatory requirements to brand strategy and stakeholder engagement.
Session 1: The role of the communications professional in sustainability communications
- Key terminology and concepts
- How to identify greenwashing
- how to approach the concept of sustainability in their organisations
Session 2: Sustainability reporting and the regulatory landscape
- Trends in sustainability reporting – now and in the future
- Navigating reporting types – sustainability, climate transition, impact
- Making the most of regulatory compliance
Session 3: Amplifying your sustainable brand
- The importance of authentic brand building
- How to impact consumers, investors and employees
- Developing a communications strategy and plan
- Managing reputational risks
Presenter: Suzy Giles
Suzy is a sustainability communications specialist with more than 20 years of experience in corporate communications and marketing. Her most recent role was as an Associate Partner with ERM, the world’s largest sustainability consultancy, where she led a team of ESG communications professionals helping organisations to communicate their sustainability strategy. Suzy’s career has spanned both in-house leadership roles as well as consultancy, across EMEA, APAC and The Americas.
A long-time accredited member of the Chartered Institute of PR (CIPR), Suzy has served as a judge for the CIPR Excellence Awards, the CIPR Education Journalist of the Year Awards and the International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO) Global awards.
Passionate about the value of continuing professional development, Suzy has continued to ensure her skills remain relevant throughout her career, including completing the CIPR Diploma in PR, the AMEC Certificate in Communications Measurement, the Prosci Change Management qualification and most recently, an ESG Finance course with Oxford University.
Suzy leads a group of industry professionals in ESG Communications as Chair of the CIPR ESG expert panel. Suzy is also a member of the UNDP’s Climate Communications Task Force, which has won multiple awards for its weatherkids.org campaign.
Suzy moved to Nelson, New Zealand in 2024, following 9 years working in The Netherlands, and is now a proud member of PRINZ and the chief examiner for the PRINZ Accreditation in Public Relations programme.