Diesel is up 104%. Petrol is up 37%. Freight costs are surging. And even if the conflict ended today, costs won't normalise for a year or more.
For many NZ businesses, this isn't a future risk - it's already hitting margins, cash flow, and day-to-day operations.
Join us on Wednesday, 20 May, 12-1pm, for a practical session on how to respond quickly and confidently. We'll set the scene on what's happening across NZ businesses right now and how different organisations are responding - then shift focus to what you can actually do in the next 30-90 days, with time at the end for your questions.
Many of the most effective actions you can take right now to reduce costs are also the ones that build long-term resilience – particularly around energy, fuel, local sourcing, and operational efficiency.
What you'll get from this session
- A clear picture of how the fuel shock is impacting NZ businesses right now
- Practical actions you can take immediately to reduce pressure on margins and cash flow
- Real insights from SMEs and larger organisations on what's working in practice
- A clearer sense of where to focus over the next 90 days
Who this is for
NZ business owners and leaders who are:
- Already feeling the impact of rising fuel, freight, and operating costs
- Looking for practical actions they can take now
- Wanting to build a more resilient business in an uncertain environment
Speakers
Caroline Thalund
Caroline Thalund is a business sustainability expert with over 25 years’ experience helping organisations turn strategy into practical action. As the founder and CEO of Sustainability 360, she focuses on helping businesses prioritise what to do next - including where sustainability can support cost reduction, risk management, and long-term resilience.
Through her work across sectors, including finance, tech, aviation, tourism, construction, and manufacturing, Caroline has seen firsthand how businesses respond under pressure and where practical changes can make a measurable difference quickly. She has also developed AI assistants and tools to help organisations navigate evolving ESG and B Corp requirements, making it easier to move from complexity to clear, actionable steps. Her platform, S360, helps organisations turn goals into practical actions, track progress, streamline reporting, get the whole organisation engaged and embed sustainability into day-to-day decision-making.
Rachel Brown - CEO, Sustainable Business Network
The founder and CEO of the Sustainable Business Network (SBN), Rachel has played a critical role in advancing sustainability for more than 20 years. She is a regular presenter, collaborator and driver of action within NZ business. She provides strategic sustainability advice to countless businesses, ranging from large corporates to small enterprises, as well as government agencies. She sits on the Board of Mindful Money. In 2018 she was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit for years of service to sustainable business.
Christopher Burman - Network Engagement Manager & Electrification Lead, Sustainable Business Network
Christopher leads SBN’s Electrify Business initiative, a project dedicated to helping New Zealand organisations switch to clean electricity. With over two decades of experience in the energy and environmental sectors, including an extensive background in the solar industry with SolarZero, Christopher brings technical and commercial insight into how businesses can transition to resilient, low-carbon power.
A dual citizen of Canada and Luxembourg, Christopher’s international perspective is grounded in a 2012 sailing expedition to the Arctic Circle, which solidified his commitment to practical climate action. Today, he helps SMEs and large enterprises implement electrification and solar strategies that protect margins, improve cash flow and build long-term operational resilience.
Jay Crangle - Director of Programmes, Sustainable Business Council
Jay Crangle is a purpose-driven sustainability leader with a strong foundation in relationship management, communications, and ESG strategy. Currently serving as Head of ESG at the Sustainable Business Council (SBC), Jay works alongside the CEO to lead cross-sector collaborations, engage the Executive community, and grow strategic partnerships. She leads SBC’s social sustainability work programme, guiding businesses through the evolving landscape of disclosure and championing best-practice approaches that embed equity into business strategy.
Jay’s career spans impactful roles in the UK and Aotearoa, many with a focus on social equality, including programme leadership at Cancer Research UK, strategic partnerships at the Council for Disabled Children, and communications at youth justice charity Catch-22. Jay has also contributed to global initiatives such as the World Business Council for Sustainable Development Global Network Initiative, the Inner Development Goals movement and as a contributing writer for Letters to the Earth, a global writing campaign focused on the climate crisis.
Tickets
This session is offered on a koha (pay what you can) basis. This helps keep the session accessible while supporting the time and effort involved in organising and delivering practical sessions like this by S360.