Subscribe

ESG transparency crucial for biz: Elliott

Large organisations like ANZ have a responsibility to be transparent with stakeholders about their social and environmental impacts, CEO Shayne Elliott says.

" We can use the way we go about our business to have positive impacts on the community."
Shayne Elliott, ANZ CEO

Speaking as the bank released its half-year Corporate Sustainability update, Elliott told BlueNotes on video he was pleased with the report but said ANZ was committed to doing even better.

“We can go about our business and not be thoughtful about the impacts we have,” he said. “Or we can use the way we go about our business to have positive impacts on the community. That’s the way we think at ANZ.”

The update details how ANZ is tracking against the sustainability targets it set at the end of 2016. Highlights from the update include $A5 billion funded and facilitated in low-carbon and sustainable projects and around 500,000 people reached through its financial inclusion programs.

ESG transparency crucial for biz: Elliott (Part 1)

Elliott acknowledged the need to report transparently on the bank’s social and environmental impact, telling Bluenotes the sustainability report is “equally as important as our profit and loss report”.

The update follows the May release of the bank’s half-year results where it announced a $A3.4 billion cash profit.

“We have multiple stakeholders … including employees, shareholders and the communities in which we operate … and it’s about getting those balances right,” Elliott said. “The reality is a thriving bank, a safe and respected bank, is good for all of our stakeholders.”

ESG transparency crucial for biz: Elliott (Part 2)

“The fact that we take sustainability seriously - it’s important to our people - means I know we can do better and we’ll strive to raise the standards over time”.

Watch the videos above to find out more.

Andrew Cornell is managing editor at BlueNotes

The views and opinions expressed in this communication are those of the author and may not necessarily state or reflect those of ANZ.

editor's picks

10 May 2017

Beyond Good and Evil: AI and market forces

Andrew Cornell | Past Managing Editor, bluenotes

The artificial brain is growing but no matter how smart it becomes its power will depend on mere mortals and market forces.

10 May 2017

Australian Commonwealth Budget 2017-18

bluenotes contributors |

Australia's Commonwealth Budget has been unveiled, with a focus on security, fairness and opportunity.

01 May 2017

Australia’s changing investment orientation

Greg Earl | Writer, editor and consultant

Australian investors had a little-appreciated coming-out party just over a year ago when they decided for the first time to put more of their money into South East Asia than New Zealand.