Advisory Services

The sessions are tailored to meet the specific needs and goals of boards and executives, focusing on enhancing their understanding of sustainability and climate oversight and governance in the context of local and global challenges. We work with management and boards to keep them up-to-date and provide recommendations for improved practices on the following topics:

• Corporate Stewardship
• Sustainability and ESG integration, risk and opportunities management, and oversight
• Dealing with dilemmas, including geopolitical challenges
• AI Oversight
• Supply chain resilience
• Human Capital Management and DEI
• Stakeholder engagement and materiality assessment
• Integrated and systems thinking (assess connected risks and opportunities)
• Climate change and biodiversity
• Enterprise risk management
• Board structure and transition planning

The focus of our typical sessions remains on the synthesized insights from our flagship programs covering 19 core sustainability, climate and biodiversity modules, the latest regulations and trends, and questions to ask for effective board and management oversight.

Format:

Virtual Sessions

• Short Sessions: These can range from 1 to 3 hours and are designed to cover specific topics or provide an introduction to broader themes. Short sessions are ideal for focused discussions or when participants' availability is limited.
• Extended Sessions: For more in-depth exploration of topics, virtual sessions can be extended or divided into multiple parts, each ranging from 1 to 3 hours, spread over several days.

In-Person Sessions

• Half-Day Sessions: Typically lasting about 3 to 4 hours, half-day sessions allow for a deeper dive into subjects with time for interactive discussions, case studies, and group activities. This format is suited for workshops or intensive training that requires participant engagement.
• Full-Day Sessions: These sessions can last from 5 to 6 hours, including breaks. Full-day sessions are comprehensive and allow for extensive coverage of topics, including expert presentations, interactive discussions, breakout sessions, and practical exercises. This format is suitable for in-depth training, strategic planning sessions, or board retreats.

The exact format, including the duration of each session, can be tailored to meet the specific learning objectives, participant engagement levels, and scheduling requirements of the organization.

The two types of assessments include:

a) 5-factors (role, employment, experience, committee, and education) assessment of board members. The 5-factor assessment tool is designed to evaluate the competency of board members in overseeing strategies designed to respond to sustainability-related risks and opportunities. The assessment results can be presented both at an individual level or the overall board level. An optional industry benchmarking report can also be provided, upon request.

b) Knowledge gap assessment on sustainability and ESG topics. This is a questionnaire-based assessment to pinpoint the particular areas where board members and management may need upskilling support. Upon completion of the assessment, an overall status report along with an upskilling journey map will be provided.

You may also opt for a Status Reassessment. This includes a reassessment of the board competency using the 5-factor tool and knowledge gap tool.

This specialized service is a multifaceted approach aimed at optimizing the performance and strategic effectiveness of boards. This comprehensive suite goes beyond mere administrative support, offering a holistic enhancement of board functions through several key components:

• Board Assessment: Through a structured and confidential process, board members receive feedback on their involvement from their peers. The assessments are designed to be constructive, focusing on areas of strength and opportunities for improvement. This process not only enhances individual member contributions but also the overall board composition, board dynamics, and effectiveness.
• Management-Board Alignment Insight: This aspect delves into the strategic alignment between the board and the management team. It evaluates how well the board's vision, goals, and strategic priorities are understood and shared by the management. This insight is crucial for ensuring that both entities are working cohesively towards common objectives, with clear and open communication channels. It identifies gaps in understanding or alignment and offers recommendations for enhancing synergy.
• Future Boardroom Advisor: This service streamlines board excellence by evolving board governance, committee structure and charter, leadership development, and recruitment strategy with a focus on adaptability and ethical leadership. Our core feature, the "Competent Boards Skills Matrix," meticulously maps existing board competencies against future goals, highlighting skill gaps.

The service is tailored to each board's unique context and needs, considering its industry, size, and strategic challenges. It employs a variety of tools and methodologies, including surveys, interviews, and data analysis, to gather comprehensive insights. The outcomes of these assessments are actionable recommendations that can be implemented to enhance board composition, strategy formulation, risk management practices, and internal dynamics.