Many organisations are developing environmental reporting practices and there is certainly more discussion nowadays about the role of business in environmental protection than there was a decade ago. But is an effective approach more than simply “reporting” on targets? Some people are calling for accountability, which generally means a deeper level of care and commitment than some companies have experienced in the past. How can organisations and employees approach the challenges of sustainability in ways that touch people deeply, foster real change and also contribute to the enterprise’s success?
Asking some of these questions herself, Wendy Sarkissian closed her highly successful consultant firm in 1991 to pursue a full-time doctorate in environmental ethics. She emerged – five years later – with an even stronger commitment to environmental justice, a much deeper understanding of the forces that shape environmental decision-making and the roles that business, government and the professions and organisations can play in environmental protection. She has been instrumental in opening up a debate within the planning profession in Australia and overseas about the importance of “caring for Nature”.
Dr Sarkissian’s journey required her to interrogate her own values and professional practice. A year living alone in rough conditions in the tropical Northern Territory challenged and anchored her commitment. Choosing to bring her new insights back to her consulting business, she has infused her work with a passion for clear-sighted acceptance of environmental problems and a search for innovative solutions. She brings these hard-earned lessons and heartfelt stories to her participatory workshops, training and keynote presentations. |
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