Our takeaways from our roundtable on ESG Reporting with Dr Maria Burwood CEM MIEA (Strategic Advisor to Boards, Start-ups and Executive Teams), who shared insights on the Australian Sustainability Reporting Standards (ASRS).
ASRS is reshaping strategy, governance and financial oversight
- Maria outlined the key differences between mandatory ASRS disclosures and voluntary ESG reporting, explaining how ASRS integrates climate risk into corporate reporting and assurance frameworks.
Fiduciary responsibilities for directors and finance leaders are becoming clearer
- Materiality, proportionality and strong governance are central to compliance. Boards need evidence of climate literacy, oversight and sound decision-making.
Organisations must prepare for audit and assurance requirements
- Maria reinforced the importance of defensible processes, reliable data and documented governance to meet assurance expectations under ASRS.
Early ASRS preparation is revealing capability and system gaps
- Many organisations do not yet have climate-integrated financial models, clear Scope 3 boundaries or cross-functional alignment, all of which are important to meet investor expectations.
Scenario analysis and transition planning are becoming minimum expectations
- Boards expect at least a draft transition plan. Maria noted that an early version is easier to justify than having nothing prepared.
Supply chain pressure is increasing rapidly
- Even entities that are not required to report will feel the effects as customers, lenders and procurement teams begin requesting ESG data and evidence of climate resilience.
A staged approach is helping organisations build defensible disclosures
- Maria noted that many organisations try to jump straight to reporting, but the real progress happens earlier. Building capability, mapping risks and strengthening governance first helps teams avoid rework and produce ASRS disclosures that can stand up to assurance.
At Moir Group we have excellent candidates that are immediately available to assist with mandatory climate related reporting.
If you need any assistance in your team on a permanent or temporary basis, please let us know at 02 9262 4836 or moirinfo@moirgroup.com.au. We would be delighted to assist.