Thank you very much ladies for joining me today. Um As I will be speaking on the rapid evolution of sustainability esgs and data in today's world, which is a result of digital transformation, colliding or meeting with sustainability.Um So just to quickly introduce myself, um this is my third year, speaking at the women tech event. Um One of the best ones that that I go to. Um I am currently working as a partner and senior advisor with strategy and transformation consulting, which is a group of um management consulting companies. I have over 30 years in the tech industry and the last 10 years I've spent with Siemens engineers, sorry Siemens Energy as a global head of it for one of our business um units in which we did a lot of um different types of sustainability or development projects within the energy industry itself.

Um I'm originally from Canada and I have now been living in the um in through Europe for the last 15 years. And as of last year, I had moved over here to the Isle of man which is in the middle of the Irish Sea for those who are not familiar with it. And um and here I sit on the board of directors, promoting and helping to set strategy for the digital market here on the island, which is surprisingly extensive. It generates about a third of the income on the island is quite a global tech center. I'm also a very big advocate in public speaking and promoting stem and women in tech as well. Um Now, as I mentioned, the company that I'm part of which is strategy and transformation. We're part of a digital alliance and, and through that extended network, we are working with major international companies, global companies around the world. And we have um a collective group of around 500 people all working together in in 12 locations around the globe. And we do work across all industries and are very active in transformation, digital transformation and obviously sustainability. So just a little bit behind um of who I am and and and who I work for uh predominantly. So sustainability is something that is, has become a global imperative.

It is happening around the world. Everybody is is talking about it. Sometimes it can seem like a little bit of a marketing or a buzzword for some companies, but we all appreciate and understand that climate change is having a massive impact um on our world and we don't have a lot of time to try to mitigate what's happening. There are many macro activities that are going on that are influencing what is happening and causing the pre putting the pressure to the corporate world to be thinking about its sustainability and how it can become more sustainable. And it isn't a question of if they do it, it's a question of how and when they do it, it is absolutely critical for companies and organizations, um individual small companies, regardless of the side, big industries to, to move towards a sustainable environment. Now, having said that some people might look at it and think, well, why is all the focus on the corporate side as well? What does that seem to be? Whereas focusing, focusing and if we look at many of the major global multinational companies around the world, um you know, these big global organizations, they're having the biggest impact directly into the environment in producing the goods and services that they have or that they offer, they also have the economic power um to help offset the cost of doing this and drive some of this forward.

Whereas like say, for example, in, in, in the less developed company countries, they may not have the economy to be able to drive these things. So there's a lot that has to sit with the corporate responsibility. So that which is why we get a lot of talking or a lot of focus on the business side specifically. Now, what's interesting is that many companies right now are struggling just with digital transformation um in its own right? And that's where a lot of companies now that we're in the post COVID world are trying to build up their expertise. So to talk about sustainability and ESGS. Um and, and, and that reporting for many companies, they're not on that path just yet. They know it's there, they see it as something that's a little bit down the road for them, which I personally advocate that companies need to be considering both at the same time because when you look at this and this is a mind map of all of the different topics and I know that you won't be able to read all of this, but I'll highlight that the key areas.

But the main point of this, this is something that I'm doing on an ongoing basis, attracting the different topics is to really start to illustrate to people just how complex and wide reaching this entire topic is and how it all centers in and around data and cross pollinates.

So whether we're talking digital transformation technology, the data itself, innovation, sustainability, all the different energy sources, you know, whether we're talking renewable energy, future energy sources, um fossil fuels, the industries themselves and all and operational metrics.

Um All of this has uh a number of, as you can see a number of topics within it and um has a number of topics within it and you know, to, for people to take into consideration, but it all comes down to the data and it is the Digital Transformation and um it is the Digital Transformation and the sustainability that is very much driving all of that.

Um Sorry, I I noticed that someone has asked why the presentation is not full screen. It allows me to actually see on the chat, what anybody is, they're asking any questions and things like that. So this, this chart itself is meant to be small and and not readily read readable anyways. Um So what's actually driving the sustainability today? Well, as I already mentioned, there's the post COVID world which is driving the digital transformation and that's expanding considerably.

Companies have very much learned through the COVID experience that if they're not online and, and offering that digital presence, then they're very much going to suffer um from their business as they go forward. Uh Clearly, there is the urgency to act on net zero as we know today.

And it's with all that is happening, including the the Ukrainian war and the pressure on oil supplies and and so forth that, you know, reaching those, those those globally agreed targets are looking further and further away from being achievable in the time frame that needs to happen.

Um Sustainability in ESG is definitely evolving and one thing we need to keep in mind is this is very early days on these topics and the financial communities, the investors and the, and the shareholders, the employees, the advocacy groups and so on are very much setting expectations on companies that we want you to be sustainable.

We will invest in you and support you if you are and if you're not, we will go elsewhere and they're holding them very much accountable to what they're doing. And that includes the quality of their reporting, which we'll talk a little bit more about later on. They don't want greenwashing and greenwashing is um where the numbers or the way it's presented is, is not really reflecting the sustainability that that should be achieved. And, and, and it was just, I think just last week that Deutsche Bank in Germany was um uh rated and are being audited based on greenwashing, which does not go well in the company's in company's interests, obviously going forward and it is very much central to the investment process and, and although there's all the different aspects of it, it often starts, the conversation starts because of the financial side of it and the investment, but there's so much more to ESG as I mentioned, it is very complex and trying to get the data points and analyze that data measured and implemented.

Um It can come from many sources, it can be interpreted differently and every company needs different types of data. So it's not one size fits all either, the type of standards that are being used for reporting. Um They are evolving, there are some globally accepted standards at this point in time, but it's still a pretty wide field and it's still very early days. So, although companies have that pressure to become sustainable and report on it, it's also trying to decide which tools do you use and, and very rarely will ever be one tool fits all, either within a company. Um It is expected or they are working towards having a global international standard, um international standard in place within the next five years so that there can be that consistency in reporting your own against your ESGS or your, your SDGS. Um but it's not there yet. And I think, you know, as many of us who have been in the industry a long time, we see a lot of new tech come in or new standards come in and eventually some falls to the side before you get the player and winners. And, and that becomes one of the challenges for the companies today that are looking to do it, what do I use? And if I start to implement this, is it still going to be sustainable down the road? And, and, and this is still going to be relevant.

Um So for example, one of the semen's companies that I'm in conversation, early conversations with right now, you know, they have a lot of complexity because they do manufacturing and they're in the health industry and they have raw materials and you have your logistics and so on.

So it could be applying against anything and the type of metrics could be something completely different um that, that uh they need to work with. Uh And this is where we're seeing within a lot of the industries. Again, driving sustainability, they're moving from that take, make and waste um mindset to creating sustainability targets and trying to find a path to circular economy which allows them to reuse a lot of what they're doing and, and recycle and obviously be more climate friendly.

Um And through the course of all of this, for future businesses, what they need to consider is not only how all of this environment is changing, but there's the added challenge because it's so data centric that cybersecurity risks and targets are in and I sorry, attacks are increasing on a continual basis.

And as they say, data is the new oil or the new gold. So that really comes to the forefront even more so than it has been um in, in terms of its relevance and importance in driving everything forward. The also the global skills that are required in getting to a sustainable environment um is again another one of the risks and challenges that we have in looking at sustainability. I am cognizant of the time. So I just don't want to to to go too deep into some of these. So what's actually driving a lot of this right now? Um Clearly business, it is seen from at all levels. A sustainability is going to be very important for companies going forward, not only for their profits, but for finding new markets, developing new markets, keeping the investment um and maintaining their reputation or growing their reputation in the overall global economy. And that goes right across, I mean, there's a lot of young people that are joining this conference this year as they have in the previous years. And you know, the number of students or sorry, the number of younger people that this is very much a passionate topic for them and it can influence whether they go to an organization or not or they stay with an organization.

And as we many of us where there's such a shortage in this industry that, you know, companies cannot afford to alienate potential skills and talents to bring into their organization. So it is very critical to business success as they go forward. Um in terms of, you know, growing revenue, reducing cost, managing risks and, and building those intangible assets that I was just referencing. Now, some companies are looking at sustainability that is a cost center. They are not necessarily saying that there's really this is could be a profit center for them. And again, I think it's one of those threads of thought that needs to evolve more in this, in this area of the, of the marketplace. So when you get into looking and approaching sustainability, and one of the things that I found with a lot of companies that I'm speaking to, of all different sizes is how do you really start to make that move from what we have? How do I became, how do I become sustainable? What if I'm a small, small company and I have a historic building that I'm in. How do I get to be sustainable as opposed to building a state of the art new facility that has sustainability built in within the core of that building or as a sustainable native company that starts from ground zero of sustainability at its very core, how do you, we had this with the digital transformation?

How do legacy companies move to be in a hybrid company of being both digital and and um old world if you will for lack of a better term at the moment. Um As opposed to say, the Googles Yahoos of the world, which are truly, you know, digital companies and organizations from the beginning, the same can be said, and we're seeing similar trends within the sustainability area as well. So some of the challenges that are there in doing sustainability right now is the the ability to link your sustainability to wider business performance is difficult. Um Some things you might be able to, you know, like how much paper you recycle if you set up recycling in in the kitchen of, of your businesses, you know, that might be something you can readily measure. But some of the bigger topics are going to be very difficult to, to really try to quantify what the impact of that sustainability is. And when you look at doing a lot of the reporting and audits, it's usually about the numbers, which is why you'll start to hear the term triple line reporting.

And when you start to look at reporting about sustainability, it's less about the numbers, but more about the the qualitative aspects of, of what is there. So, you know, the more those intangibles again, um it is it can be difficult as I mentioned to get organizational buy in because they'll see it as a cost center rather than a profit center. Um One of uh secondary challenge is also how do you start to get the information and the data that you need and at least the least amount that you can start to have an impact because let's be fair, you could collect data from millions and millions of data points. But do you need all that data? And is it relevant? How long do you keep that data? What do you do with that data subsequently? Um And again, in the same way that the standards is evolving as a, as a marketplace. So too are the tools that are being used to create and, and to do the measures? Um So that also needs to be factored in. So, again, early days. Um and, and the complexity when you have all that data and you start to analyze it, what are you looking for? What's going to be a value, what can you use? Um And it can be very difficult to, to do this.

Um As I mentioned with one of these sea organizations that I'm working with, we're evaluating three different tools and to measure one portion of um of, of, of the manufacturing process, but all three tools give different values back. So which one is the best one? And that's at a manufacturing level, how does that then subsequently relate to it at the financial investment, shareholder level, what they'll accept? So these again are some of the challenges that are there for companies right now. Um And obviously the type of information and doing the analysis, you have a lot of data A I and machine learning is playing a critical point in being able to analyze that data and give information back that's going to be understandable or in terms that you can simplify. Um and uh take it, I think I've gone over time. Um So anyway, so as you get into looking at this, and I mentioned, there's a lot of different uh um standards and so on. So yeah, so anyways, um just to quickly try to wrap it up because I know that we are running out of time. So the the challenge when you get into looking at all of this and you start to look at your data, um There are a number of standards and measurements and things that you need to be considering with your data metrics um to, to pull all of that in to do the analysis and then to actually um uh to, to, to relate those reports and, and you need to keep in mind that when you look at an organization, everybody needs different data for different reasons and, and use it in different ways.

And obviously getting into, you know, there's the data lakes and there's the IOT and sensors and also the tech that is affecting what's happening and what data is available. But again, being able to sift through it and have it be meaningful is one of the biggest challenges. So there's all areas in your data that also needs to be discussed. So if you're talking and you're looking at doing digital transformation and you're looking at sustainability, then that whole topic of data as as I've illustrated is so much at the core. So that means you also need to be taken into consideration the data governance and architecture, storage stewardship and so on. Um And, and obviously cybersecurity in order to make sure that it's meaningful and this is not a one time exercise either. It is something that has to continue um in an organization as as digital transformation. Well, on a, on an ongoing basis, it's not just a one time event. So just to sort of wrap it up very quickly. Um So if you're going to look to build an ESG based company, you need to start best place to start is with the framework. What are you doing? Get it at board level, set the strategy, the KPIS, you need everybody to buy into it. Um It cannot be done in isolation, it has to become part of the corporate culture that you're living. Um And then as you, as you set out the strategy, then start to plan on what you're doing, what you're measuring.

And most often for people, what I recommend is start with a gap analysis. Where are you today? What data sources do you have today? What data do you have? Where, what is it that you have? What is your business processes and so on? Because that's going to help you start to understand where you need to start making some, maybe some more immediate or maybe have some quick wins or to understand what might take you longer to actually be able to report effectively against it. So again, manage the expectations from this, from the investment community as well. So when you look and where to measure it could be everything from, you know, the building that you're in to your raw material sources, your supply chain and logistics are two of the big areas where you can quickly get winds and sustainability. Um And as I just mentioned across all the business processes, start looking at green it um like transportation and logistics, I think something like 28% of uh corporate emissions or sorry. Carbon emissions comes from that area alone in, in the world. So it, it has a big impact agriculture when you get into food, that is, I think the highest area for contributing to um carbon emissions.

So, you know, there, there's all of those areas where you have to then start thinking about where, what are you going to, where are you going to measure and then how are you going to measure it? What are you going to measure um and deciding upon that and you know, IO has some fantastic standards in place, but iso for some companies can be very resource and very heavy um time consuming to try to look at. So maybe it's an alternative that you need to set the standards in your organization and then obviously doing some benchmarking around it as well um defining your processes and, and again, keep making it iterative, iterative um so that you are getting traction as you're going along, but that it can also be very much measured.

So it is a very big complex topic and it needs to get broken down bit by bit. And what I am finding with many companies is that up at this high strategic level, they understand. Yes, we need to do something. But what does that mean? Because as we all know the devil is in the details, so as you start to peel back each of those layers, there's more and more that needs to be done. And like I said, it's very early days. So it's a challenging topic, but a critical topic and it is something that needs to be embedded into an organization's DNA for a business altogether. Um So, yeah, it, it's like I said, it's digital transformation. It hits its sustainability and we have a complete explosion of data.

And what do we want to do with that data? How can we use it effectively to support sustainability in the ESG on the global level? So, thank you, I'm five minutes over and I do apologize and I thank you for your patience and I apologize also for a little bit of the tech glitches. Um You think after 30 years in the industry, I'd be able to manage that just fine. But if anybody wants to stay on and ask any, any questions, thanks Donna. Um and ask any questions or anything like that or if you want to connect over linkedin to follow up, please feel free to do so. This is a topic I'm as passionate about as I am about women in tech and promoting stem. So, um so yeah. Uh Thank you again, everybody for your time. Greatly appreciate it and enjoy the conference because it is world class for sure. OK. Thank you.