Tools and Processes to enable Sustainable Business Practices

NACC has developed a number of tools and processes that enable sustainable leadership practices to be designed and practiced.  These may be accessed by contacting NACC here.

Tools and processes to enable sustainable business practices

• Green Street  -  Sustainability social networking website which shows current sustainability practices and guides toward others.  Prompts and supports associated engagement processes in communities and workplaces. www.greenstreet.net.au 

• Sustainability Planning and Reporting Framework – provides a structure for planning and reporting using the internationally endorsed Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework as used by NEC, Nestle, British Energy, GE, Volkswagen, Sun Microsystems and many others.

• Sustainability Perception and Reporting Tool (SPART)  - captures the views of stakeholders regarding their perceptions of the achievements and aspirational targets of organizations and communities. Reports in a graphic form.

• Sustainability Decision Making  process– uses the internationally endorsed Natural Step system conditions as the basis for making sustainability-oriented decisions on a daily basis.  The Natural step methodology is used by companies such as Toyota, Scandic Hotels, Interface, Ikea and Shorebank  and is shortlisted by the International Business Leaders Forum for the acclaimed Alcan Sustainability Award. 

• Sustainability Management and Leadership Profiling– captures the perceptions of people regarding the achievement and expectations regarding sustainability  management and leadership performance in organizations. Reports in a graphic form.

• Interaction Matrix for sustainable change– provides a user-friendly framework for facilitating change in organizations and communities.  Gains high levels of commitment from key stakeholders to designing and delivering sustainable business practice. 

• Appreciative Action Learning model for leadership development – provides a theoretical and practical base for the facilitation of intensive leadership development programs that meet high level corporate governance requirements of one of Australia’s highest ranked companies re corporate social responsibility

• Active Consultation Processes – framework for delivering consultation processes that engage stakeholders meaningfully in active, rather than passive, ways

• Sustainability Assessment process for households– web-based process for the assessment of sustainability practices in homes, see www.mykyoto.org.au  

• Sustainable Procurement policy and decision making tool  - this tool enables businesses to procure sustainably knowing that they are meeting the benchmarks and principles mirrored by the internationally recognised Global Reporting Initiative and the Natural Step.

NACC sustainability pedigree

NACC's Principal Consultant, Howard Nielsen, has a long-standing involvement in sustainability activity and his sustainability biography below gives a snapshot of this.  NACC is also a renowned networking agency and has a number of key consulting staff available to it from other agencies.

Howard Nielsen’s sustainability biography

Howard Nielsen is renowned for his expertise in designing and facilitating processes that motivate and energise people to take on challenging things they would not have contemplated previously.

His work over the past decade with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework and with The Natural Step (TNS) has enabled him to be in the forefront of practical action to implement and report on sustainability activity in businesses.

He has a creative flair integrated with a pragmatic approach which enables organisations and individuals to take a realistic view of the current situation while developing high aspirations for the future.  This is done through the adoption of appreciative and optimistic approaches which build confidence, skills and the courage to tackle challenging sustainability issues.

He has worked as CEO of an organization that was listed in the top five 'learning organizations' in Australia and has carried out consultancies with companies in the top echelon of private corporations, government enterprises and community organisations.  These include Australia Post, Toyota, Brisbane City Council, Queensland Treasury, Telstra, Global Institute for Learning and Development and many others.

A hallmark of Howard’s work is the design and facilitation of innovative approaches to leadership development and to building sustainable businesses and communities. His capacity to facilitate in an engaging and motivating way is widely acknowledged.

He has delivered speeches and workshops at numerous international, national and regional conferences in the areas of sustainability, leadership, management, learning and community development.  He has also contributed to numerous journals and texts.

Extremely high satisfaction ratings are achieved in the processes, programs and projects  Howard delivers and this  carries over to the volunteer work he does in the community in the area of  sustainable development, family cohesion and community engagement.

Howard has academic qualifications and accreditations in education, management,  business and sustainability.  This, coupled with his intuitive feel for both people and process enables outcomes that have a  sound knowledge base, a strong sense for what is needed and an optimism that invites high level achievement.