Navigating ESG Success: The Power of Partnership within the NRM WA Network

Home 🞂 Newsroom 🞂 Navigating ESG Success: The Power of Partnership within the NRM WA Network

By Katherine Allen – NACC NRM CEO

On the 8th and 9th of November, I was excited to co-present with Justin Bellanger from NRM WA at the ESG Strategy Summit in Perth.  We used this opportunity to shed light on the NRM network broadly outside of our usual audiences. Specifically, we shared how our collective of organisations could support businesses in WA looking to implement the ‘E’ in ESG outcomes.

I am especially passionate about two things in this context. 1. Not preaching to the choir and 2. Doing the net-zero transition (and ESG more broadly) well – not in a tokenistic way. The ESG Summit itself was the vehicle to address point 1, and our content urged businesses in the room to consider the NRM WA network as the vehicle to achieve point 2. I would love to see this Summit grow in future years. The intimate setting of the Summit was great, but to have a real impact, we must grow this audience significantly.

Below is a quick recap of the key messages from my presentation with Justin.

Over more than 25 years, NRM WA organisations have collaborated with diverse sectors, including Mining, Forestry, Tourism, and government agencies, fulfilling legal obligations and contributing to international and national environmental and sustainability objectives. The strength of our network is built on integrity, experience, and agility.

Integrity Matters:

The importance of integrity in ESG outcomes cannot be overstated. The NRM network’s commitment to trustworthy and verifiable results aligns well with the growing demand for trusted ESG initiatives. Our collaborative approach, coupled with 25 years of experience, provides a solid foundation for integrity-driven partnerships.

Experience Counts:

In the complex landscape of ESG, experience is a key differentiator. The NRM WA network’s extensive history involves strategic planning, community engagement, and the successful delivery of impactful projects. Our experience in risk management across our portfolio of projects includes and acknowledges our commitment to stakeholder engagement, in particular, supporting First Nations communities.

Agility for Success:

In a rapidly changing world, agility is critical. The NRM network’s ability to adapt, innovate, and deliver shovel-ready projects sets us apart. Our strategic focus, coupled with agility ensures that ESG initiatives can be pragmatically adjusted as needed while maintaining strategic delivery of outcomes.

The focus of our presentation was distilled into three key areas.

1.      Why a partnership between sectors is crucial,

2.      How the network delivers projects in line with international frameworks, and

3.      What it takes to bring business needs together with the NRM sector, including how the sector is aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Using the TNFD Framework as a backdrop, the presentation highlighted why and how the NRM network support business to deliver ESG outcomes. Using the four pillars of the TNFD (Strategy, risk management, measurement and governance), I took the opportunity to showcase NRM WA’s capabilities across the pillars using real-life examples. Specifically, we talked about Regional NRM Plans, Cane road risk management, measuring outcomes in Malleefowl conservation and NACC NRM’s recent recognition as Mid-West Business of the Year (2022).

There is an urgent need for businesses to align societal ESG expectations with strategic and accountable investment. The NRM network offers an easily accessible solution to deliver these ESG outcomes.

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In 2020-21 I talked about ‘raising the bar’. In 2021-22 we worked on setting the bar on fire. Over the last 12 months, the team at NACC NRM has not stopped.

The Sustainable Agriculture team has extended the program’s reach through collaborations with grower groups in the regions. Specifically, the Beyond Reasonable Drought project and Grower Group Alliance – South West WA Drought Innovation Hub – Geraldton Node project. The Beyond Reasonable Drought partnership with grower groups supported farmers across the region to improve the environmental sustainability of their agricultural production and drought resilience. The outcomes of this project have been consolidated through our successful Expression of Interest to the South West WA Drought Innovation Hub, with support from grower groups across the region, to host the Geraldton Node of the Hub. The program continues to focus on working with agricultural networks to share technical expertise and provide opportunities that will improve land management practices in agriculture across the region.

The conservation outcomes of ranger teams have expanded through work on several land tenures. Maintaining Heritage sites such as Willi Gulli, Racecourse Paddock and Buller River has long been a priority. During 2021-22, the teams have increasingly focused on threatened species and ecosystems.

To this end, Western Mulga rangers have improved management across 19,000 ha for the conservation of Malleefowl through firebreak and access management. They completed the maintenance of water holes and supported the monitoring of over 90 Malleefowl mounds.

Similarly, the Kwelena Mambakort Aboriginal Corporate ranger team have contributed positively to Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo populations by installing artificial hollows and habitat restoration.

All ranger teams have collected native seed, propagated native plants for restoration, and planted native vegetation in key locations across the NAR. Seed collection provides valuable industry experience and has facilitated the planting of over 100,000 seedlings during the year.   

In September 2021, the NACC NRM team delivered the WA Threatened Species Forum, held in tandem with the National Malleefowl Forum. Given the impact of COVID and the timing of this event, having more than 100 delegates from all over Australia was a significant achievement. The two Forums brought together 12 events over five days and featured 14 local artists, 25 businesses and 36 youth participants.

Following the successful relaunch of our updated NARvis, NACC NRM was invited to help lead a significant piece of strategic planning work for the region with Mid West Development Commission and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. With funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, the consortia delivered a Regional Drought Resilience Plan covering the shires of Northampton and Chapman Valley and the City of Greater Geraldton, along with significant technical analysis of drought vulnerability for the South West land division. The development of this plan also included extensive community consultation to ensure that local knowledge and technical advice guided the development of priorities for action.

This planning work links to existing NACC NRM on-ground projects, including Beyond Reasonable Drought and the Chapman Catchment Collaborative regeneration project.

It was a busy year for events with face-to-face events becoming commonplace again. During 2021-22 we hosted events in Gingin, Moora, Dalwallinu, Cervantes, Jurien Bay, Walkaway, Nabawa, Perenjori, Kalannie and Morawa. We supported events in Karakin, Thundellara, Perenjori, Paynes Find, Wubin, Cataby, Warradarge, Northampton, Yuna, Dalwallinu and Dandaragan.

We also supported on-ground works throughout the region, including at the following locations Yuna, Dalwallinu, Dandaragan, Merkanooka, Goodlands, Kalannie, Bunjil, Yardarino, Canna, Kondut, Latham, Kadathinni, Nabawa, Red Gully, Sandy Gully, Waddy Forrest, Devils Creek, Perenjori, Bowgada, Ellendale, Wandana, Namban, Hill River, Warradarge, Gillingarra, Regans Ford and Moonyanooka.

Our region is vast – slightly larger than Tasmania, which for comparison, is serviced by three separate NRM organisations. Covering the NAR region and its many environmental threats is challenging. We continue to focus on partnerships and collaboration to address this challenge. We know that by working with our community through passionate delivery of collaborative on-ground projects and education, the community will value and actively protect our region’s natural capital.

This year we have launched a new Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). The RAP Working Group consulted widely and developed an Innovate RAP which Reconciliation Australia approved in March 2022. The activities to fulfil these commitments are now in full swing.

Sadly, at the end of 2021, we farewelled former NACC NRM CEO Shelley Spriggs, who lost a long battle with cancer. Shelley was an inaugural inductee to the NRM Leadership Honour Roll. I will always be grateful for her guidance and no-nonsense approach, not to mention her passion for life.

While we have said farewell to some, we have welcomed many new faces across all programs, including our Administration team. We have also hosted a school-based trainee from Nagle Catholic College who has been working towards a Certificate II in Conservation and Ecosystem Management. This trial position has been very successful, and we look forward to making this opportunity available again in 2023.

During 2022 we have taken on new projects that align with our organisational and program objectives, and we have successfully completed some great initiatives that support continued conservation and sustainability outcomes. I want to thank the whole team who continue to go above and beyond for the organisation and each other proving their ongoing commitment to our purpose and our values.