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ESG symposium addresses sustainability talent gap

KUALA LUMPUR: Addressing the sustainability talent gap is a collective responsibility, said the UN Global Compact Network Malaysia & Brunei (UNGCMYB).

Hence, the GO ESG 2024 Symposium, organised by UNGCMYB recently, underscored the pivotal role that learning and development play in equipping the workforce to meet today's sustainability demands to drive meaningful change. 

Under the theme "Empowering Talent in Achieving the SDGs", the event drew over 300 high-level executives, sustainability practitioners and business leaders.

The half-day symposium fostered dynamic discussions and collaboration, offering strategies that can be adopted to build competencies in the workforce.

Tan Sri Johari Abdul, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat, in his keynote address, emphasised the need for a skilled workforce adept at navigating the complexities of sustainability to drive innovation and ensure competitiveness in evolving markets.

"Organisations must equip their workforce with essential skills, such as a deep understanding of ESG principles, innovative problem-solving, and the ability to collaborate across functions.

"By investing in comprehensive training programmes, mentorship and hands-on opportunities to apply these skills in real-world scenarios, we can develop a generation of leaders ready to embed sustainable practices at the very core of our organisations. This is how we transform commitment into impact," he added.

To address the evolving demands of sustainability practices, the symposium also saw the launch of the Corporate Sustainability Practitioner (CSP) Competency Framework 2.0 (CSP 2.0).

It is to support credentials building of practitioners and professionals involved in Malaysia's corporate sustainability space.  

Developed jointly by Bursa Malaysia and UNGCMYB, this enhanced version builds on the original CSP framework introduced in 2021.

CSP 2.0 brings forth critical new competencies, aligning with the latest developments in reporting standards such as the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures and International Financial Reporting Standards S1 and S2.

"The CSP Competency Framework 2.0 marks a pivotal advancement in Malaysia's corporate sustainability journey," said Faroze Nadar, executive director of UNGCMYB. 

"This updated version equips organisations with future-fit competency mapping to identify, recruit, and nurture top sustainability talent, ensuring that organisations remain agile and future-ready in an evolving ESG landscape.

"It is imperative that companies continue to invest in their workforce to them with the latest skills, and resilience to prepare them to lead in a complex regulatory environment," he added.

The event opened with a fireside chat on regional sustainability challenges and talent development, followed by insights from Mohd Azharuddin Mat Sah, CEO of Prasarana Malaysia Bhd on leadership's role in fostering responsible practices.

Closing the session, Dr. Kasuma Satria Mat Jadi, chief human resources and sustainability officer at Aeon, shared an HR perspective on aligning workforce skills with sustainability goals.

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