Setting credible and achievable ESG targets
Event description
How do you set sustainability targets that are credible and achievable?
Targets are one of the most visible markers of a company’s commitment to sustainability - but setting them is far from straightforward. Too soft, and they lack credibility. Too ambitious, and you risk greenwishing or underdelivering.
Whether you’re focused on carbon emissions, social impact, or broader ESG performance, the question remains the same: How do you decide what a ‘good’ target actually looks like, and how can you set it in a way that stands up to scrutiny while still being achievable?
📊 This 45-minute live panel will explore practical approaches to setting meaningful sustainability targets - with insights into what works in both the environmental and social spheres, and how to avoid common pitfalls such as vague commitments or overpromising.
Bringing together expertise from both Australia and New Zealand, the panel will share practical guidance and real-world examples to help you set robust, credible targets that reflect your organisation’s ambitions while remaining achievable.
The session will be facilitated by Caroline Thalund, CEO and founder of Sustainability 360. Caroline brings a practical, in-house perspective, shaped by decades of experience working with companies to turn sustainability aspirations into measurable results.
Caroline will be joined by:
Barbara Albert, Co-CEO of 100% Renewables (Australia)
Jay Crangle, Head of ESG at the Sustainable Business Council (New Zealand)
Prageeth Jayathissa, GM Sustainability at Vector (New Zealand)
Belinda van Eyndhoven, Head of Sustainability at Westpac New Zealand
Together, they will respond to participant questions and share examples from their own experiences in setting and achieving meaningful ESG targets.
💬 Participants are encouraged to submit questions in advance - the discussion will focus on real challenges raised by attendees and include a live Q&A.
👥 Who it’s for
Sustainability managers, senior leaders, and others responsible for defining and delivering ESG targets - whether for board reporting, external disclosure, or internal improvement plans.
🎤 SPEAKERS
Barbara Albert
www.100percentrenewables.com.au
Barbara Albert is the Co-CEO of 100% Renewables, an advisor, speaker, and award-winning author recognised for her expertise in guiding organisations towards net-zero emissions. She works with business leaders to translate climate science into clear, actionable strategies that deliver measurable outcomes and commercial value.
Barbara hosts the podcast Driving Net Profit with Zero Emissions and authored Energy Unlimited, named one of the world’s top 10 sustainable energy books by BookAuthority. She is featured in the Clean Energy Council’s Women in Renewables guide and received the Energy Leaders Inspiration Award in 2019.
With extensive experience facilitating workshops, building internal sustainability capability, and advising on climate risk and resilience, Barbara combines strategic insight with a practical, business-oriented approach. She holds a Master of Commerce, is a World Bank Accredited City Climate Planner, and is certified in GRI reporting, carbon management, and climate neutrality.
Jay Crangle
Jay Crangle is a purpose-driven sustainability leader with a strong foundation in relationship management, communications, and ESG strategy. Currently serving as Head of ESG at the Sustainable Business Council (SBC), Jay works alongside the CEO to lead cross-sector collaborations, engage the Executive community, and grow strategic partnerships. She leads SBC’s social sustainability work programme, guiding businesses through the evolving landscape of disclosure and championing best-practice approaches that embed equity into business strategy.
Jay’s career spans impactful roles in the UK and Aotearoa, many with a focus on social equality including programme leadership at Cancer Research UK, strategic partnerships at the Council for Disabled Children, and communications at youth justice charity Catch-22. Jay has also contributed to global initiatives such as the World Business Council for Sustainable Development Global Network Initiative, the Inner Development Goals movement and as a contributing writer for Letters to the Earth, a global writing campaign focused on the climate crisis
Jay is a registered B Corp Consultant, Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership alumni, yoga teacher and Mum of one. A passionate advocate for climate action and inclusive leadership, Jay champions values of kindness, integrity, and collaboration in all endeavours.
Prageeth Jayathissa
www.vector.co.nz/targets-and-reports
Prageeth is a research and development engineer with a background in mechanical and power systems. He works as the GM Sustainability at Vector to support the Auckland energy transition to net-zero while simultaneously preparing the organisation for the impacts of climate change.
Belinda van Eyndhoven
www.westpac.co.nz/sustainability
Belinda is Head of Sustainability at Westpac New Zealand (Westpac). She has more than 20 years’ experience leading sustainability/ESG programmes in local and central government, private consultancy, and business NGOs. In this time, Belinda has worked with more than 200 public- and private-sector organisations on their sustainability and carbon strategies, including setting and reaching ambitious ESG targets. In her current role, Belinda is leading the bank’s work on reaching their 2027 Sustainability Commitments.
Caroline Thalund
Caroline Thalund is a business sustainability expert with over 24 years’ experience in the wider sustainability space. As the founder and CEO of Sustainability 360 (S360), she focuses on making sustainability goals credible, achievable, and aligned with business priorities - combining digital tools with expert support to help organisations plan, embed, and track progress effectively.
Her platform, S360, enables companies to set and manage sustainability goals, streamline ESG reporting, build stakeholder engagement, and accelerate B Corp certification. Caroline has worked across sectors including finance, tech, aviation, tourism, construction, and manufacturing, and has seen first-hand the challenges companies face when setting measurable outcomes, drawing on her global experience across diverse industries and contexts.
She is also a Professor of Practice at the University of Canterbury, where she equips business leaders with the knowledge, tools, and practical strategies to embed sustainability into their organisations - covering foundational concepts, ESG principles, climate impacts, goal-setting, strategy, implementation, and stakeholder engagement.
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