Sustainability half-day conference 2026

What you will learn

Join this on-demand course and dive into transformative topics to claim your edge in the new era:

• Sustainable business: from compliance to competitive advantage
• Practical tips for driving sustainability performance
• Approaching opportunities in sustainability reporting
• Getting set up for sustainable business

About this course

Sustainable business: from compliance to competitive advantage
As we mark World Earth Day, this session explores how economic forces and the evolving regulatory landscape are redefining what it means to be a sustainable business. Through clear insight and expert commentary, we examine why sustainability is no longer optional, but a strategic imperative for organisations managing long-term risk and opportunity. The discussion will highlight the growing expectations placed on finance leaders to move beyond compliance and adopt opportunity-focused approaches, supported by emerging climate technologies and improved information flows. It also addresses the persistent gap between sustainability ambition and practical implementation. You will gain clarity on the business case for sustainability, how it connects to wider organisational strategy and the skills finance professionals need to respond effectively.

Practical tips for driving sustainability performance
This session explores the role of accountants to drive progress of their organisations towards net zero, specifically the considerations on leveraging technology and measuring performance, including developing effective internal controls.

Approaching opportunities in sustainability reporting 
Corporate reporting often focuses heavily on risks while opportunities – especially those tied to sustainability – receive far less attention. This imbalance may well limit investment and access to financing which are needed to unlock innovation and progress towards resilient, sustainable business models. Through a facilitated discussion, the panel shares real-world experiences on how business leaders, particularly finance professionals, approach the opportunity narrative while navigating concerns around commercially sensitive information, organisational readiness and stakeholder expectations. We also examine when organisations should communicate opportunities, the cross-functional support leaders need, and the skills and cultural changes required to enable more balanced reporting.

Getting set up for sustainable business
With an increasing rate of consumption of the planet’s resources, organisations need to be more cognisant of their impact on sustainability, with many having to change their organisation's operating model to embrace circular and regenerative concepts. This session explores the impact of different legal structures on organisations' ability to operate sustainably, and how these are best able to support the transition to sustainability-focused business models or to reflect social or environmental imperatives. What features of the business form help (or hinder) businesses in meeting those goals?
 

Earn up to 4 CPD Units