One of Australia’s most influential environmentalists, Jon Dee, will deliver a keynote address at a Gold Coast conference examining the complex link between business and sustainability.
EMAN 2013 is the global conference of the Environmental and Sustainability Management Accounting Network and will include presentations on how companies and organisations are developing and accounting for sustainability performances from Vietnam, Belgium, Japan, Kenya, South Africa, Britain, Germany, Sri Lanka,Indonesia, China, Australia andKorea.
Associate Professor John Sands, a research expert in environmental and sustainable management accounting at Griffith University’s Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics, is one of the main organisers of the two-day event on July 14-15.
“Environmental and sustainability management accounting (EMA) supports business decisions by providing physical and monetary information that address carbon emission reduction, decreasing energy costs and the efficient use of resource scarcity,” he said.
“These business sustainability issues are increasingly under the spotlight and EMA provides managers with information concerning the environmental and economic impacts to incorporate into their business decisions, which is a crucial part of the sustainable business for any organisation.
“The ongoing debate on the link between sustainability and business asks whether sustainability management creates values.
“In a turbulent business environment there is a growing need to understanding the complexity of sustainability issues and their economic implications.”
2013 EMAN will integrate business and academia in a move to address and advance emerging issues.
John Dee is the author of Sustainable Growth, which has become a sustainability guidebook for Australian business since its publication. He is a co-founder of Planet Ark and was NSW Australian of the Year in 2010.
He is expected to focus on his renowned 20-step plan for energy efficiency in business in an address that will highlight the importance of communication in making a sustainability plan effective at all levels of a business.
Professor Ned Pankhurst, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research), Griffith University will present on the new Sir Samuel Griffith Building, the university’s eco-friendly engineering showcase set to open at Nathan campus later this year.
Professor Roger Burritt, Director of the Centre of Accounting, Governance and Sustainability at the University of South Australia, will focus on water conservation and Tim Williams from Westpac will discuss sustainability practices and reporting.
Dan Barr, senior project officer, City Building and Economic, Gold Coast City Council will present on the anticipated impact of light rail on the Gold Coast and lessons for other cities.
EMAN 2013 takes place at the Mercure Gold Coast Resort on Sunday and Monday, July 14-15, and is sponsored by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.