How to be a Chief Sustainability Officer: Leading the Transition to a Sustainable Organisation

The Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) has become a crucial member of leadership teams, deeply involved in shaping company strategy and enhancing operations across all areas. However, despite the abundance of sustainability frameworks, practical insights on implementing effective corporate sustainability strategies remain elusive and organisations struggle to transition in a meaningful and practical way.

This book is an essential guide for new or prospective CSOs, providing foundational insights how to anchor sustainability within the core strategy of an organisation. It helps to focus on impactful changes and avoid distraction and “greenwash". Using a proven framework, this book de-constructs the CSO role. It links sustainability to the core areas of culture and strategy. It guides the reader through seven technical areas that make up the full sustainability role. It covers execution, building your team and leveraging technology. Finally, it looks to the future of this rapidly evolving area.

This book distils over two decades of sustainability theory and 30 years of combined management experience into a hands-on, comprehensive guide for CSOs. It also serves as an important reference for Boards, Committees, and leaders who are ready to embrace the sustainability transition and position their organisations for long-term, ethically-driven success.