Aligning strategy with shifting societal expectations
Overview
The Better Futures 2025 report highlights a growing expectation among New Zealanders for businesses to lead with integrity and impact on both environmental and social issues. While concern for environmental sustainability remains high, there has been a marked rise in the importance of social issues such as mental health, equity, and fairness. Despite strong intent, many consumers still face barriers to sustainable action, and they increasingly expect businesses to help overcome these by making sustainable choices more accessible, affordable, and easy to understand.
At the same time, public trust in corporate sustainability claims is becoming harder to earn. People want to see real action, not just messaging. Transparency, authenticity, and alignment with clearly held values are now the most influential drivers of positive business perception. This shift is particularly pronounced among younger generations, with those aged 18 to 29 expecting brands to demonstrate leadership across both climate and social performance—and rewarding or penalising businesses accordingly.
For directors, this changing landscape represents a clear signal. Governance must move beyond disclosure and compliance toward embedding sustainability and social impact into business strategy, culture, and long-term planning. The opportunity is not only to build resilience and reputation but to lead with purpose in a world where doing good is now a critical part of being a good business. This webinar will explore how boards can meet these rising expectations and lead with credibility in an increasingly values-driven marketplace.
Speakers
Cassandra Crowley MInstD
Cassandra is a charted accountant (Fellow), barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand and a member of the Institute of Directors.
In addition to her commercial advisory work, she holds non-executive directorship roles across several sectors of the New Zealand economy. These roles include chairing audit, finance and risk committees and overseeing digital transformation. She is a past president of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and has been recognised for her leadership and governance contributions with the Supreme Award for Excellence in Governance from Women on Boards.
Jay Crangle 
Jay believes in doing good in the world, putting her people skills to good use to affect change. Before joining SBC, Jay spent 12 years working in the UK and Canada in a variety of programme management and communications roles across the commercial and community sectors. She is a registered B Corp Consultant, CISL alumni, yoga teacher and Mum of one. At her day job she is Head of ESG at the Sustainable Business Council where she supports businesses to embed sustainability at both an Executive and operational level, championing them to do the right thing by people and planet.
Jason Cate 
Jason is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading consumer insights professionals, bringing almost 25 years experience across multiple NZ clients, sectors, categories and markets.
As Kantar NZ lead for both their local qualitative research practice and Kantar’s global Sustainability Transformation Practice, Jason is responsible for delivering the annual Better Futures report and thought leadership event alongside consulting with a range of NZ’s leading brands and businesses on their consumer sustainability challenges.
Laurissa Cooney CMInstD
Laurissa is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, and a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors in New Zealand. She has previously held senior manager, auditing and consulting roles with Deloitte in New Zealand and Deloitte Touche in London and was the Chief Financial Officer for Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.
Laurissa currently serves as a Co- Chair of Aotearoa Circle and is an Independent Non-Executive Director for Air New Zealand, Goodman Property Ltd and Rabobank NZ Ltd. She is also the Chair of Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki Audit & Risk Committee. Laurissa is also a steering committee member of the IoD's Chapter Zero NZ Steering Committee. Laurissa is of Te Āti Hau Nui a Pāpā Rangi (Whanganui) descent.
Judene Edgar CMInstD 
Judene is a Principal Governance Adviser with the Institute of Directors’ Governance Leadership Centre and Chapter Zero NZ lead providing best practice advice, guidance and advocacy for directors. She is also a trustee of the Rātā Foundation and Network Tasman Trust, and Chair of the Nelson Historic Theatre Trust.
Prior to joining the IoD she ran her own consultancy for over 20 years specialising in governance, policy, strategy and communications working across a wide range of sectors, including housing, health, solid waste, aviation, energy, not-for-profit and infrastructure.
She was a local government elected member for 12 years and a director on a range of private and public entity boards. She has a background in behavioural science and communications and is a Chartered Member of the IoD.
Additional information
Event cancellation policy
Regrettably, registration fees cannot be refunded when cancellations are received within two working days prior to any event. See our standard terms and conditions for more information.
Contact
Gemma Fellowes
Project & Events Executive
+64 9 365 2736
Gemma.Fellowes@iod.org.nz
