1. The Stakeholder View –
How reports are read
and used
.
Chair: Lena Geraghty, Network Manager, Focal Point Australia,
Global Reporting Initiative
Dr Leeora Black, Managing Director, Australian Centre for Corporate Social
Responsibility
Peter Colley, National Research Director, Construction, Forestry, Mining and
Energy Union
Amanda Dobbie, General Manager, Bloomberg Australia and New Zealand
Nicola Hayhoe, Executive Leader of Policy, Research and Communications,
Ability Options
Bastien Mignonneau, Consultant, Banarra

2. STAKEHOLDERS AS READERS OF
SUSTAINABILITY REPORTS
Report Launch at Australian GRI
Conference
27 March 2012

3. ABOUT THE RESEARCH

4. FIRST REPORTER BONUS
First time Experienced
reporters reporters
Read at least several sections 49% 79%
Get a good impression of the reporting 73% 64%
organisation from the report
Wanter simpler language in reports 10% 22%
Want a shorter report 34% 40%
Have concerns about information in the 20% 32%
report
Key takeout: Publishing your first report will earn greater
reputational uplift, less criticism, and less scrutiny than
subsequent reports

5. CONCERNS IN REPORTS
Key takeout: Reports lack balance and transparency. This may reduce the
effectiveness of reports as a tool for stakeholders to evaluate sustainability
performance

6. HOW REPORTS ARE USED

7. CONCLUSIONS
• A balanced report helps build trust with stakeholders and
the effectiveness of the report
• Reports need greater focus on materiality, especially with
trend to integrated reporting
• Stakeholder expectations are rising – reports need to
convey new information to obtain reputational boost
• Stakeholders want shorter, more succinct reports with
detailed performance data available if required.