Reaching 6 in 10 Australians every month—that’s 7.6 million people—Are Media has established itself as Australia’s leading omni-channel content company. The company sets the standard for impactful content and authentic storytelling. By staying future-focused and continuously pushing boundaries, Are Media continues to leverage its powerful platform to drive positive social change.

Are Media’s leadership recognised the need for a structured and strategic approach to the company’s environmental, social, and governance (ESG) journey. “ESG has been on the mind of CEOs at an operational level for some time now, resulting in some good initiatives that are directionally right but lack an overarching strategy,” says Jane Huxley, CEO of Are Media.

With several environmental initiatives already underway, the company sought to elevate its ESG strategy to effectively inform and engage stakeholders, meet pending disclosure requirements, and guide future investments for sustainable impact. The goal was clear: to frame existing efforts and future needs through a more strategic lens, ensuring initiatives would yield the best results in the short and medium term.

The challenge for Are Media was multifaceted. It needed to assess the current state of its ESG maturity, identify key areas for improvement, and prioritise actions that would drive meaningful impact. This required a comprehensive evaluation of its existing initiatives and a clear understanding of the steps needed to advance its ESG journey.

“Working with Slalom allowed us to view ESG through a more strategic lens and focus on the initiatives which will yield the best results for us in the short and medium term,” says Huxley.

Guided by Slalom’s ESG Maturity Framework, the collaboration began with comprehensive stakeholder interviews and surveys to establish a baseline maturity assessment. This foundational step was crucial in understanding where Are Media currently stood in its ESG journey and what was required to move forward effectively.

Slalom identified and prioritised the essential ESG capabilities needed to fast-track Are Media’s sustainability journey into three immediate focus initiatives. The executive team was guided through the necessary activities and actions to kick-start and sustain each initiative, providing Are Media’s leadership with clear, actionable starting points.

“Stepping through the process and frameworks as an executive team allowed us to have an aligned and balanced view of our priorities and assign a time frame that is realistic for our business,” Huxley explains.

With this set of actionable initiatives, Are Media has a clearly defined starting point to deepen its ESG engagement, better inform stakeholders, and effectively meet its sustainability goals and regulatory requirements. With its ESG approach now strategically aligned to business objectives, Are Media can confidently focus on long-term sustainability and positive impact.

This partnership exemplifies the power of strategic collaboration in driving sustainable growth and positive social change. Are Media’s journey with Slalom serves as a model for other companies aiming to drive positive social and environmental impact. By adopting a structured and strategic approach, businesses can not only meet regulatory requirements but also contribute to a more sustainable and equitable future.

Slalom is proud to support Are Media in its mission to drive positive change and set the standard for impactful content and authentic storytelling. Together, we are shaping a future where business success and social responsibility go hand in hand.

“The Slalom ESG team were a pleasure to work with,” says Veronique Maury, general counsel at Are Media. “Their passion and expertise have left us well prepared to advance our ESG engagement in 2024 and beyond.”