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In September, SR Inc convened Member-Clients in New York City and virtually during Climate Week for the third-quarter Executive Symposium, bringing together sustainability leaders from the Health & Life Sciences (HLS), Information & Communication Technology (ICT), and Corporate Operations Roundtables.

The sessions were marked by candor and insight as Member-Clients reflected on how shifting market dynamics, emerging policy requirements, and evolving global frameworks are redefining the path to sustainable high performance. The event underscored the continued need for corporate sustainability leaders to position their functions not just as responders to the evolving state of change, but as strategic partners at the center of enterprise success.

Event Highlights

The Symposium featured an outstanding group of Member-Client speakers who shared practical insights from their work navigating climate disclosure and renewable procurement in an era of rapid change. Eric Rahn, Head of Sustainability and Compliance at Informatica, Evan Scott Brown, Utilities and Renewable Energy Program Manager at Cisco Systems, and Louis Mark, Senior Manager of Sustainability and ESG at Autodesk, each reflected on their work driving sustainability progress at their organizations.

SR Inc also unveiled its new ESG Policies Hub, an evolving digital resource designed to help Member-Clients craft robust, compliant ESG policies and disclosures. The Hub provides access to SR Inc’s guidance and tools, as well as Member-Client questions, experiences, and case studies, while fostering cross-company collaboration on building robust ESG policies.

SR Inc proudly welcomed Michael Barry as Senior Expert Advisor to the Net Zero Consortium for Buyers (NZCB). A long-time Member-Client, Michael brings over fifteen years of experience from Bloomberg, where he led renewable energy transformation and global green building programs that cut energy use by more than forty percent. His expertise will further strengthen SR Inc’s advising on impactful decarbonization strategies.

At the opening of the Symposium, SR Inc CEO Jim Boyle introduced this quarter’s leadership theme, Dignity First Leadership, from SR Inc’s forthcoming published book Dignity First Leadership: Developing and Driving a World-Class Sustainability Strategy. He described how SR Inc’s RISE values—Respect, Integrity, Service, and Excellence,—anchor leadership and enterprise success by aligning business strategy with human dignity.

Research Preview

As in every quarter, the Symposium centered around the collaborative development of SBER’s Membership-based Insights, Guidance, and Highlighted Tools (MIGHT). This quarter’s discussions focused on two critical and timely topics:

Climate Risk Disclosure and Regulatory Readiness

This research offers sustainability leaders a practical framework for preparing for new regulatory disclosure requirements, including California’s SB 253 and SB 261, while integrating climate risk assessment into the enterprise risk management (ERM) process.

The research emphasizes the need for clear definitions of materiality, consistent thresholds across frameworks, and alignment between risk processes and business strategy. The resulting approach transforms compliance from a reporting exercise into a strategic management process.

Member-Clients discussed how effective integration of climate risk into the ERM can deepen company-wide engagement by linking sustainability efforts with regular and recurring business-wide processes.

Global Corporate Decarbonization: Policy, Procurement, and Market Outlooks

We examined how shifting global market conditions and evolving policy frameworks are shaping renewable energy procurement strategies. SR Inc’s research team detailed how recent policy changes—especially the Budget Reconciliation Bill and forthcoming revisions to the GHG Protocol and Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)—are driving a renewed emphasis on high-impact, buyer-led renewables and additionality.

Discussions across HLS and ICT Roundtables explored how Member-Clients are adapting their procurement strategies to be both impactful and more flexible to framework change. Member-Clients reaffirmed their commitment to emissions-first virtual power purchase agreements (VPPAs) as the most scalable and impactful decarbonization mechanism, while also exploring new supplier engagement models—such as retiring Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs) on behalf of suppliers pursuing science-based targets.

Some leading ICT Member-Clients discussed initial work to internally or externally report additionality KPIs, quantifying the percentage of procured renewable energy that directly adds new grid capacity.

What Makes SBER Different

SBER’s quarterly Executive Symposia remain a hallmark of the shared-cost consulting model: blending peer insight with actionable, research-driven guidance. Member-Clients review in-progress deliverables and pressure-test them through confidential discussion with peers and SR Inc advisors.

The process ensures that every piece of SR Inc research is refined through real-world experience, strengthening its relevance and immediate utility. It is this ongoing collaboration—Member-Clients helping shape each other’s progress—that distinguishes SBER’s Strategic Advisory Services from conventional consulting.

SBER provides an integrated, six-phase change management solution designed to help enterprises design, build, and execute sustainability strategies that drive long-term value creation. Every quarter, the SBER team supports Member-Clients in navigating change, aligning business performance with life, and advancing a dignified, resilient corporate future.

What Comes Next

SR Inc looks forward to convening Member-Clients again for the Q4 Executive Symposium in December and continuing our shared work.