As global demands for sustainability intensify, businesses are increasingly compelled to adopt sustainable practices to secure their market share, financing, and long-term viability. Meeting these expectations requires a skilled workforce capable of transforming commitments into meaningful progress.

Addressing the sustainability talent gap is a collective responsibility. This year’s GO ESG 2024 Symposium, organised by the UN Global Compact Network Malaysia & Brunei (UNGCMYB), underscores the pivotal role that learning and development play in equipping the workforce to meet today’s sustainability demands to drive meaningful change.

Under the theme ‘Empowering Talent in Achieving the SDGs’, the event drew over 300 high-level executives, sustainability practitioners, and business leaders. This half-day symposium fostered dynamic discussions and collaboration, offering strategies that can be adopted to build competencies in the workforce.

Tan Sri Dato’ Johari bin Abdul, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat, in his keynote address, emphasised the urgent need for a skilled workforce adept at navigating the complexities of sustainability to drive innovation and ensure competitiveness in evolving markets.

He also mentioned, “Organisations must equip their workforce with essential skills, such as a deep understanding of ESG principles, innovative problem-solving, and the ability to collaborate across functions. By investing in comprehensive training programmes, mentorship, and hands-on opportunities to apply these skills in real-world scenarios, we can develop a generation of leaders ready to embed sustainable practices at the very core of our organisations. This is how we transform commitment into impact.”

To address the evolving demands of sustainability practices, the symposium also saw the launch of the Corporate Sustainability Practitioner (CSP) Competency Framework 2.0 (CSP 2.0) – to support credentials building of practitioners and professionals involved in Malaysia’s corporate sustainability space.

Developed jointly by Bursa Malaysia and UNGCMYB, this enhanced version builds on the original CSP framework introduced in 2021. CSP 2.0 brings forth critical new competencies, aligning with the latest developments in reporting standards such as the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) S1 & S2, and more.

This essential resource serves as the foundation for learning and development, enabling organisations to strategically build their teams’ competencies. By identifying key skills, the framework ensures that teams are equipped to navigate the complexities of sustainability and deliver meaningful, long-term impact.

“The CSP Competency Framework 2.0 marks a pivotal advancement in Malaysia’s corporate sustainability journey,” said Faroze Nadar, Executive Director of UNGCMYB. “Expanding on the original framework, this updated version equips organisations with future-fit competency mapping to identify, recruit, and nurture top sustainability talent, ensuring that organisations remain agile and future-ready in an evolving ESG landscape.”

“It is imperative that companies continue to invest in their workforce to them with the latest skills, and resilience to prepare them to lead in a complex regulatory environment. The CSP 2.0 framework is key to this initiative, providing a structured path for talent development that supports both our corporate sustainability goals and Malaysia’s broader ambitions in the ESG sphere,” added Dr Hezri.

The event opened with a fireside chat on regional sustainability challenges and talent development, followed by insights from Mohd Azharuddin Mat Sah, CEO of Prasarana Malaysia Berhad on leadership’s role in fostering responsible practices. Closing the session, Dr. Kasuma Satria Mat Jadi, Chief Human Resources & Sustainability Officer at AEON, shared an HR perspective on aligning workforce skills with sustainability goals.

UNGCMYB extends its appreciation to all partners, including Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad, Capital Markets Malaysia (CMM), Kenanga Investment Bank, Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporated), Prasarana and Sarawak Energy Berhad for their support in making the GO ESG Symposium 2024 a success. As part of the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative, UNGCMYB remains committed to empowering a future-ready workforce and supporting the nation's pledge to achieve impactful, accelerated progress by 2030.

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