Better balanced future

Want a sustainable future? Become an expert in it, suggests Lauren Ahwan

GROWING concern for the environment and social justice is translating to high demand for sustainability professionals.

Companies are rushing to create sustainability manager jobs, with more than 90 per cent of CEOs now consider sustainability important to their organisation’s success.

Sustainability expert Simone Awramenko says both customers and workers are driving demand.

“Sustainability, corporate responsibility, better business, shared value creation or even purpose driving business – whatever you call it, it’s becoming more and more important to business,’’ she says.

“Corporates are feeling a number of pressures to act in a more sustainable way … from customers pressuring them to do better for the planet … (and) from investors wanting to see a business that they invest in is aware and manages long-term non-financial risks to their business.

“Don’t forget employees. Most young people now would quit a job if they thought their employer was unethical.’’

Awramenko says sustainability officers and managers now work across every industry. She advises those wanting to take advantage of the employment opening to ensure they are well-skilled.

“A degree, or masters, is becoming more important,” Awremenko says.

“In part, this is because it is a competitive market and it shows your knowledge and commitment.

“Plus, sustainability is a complex and evolving area so it helps to be on top of trends and how businesses are meeting changing legislation, expectations and pressures.’’

University of South Australia sustainability and ethics senior lecturer Sukhbir Sandhu says the new focus on sustainability as an employment option is not without its drawbacks, as companies struggle to determine how much structure or flexibility to provide to sustainability managers.

“In the absence of formal structures, (sustainability managers) often feel like they’re on an uncharted journey … they struggle to access organisational resources and have limited discretion,’’ Sandhu says.

UniSA human resource management professor Carol Kulik said: “Too much structure will stifle creativity and innovation (but) too much freedom will lead to ambiguity and chaos.”

She said as sustainability managers become more commonplace, employers will better strike structural balance and allow workers to operate more effectively within their role.