CSR Institute Talk: The Changing Landscape of Corporate Disclosure – Why CSR Reporting Matters

Whether referred to as corporate social responsibility, corporate responsibility, or corporate sustainability, the practice of firms committing to address environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues, and reporting on performance, is increasingly become a mainstream preoccupation.  More than 9000 firms have committed to the 10 sustainability principles of the UN Global Compact.  More than 80 countries have adopted the ISO 26000 social responsibility standard as a national standard (including Canada).  It has been reported that 74% of the largest global companies now use the Global Reporting Initiative’s process for tracking and reporting their sustainability performance. A number of other reporting standards and initiatives have also emerged across the globe. In addition to some individual countries moving to adopt a mandatory non-financial reporting approach for their corporate sectors, the EU has now put in place a directive requiring non-financial reporting by large firms headquartered in EU member countries.  

CSR reporting has changed significantly since it was first introduced over twenty years ago as a means for companies to communicate their CSR policies. While over 65% of Canada’s largest companies report on their non-financial performance, Canada still lags within the context of global reporting, and smaller and medium-sized companies have not kept pace with their larger counterparts.

This panel will discuss the latest research re: corporate reporting in Canada, macro trends concerning reporting standards, and specific ways that companies are using the GRI Standards, connections to the legal framework, and the impacts that reporting is having on how companies work with stakeholder and organizations within their supply chain.

This event is co-sponsored by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Stakeholder Research Associates (SRA), the Ryerson CSR Student Association, the Ryerson Commerce and Government Association, and the Ryerson Law and Business Student Association.  This event is supported by the Trade Commissioner Service of Global Affairs Canada

Alyson Genovese (Head of Corporate & Stakeholder Relations, USA & Canada, Global Reporting Initiative) - With more than 20 years of corporate and non-profit sector experience in corporate social responsibility, public affairs, corporate citizenship, sustainability communications and stakeholder engagement, Alyson has worked as an internal executive, a freelance consultant and a trusted advisor.

Katie Fedosenko (Senior Communications and Reporting Specialist, Teck Resources Ltd.) - Katie has worked in communications at Teck since 2013 and is currently responsible for managing Teck’s annual sustainability report. She got her start in the mining industry in Australia, working with Rio Tinto on communications about their reclamation programs. Katie holds a BA from the University of British Columbia and was recently named one of Green Biz’s 30 Under 30.

Kathrin Bohr (Senior Partner, Stakeholder Research Associates - SRA) – With a degree in Business & Sustainability from the Schulich School of Business, Kathrin has over 15 years experience working in the field of CSR and Sustainability and has supported many leading Canadian and international companies in establishing and improving their reporting practices. She is GRI certified and developed the first GRI training for the Chinese market.

Dr. Kernaghan Webb (LLB., LLM., LLD.) (Associate Professor, Ted Rogers School of Management and Director of the CSR Institute, Ryerson University) – Working with intergovernmental, governmental, private sector and civil society organizations, Dr. Webb has extensive experience developing and implementing innovative approaches to regulation, and has written and published widely on this subject, with his work cited and followed by the Supreme Court of Canada and recognized by the Standards Council of Canada.