G&A Sphere: 2024 in Review & Looking Forward in 2025

NYC Climate Week Event Success

In September, G&A partnered with our long-time friends at GRI to host a very successful event during NYC Climate Week, discussing how companies can report on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within a double materiality approach.

We thank everyone who joined us for this important conversation. Camila Corradi Bracco, Policy Senior Coordinator at GRI, summed up the event perfectly: “While the workshop crystallized the widening gap in reporting maturity across different markets, it also offered a clearer picture of the common challenges and opportunities ahead. The outcomes from the discussion underscored that this is an area that needs further exploration and thought leadership, and we are grateful to all those who participated on such a forward-thinking topic.” The event was sponsored by Baruch College at the Zicklin School of Business.

We look forward to working with GRI again at Climate Week 2025!

IRL Face Time

We took advantage of a G&A team members coming to NYC to attend Reuters Events’ Sustainability USA 2024 in October. It was great to see all these faces gathered around a table to break bread and catch up in person at The Terrace and Outdoor Gardens restaurant in Times Square.

Welcome Our New Hires

We have expanded our team with many talented members, adding seven new colleagues in 2024 that we are proud to call part of G&A. Starting from the top and going clockwise, our new hires are: Joshua Baer, Madeline Blankenship, Grace Cusack, Serina Lin, Gabriella Leuthner, Neil Bradley, Yuka Korinek, and Neva Modric.

View Team

Our busy fall continued with speaking at and attending exciting events, including:

Reuters Sustainability USA

At Reuters Sustainability USA, G&A CEO Lou Coppola moderated a panel on “Sustainability Reporting: Harnessing the same rigor as financial reporting” with John Hodges at Bristol Myers Squibb, Rachel Mattes Greenberg at Citizens and Kara Reske from SC Johnson. As companies increasingly are navigating regulated reporting, G&A is guiding the way to ensure decision useful, auditable reporting and data. (Above)

Reuters Sustainability USA – Part 2

Also at Reuters Sustainability USA, Annie Roberts, VP Climate Consulting, spoke on “From Customers to Investors: Understanding stakeholder expectations to drive transition across the value chain.” (Left)

IR Awards Dinner

We enjoyed catching up with DFIN friends at IR Magazine’s Corporate Governance Awards. From left to right, Ron Schneider, Director of Corporate Governance Services; Alex Cohen, SVP, Sustainability Consulting; Faye Leone, VP, Sustainability Content; and Frank Kelley, Director & Head of ESG. (Right)

Reuters Next

In December, Alex Cohen led a dynamic and interactive workshop at Reuters Next on “What’s NEXT in sustainability: Ensuring that businesses meet global reporting requirements.” (Bottom)

Research and Reports

We kept our networks up to speed, an essential part of G&A’s mission, by issuing reports and briefs: Sustainability Reporting in Focus 2024 – IFRS Sustainability Standards Key Takeaways: What To Know About IFRS S1 & S2 – IFRS Sustainability Standards Quick Reference Guide. We are working on helpful new resources for release in the coming weeks – stay tuned!

Remote Team Building & Bonding

Keeping our team members included and connected is a top priority as we nurture our remote company culture. Led by Amy Gallagher, COO, we had fun at a virtual Thanksgiving gathering when we created a Grateful Shout-outs Board (above) that illustrates how we appreciate our peers. We ended our year with a virtual “Gingerbread Games” holiday party and showed off our cookie decorating skills (below).

Pathfinders Webinar Series

Throughout 2024, G&A provided a series of “Pathfinder” webinars, concluding with sessions on COSO controls with Bob Hirth, COSO Chair Emeritus, and Douglas Hileman, Douglas Hileman Consulting, LLC, and on ISSB reporting standards with Neil Stewart, Director of Corporate Outreach, IFRS Foundation. More to come in 2025.

View Pathfinders

Looking Ahead & Trends We’re Watching

• 2025 Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) that will take effect not only for EU-listed companies but all companies headquartered anywhere with operations in the EU that meet 2 of 3 criteria (more than 250 employees, +€50 million in annual turnover, +€25 million in total assets).
• The Canadian Sustainability Standards Board (CSSB) release of the first set of Canadian Sustainability Disclosure Standards which are broadly aligned with ISSB’s IFRS S1 and IFRS S2 frameworks. The CSSB gave businesses some transitional relief: two years to align the timing of financial and sustainability reporting and report Scope 3 emissions; and three years for quantitative scenario analysis. Adoption of the Standards is currently voluntary for companies doing business in Canada.
• Finalization of California State Rules for companies with total annual revenues greater than $1 billion that does any business in California will be subject to climate disclosure requirements.
• Corporate reporting and accountability trend-setters and leaders from companies that continue to voluntarily undertake sustainability reporting and action, which have become widely accepted best practices.
• How the new US Administration will affect corporate sustainability reporting.

Curious how these frameworks and regulations could affect your business? Let’s talk!