Benefits of achieving balance

The benefits of achieving balance across these performance areas include:

Risk management

Addressing what needs to be done in the short term and prioritising action to address longer term environmental, social and governance risks

Cost efficiencies

Through reduction and more efficient use of resources

New revenue streams

From product and service innovation to support emerging social and environmental customer needs

Improved employee engagement/employer of choice

Through practices that invest in employee wellbeing and development

Strengthened reputation

Through stakeholder engagement and proven performance across financial, people, customer, shareholder, community and environmental goals

Expertise

Sarah Holden is the founder of Oxygen Consulting and has more than 20 years’ experience helping organisations achieve measurable success through business sustainability.

She has worked with businesses across most sectors and industries in New Zealand, supporting the development of sustainability strategy, and implementation of practical actions to make an impact.

Sarah has a PhD in environmental and marine science, is a recognised B Consultant (trained by B Lab Australia and New Zealand’s) and a trained Carbon Auditor (Certified Carbon Auditor Training - CEP).

She serves as a judge for the annual Sustainable Business Awards and is a member of the New Zealand Government’s Climate Business Advisory Group. She has previously been a member of the Sustainable Business Network (SBN) Advisory Board and a Future Leader Alumni representative on the Sustainable Business Council (SBC) Advisory Board.

Sarah is also member of the Institute of Directors (MInstD), Al Gore’s Climate Reality Leadership Corps, the Carbon and Energy Professionals Network (CEP), and is a volunteer in her local community fire brigade

Olly provides expert support across a broad range of our client services including carbon management, materiality assessment, certification programmes, strategy and policy development and sustainability reporting.  He has worked with Trade Me, Bupa, Stuff, European Motor Distributors, Green Acres (FBL), FAB Group, BDO NZ, Marsden Maritime Holdings, Suncorp NZ, OfficeMax, NZME, Oji Fibre Solutions, Spark, Summerset, New Zealand Home Loans and AA Insurance in these areas.

Olly was previously part of DB Breweries’ Sustainability Team, where he led its annual GRI-standard sustainability reporting, established DB Breweries 14064-1:2018 carbon inventory development and zero carbon pathway, and pioneered its waste reduction and plastic elimination strategy. Olly collaborated with Supply Chain, Marketing and Procurement functions to redesign DB Breweries’ Export beer packaging to be both more recyclable and easier to produce, achieving cost savings, a significant carbon footprint reduction and lessening problem plastic for end consumers.

Olly has a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours from the University of Canterbury and has completed the Carbon and Energy Professionals (CEP) Carbon Auditors accreditation programme.

Olly is focused on helping organisations optimise all aspects of their business for sustainable, enduring value creation.

Kelly has supported our clients AA Insurance, Airways, Auckland Airport, Marsden Maritime Holdings, Ballantynes Department Store, OfficeMax, Smartpay, Les Mills New Zealand, NZME, Harvey Furnishings, Callaghan Innovation, Stuff, and Kiwibank with materiality assessment, sustainability strategy, sustainability reporting, climate-related disclosures and carbon management. 

She also leads Oxygen Consulting’s Insights on Aotearoa New Zealand Sustainability Professionals research, working in partnership with the Sustainable Business Council, Sustainable Business Network and Auckland University of Technology.

Kelly has a Master of Public Policy (First Class Honours) from the University of Auckland. Her research investigated the considerations New Zealand should give when designing and implementing managed retreat policy for climate change adaptation.

Kelly has also completed Maurea Consulting’s Māori cultural competency programme Te Kaa and Carbon and Energy Professionals’ Identifying Carbon Reduction Opportunities training course.

She is passionate about sustainable development and ensuring a just transition to a low-emissions future.

Jack joined Oxygen Consulting following two years in the management consulting industry. Previously working at Deloitte, Jack assisted various clients ranging from large public sector organisations to small private sector companies in their business transformation, process optimisation, and operational excellence needs. In collaboration with the Sustainable Business Council and Toitū Tahua, Jack assisted with the publishing of the 2022 CFO Sustainability Snapshot Survey which provided insights gathered from New Zealand CFOs on the progress of their organisations towards a more sustainable economy, and any barriers which might limit progression.

He co-founded the Butterfly Fish Foundation, which is focused on breaking down the barriers between the corporate and the scientific world and assisting both industries towards their shared goal, climate action. 

Jack gained his Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Canterbury, majoring in Operations and Supply Chain Management and has a Certificate in Science.

Jack is truly passionate about ocean sustainability, and the sustainability of food and agriculture.