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Meet the Shared Value Project’s new board directors

July 27, 2021

Responding to an increased appetite and need for socio-economic solutions, we’ve appointed three esteemed new board directors to support and guide the growth of shared value: BoardQ founder and principal Dr Meena Thuraisingham, SuperFriend CEO Margo Lydon and Cochlear VP Communications and Brand Jennifer Stevenson.

We sat down with each of them to get their views on shared value now, and into the future . . .

 

DR MEENA THURAISINGHAM, BoardQ founder and principal

What motivated you to join the Shared Value Project now, and what do you believe is the most important role that shared value can play moving forward?

On so many levels I recognise we are at an inflection point. We face a crisis of confidence in the future, not to mention a crisis of trust in our leaders to offer systemic solutions to the problems we face as a people and planet. There is a clear role shared value plays in bringing organisational purpose into sharper focus, building sustainable practices, fostering unlikely coalitions to drive deeper into social change, and proving that social and economic value can co-exist.

My own work with systems change, which recognises the role of a leader as a catalyst and enabler of behaviour change, seemed to be a natural fit with SVP’s approach to encouraging and empowering business to meet societal expectations around sustainable change. In joining the board, I hope I will be able to bring my experience and insight to SVP and contribute in a small way to furthering SVP’s mission.

 

MARGO LYDON, SuperFriend CEO

What motivated you to join the Shared Value Project now, and what do you believe is the most important role that shared value can play moving forward?

The time for shared value is now! As a result of COVID, climate change and other social movements that are gaining traction, we need to see industry, governments and communities working better collectively to solve some of these enormous challenges. And this is the power of shared value – how it enables the collective strengths of different stakeholders to come together and create sustainable positive change.

It is my strong belief that when industries, communities and governments embrace and genuinely prioritise creating economic and social benefit in their policies and work practices, it generates competitive advantages and meaningful change. I am excited to be joining the board, as I see shared value working in harmony with other sustainable business practices, such as ESG and the SDGs, and think its greatest strength is in its practical application that is flexible enough to be tailored to any business, industry, government, or community. It is a brilliant vehicle to bring diverse stakeholders together for economic and social value and benefit.

 

JENNIFER STEVENSON, Cochlear VP Communications and Brand 

What motivated you to join the Shared Value Project now, and what do you believe is the most important role that shared value can play moving forward?

There has never been a more important time for sectors to connect, and recognise the significant value and societal benefit that can be realised when business, government, academia and not-for-profits come together. The Shared Value Project are breaking down the barriers around understanding of shared value, and enabling stakeholders to see how commercial success and the improvement of social and environmental conditions do not need to be mutually exclusive.

I’m excited to join the Shared Value Project on this mission and bring the perspectives of global businesses in rising to the challenge of delivering shared value. As a leader in business, I witness that lack of education and understanding of shared value often hampers its adoption. However, when leaders – and entire organisations – appreciate how profit and purpose can intersect, the results are powerful. As such, I believe shared value has an important role to play in providing clarity, by offering a framework for how to achieve holistic socio-economic success. Given my long-held passion for communication, education and storytelling, I look forward to supporting SVP in bringing this to life, and helping Australia do business differently.

 

For a full list of SVP’s board members, see here.