AUCKLAND, Today: Porter Novelli NZ has announced the launch of a specialised sustainability practice, and has appointed James Walker as executive director – sustainability, to lead development of the new practice alongside MD Sarah Williams and executive directors Louise Wright and Jane Luscombe.
Walker has extensive experience driving sustainability programmes across the public and private sector, most recently at the Ministry for the Environment, and Woolworths Group.
Sarah Williams says the agency has long recognised the importance of sustainability to New Zealand businesses and has witnessed an acceleration of corporates wanting to make a positive environmental and social impact.
“CEOs and executive teams are increasingly asking for help on how they can make a tangible difference,” she says.
“We’ve moved beyond ‘why should we’ to ‘what can we do’ to benefit customers, employees, investors and the environment. That’s where we come in, helping to make businesses better through identifying what needs to be done, then creating strategies and programmes which have impact and deliver results.”
In his most recent role, as deputy secretary partnerships & customers at the Ministry for the Environment, Walker led the ministry’s division responsible for mobilising New Zealanders and partnering with change-makers.
He led work on the transition to a circular economy; collaborative action on plastic packaging and bags; the ministry’s sustainability strategy; environmental innovation; and the public consultation on the development of the Zero Carbon Bill.
“James Walker will work across the Clemenger Group to help clients achieve their sustainability ambitions.”
Prior to his role at MfE, he was GM corporate affairs at Woolworths Group NZ, where he managed Countdown’s sustainability strategy and reporting programme. There he led initiatives such as the company’s single-use plastic bag ban – the first supermarket to do so – and industry-leading domestic violence and transgender transitioning policies.
Formerly, he worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade as a policy officer (trade and environment) and then deputy ambassador to The Netherlands.
“From my time working across retail and government, I get a kick out of helping businesses make a real difference,” he said. “Business can lead environmental and social change, because it can move fast, is willing to experiment, and can bring people along.
“I’m really looking forward to starting up this new practice, alongside my old mates Sarah and Lou, and the team at Porter Novelli. Getting alongside a range of different businesses to help them make an impact is going to be a huge buzz.”
Sarah Williams: “As our thinking around a sustainability practice gathered pace, all roads led to James being the right person to help bring this to life. His track record at driving change, his connections and influencing skills, plus his Porter Novelli-aligned sense of humour made it a no-brainer. James is a former client and the mutual trust and respect is a fantastic place to start.”
Porter Novelli’s new sustainability practice will include strategy development, identifying community and social programmes, brokering partnerships and connections, working with government and creatively telling stories.
Walker will work across the Clemenger Group, which Porter Novelli NZ is a part of, to help businesses and clients to achieve their sustainability ambitions – and to communicate their actions effectively.
Porter Novelli is a member of the Sustainable Business Council, and the Clemenger Group is Enviro-Mark and Rainbow Tick accredited. SPCA NZ is the agency’s charity partner and Sarah Williams leads the Clemenger NZ Diversity and Inclusion Group.
About Porter Novelli New Zealand
Porter Novelli New Zealand is an award-winning public relations consultancy, offering services across the communications, marketing and strategy spectrum. Porter Novelli works with a range of clients, from global corporations to small businesses and not-for-profits. All our work is centred around making business better through strategic communications and creative storytelling. The consultancy is part of a vibrant network of 45 advertising, communications and marketing agencies in New Zealand and Australia, owned by the Clemenger Group. It has links with 100 Porter Novelli offices in 60 countries.
Share this Post
