Global Goals Australia CEO, Caterina Sullivan, has been nominated for the Young Telstra Business Woman of the Year Awards for 2017.
Ms Sullivan was nominated for her efforts in working with federal, state and territory governments as well as local governments and businesses around Australia to work toward achieving the United Nations’ 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development for 2030 agreed to at the UN General Assembly in New York last year by 193 nations including Australia.
Establishing Strategic Sustainability Consultants earlier this year, Ms Sullivan is working with businesses around Australia, with a particular focus on small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs), to help them understand their responsibility as good corporate citizens in the achievement of the Global Goals.
“The goals require trillions of dollars of financing per year to ensure their achievement,” Ms Sullivan explained. “This money cannot possibly come from governments alone. That is why we need the involvement of business, both large and small, to ensure an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable future.”
Determined to support the United Nations’ Global Goals for Sustainable Development, Caterina Sullivan established the Global Goals Australia Campaign in March, 2016 to ensure all Australians understand and work towards sustainability. Drawing on the skills learnt during three months in New York with Global Citizen last year, Ms Sullivan has created Global Goals Australia. As CEO, Ms Sullivan is spearheading a campaign to raise awareness of the 17 goals signed off by 193 nations and to educate Australians on how they can work together to work towards a sustainable solution to poverty, fight inequality and injustice and fix climate change by 2030. In the lead-up to the 2016 Federal election, Ms Sullivan secured written commitments from the three major parties towards achieving the goals. She has also gathered the support of individuals, corporates and NGOs around the country.
“The long-term sustainability of the economy, our society and the environment is at the heart and soul of the Global Goals,” Ms Sullivan stated. “By achieving these goals, we will be securing a sustainable future for all. Every single decision made and action taken in the Global Goals Australia Campaign is done with future effects on both people and planet in mind.”