Suzy Giles
on harnessing the power of communication for sustainability
For Suzy Giles, sustainability is a beacon of positivity and possibility - much like the sunflower she admires, always turning to the sun and drawing energy from what is natural, visible, and life-giving. “I’m fascinated by how they behave - solar powered, vibrant, and resilient,” she says. That same energy underpins her work as Managing Director of Giles Global, where she helps organisations across the globe translate complex ESG and sustainability challenges into clear, engaging communications.
Suzy’s journey was shaped in 2009 at the University of East Anglia during the Climategate crisis, when thousands of climate research emails were stolen in an attempt to discredit climate science. “It was my baptism of fire in crisis communications,” she recalls. “I learned that no matter how solid your data, if you can’t communicate it effectively, the impact is lost.” This insight drives her mission today: to help businesses communicate sustainability authentically, build their brand around purpose, and bring their people along on the journey.
She guides leaders in implementing transparent, authentic communications strategies that amplify their sustainability efforts. From crafting ESG messaging to change management support, Suzy ensures that progress is understood, valued, and shared. “Investing in technology and compliance is vital, but without storytelling and engagement, real change doesn’t stick,” she says.
Suzy’s approach to engagement is simple: make it relevant, focus on a few things done well, and demonstrate measurable value. She draws inspiration from the Indigenous perspective that caring for the land is a privilege, and believes Aotearoa’s superpower lies in its proximity to nature, entrepreneurial spirit, and the ability to witness climate impacts first-hand.
Her advice to rising changemakers? “Spend time on the positive. There’s so much to be hopeful about.” And the seed of change she hopes to plant: “Accept the science of climate change and focus on what we can do for the future of our children.”
One actionable takeaway from Suzy: find one piece of positive sustainability content and share it—small ripples create big impact.
BLOOMING Sustainability Questionnaire
Name: Suzy Giles
Company & Title: Giles Global, Managing Director
Website & LinkedIn Profile: www.gilesglobal.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzy-giles/
* Guiding Values | Kaupapa
If sustainability were a flower blooming in your life, what would it look like? What nurtures it?
Definitely a sunflower as they are solar powered! In Italian they are called Girasole – which means turn to the sun – I’ve always been fascinated by the way they behave and are so visibly powered by the sun. so always attracted by the natural source of power and not an artificial one.
A quote, personal motto or whakataukī that reflects your vision:
I have to quote David Attenborough here: Saving our planet is now a communications challenge. I start all my presentations with this and it reminds me whenever I get locked down a rabbit hole in reading data on energy and climate change, that this knowledge is useless if we can’t effectively communicate it. It’s why the work my sector does is so important.
If you could mentor a rising change-maker in Aotearoa, what advice would you share?
There’s a lot to be hopeful about – so spend time on the positive and not the doom and gloom that we get sucked in to when talking about climate change. We can still make a very positive impact with our work, and we need more hope to be conveyed in the work we do.
* Leading Change | Arataki
A key moment in your journey that shaped your path:
In 2009 I was working at the University of East Anglia in the UK, which is famous for its research into climate change. The climatic research unit was hacked and thousands of e-mails were stolen. This started a crisis which is referred to as ‘Climate Gate’. It was a concerted effort by climate deniers to discredit the work of the climate change research community and try and state that global warming wasn’t happening. It is the first time I experienced the strength of climate change denial and the lengths some will go to, to deny the science. It was a baptism of fire into crisis communications! But a wake-up call for the importance of due diligence over mis and disinformation which today is facing an even greater challenge with AI.
What’s the main challenge you face in driving sustainability within your sector?
I’ve worked across lots of different sectors and currently the main challenge is an economic one. People assume that making progress with sustainability is lower down the list of priorities than other business development areas. But the reality is that sustainability is an economic issue and incorporating it into your business strategy is about building long-term resilience.
An area you need more support with:
Convincing leaders that while investing in the technical aspects of lowering emissions, teams also need change management and communications support. Often the focus is on compliance, but implementation doesn’t just naturally occur – it takes support and training.
An Indigenous perspective you admire and want people to be mindful of:
While I’m new to New Zealand and still learning about Maori culture, I love the idea that what we take from the land is a privilege and not a right. Care and respect for our planet is so much more part of our way of life here.
Your best approach for engaging stakeholders in meaningful dialogue about ESG:
Make it relevant to them and what they need. I sometimes despair when I see a materiality assessment where an organization tries to make everything relevant. It’s better to do a few things well and demonstrate their value. The power of three is something we use in communications messaging!
What do you think is Aotearoa’s superpower in creating a sustainable future?
Its proximity to nature and the ability to see the impact of climate change today is something which unites communities here like I haven’t personally experienced before. I’m convinced there is an entrepreneurial spirit here that means we can find clever solutions to dealing with emissions.
* Surfing the Green Wave | Kakariki
Books, podcasts, courses or other resources that profoundly shaped your approach to sustainability:
Mark Shayler – a UK sustainability professional who I so admire. He’s an amazing presenter, great communicator and writer. His book: ‘You can’t make money from a dead planet’ is a great resource for understanding the context we are working in. He also has a podcast which accompanies the book.
Alison Taylor – she is a professor at NYU Stern School of Business in the US. She teaches ethics and sustainability and is such an amazing knowledge on business and ESG. Her book ‘Higher Ground’ is a must for business leaders – it’s on how leaders can do the right thing in a turbulent world.
I currently have a contract to produce a book on sustainability communications which will be out next year – so hopefully people will find that helpful!
Events in Aotearoa or globally that you think are must-attend:
The Sustainable Business Network here in NZ is a great source of events, including online talks by sustainable business leaders.
Globally, I think that Climate Week London is now more popular than New York Climate week, and brings together some very interesting people working in this space.
A sustainable initiative or project in Aotearoa that deserves more attention:
I’m really interested in innovation around carbon capture and innovators like Aspiring Materials, who have developed technology which can remove carbon are the kind of innovation I think we need to see: https://www.breakthroughenergy.org/fellows-project/aspiring-materials/
If your work could plant one seed of change for the future, what would it be?
That we accept the science around climate change and focus on what we can do for the future of our children.
The leader(s) you endorse for a future edition of Blooming Sustainability:
Jennifer Gunn – The Commercial Communications Council. She is Head of Sustainability for Advertising Net Zero and leads the movement here, which is being driven globally, to remove emissions from the advertising industry. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifergunn/
* One actionable takeaway for our readers to make a change today for a brighter tomorrow:
Find one piece of positive content about the future of sustainability on social media and share it!
