Deloitte has an appreciation of the significance of Generative AI (GenAI) and the need to guide Boards and leadership teams in its adoption. Our thoughtful approach offers global perspectives and practical information to ensure the safe and strategic integration of this transformative technology. 

To lead our efforts, we appointed a GenAI lead, Dr. Amanda J. Williamson, dedicated to helping businesses understand and effectively implement this technology. Key initiatives include the creation of the Generative AI Dossier, providing a comprehensive look at global usage and applications, and conducting an Asia Pacific survey to offer benchmarks for business leaders to compare their progress with regional counterparts. Additionally, we shared Deloitte's Trustworthy AI framework with Boards and leadership teams to promote responsible and ethical AI use.

Our engagement activities have been both thorough and targeted. We organised specific Board education sessions to inform members about the opportunities and safe practices associated with GenAI. These sessions aimed to demystify the technology and highlight its potential benefits beyond common perceptions. Moreover, we hosted several roundtable events for Directors, offering a platform for deeper discussions and collaborative learning on AI-related topics.

A recent highlight was an event centred on AI, which brought together governance leaders from various industries. The event featured interactive discussions among 20 board directors, who shared their experiences with GenAI. These conversations echoed findings from our Generative AI in Asia Pacific report, shedding light on the adoption, challenges, and benefits of Generative AI across the region. The evening underscored the crucial role governance leaders play in addressing increasingly complex AI-related issues and fostering meaningful dialogue.

We remain committed to supporting organisational leaders in realising the potential of GenAI safely and effectively. By continuing these conversations and sharing knowledge, we aim to empower leadership teams to navigate the complexities of AI and harness its transformative power responsibly.

At Deloitte New Zealand, we are focused on systems-level efforts to drive meaningful action and change for the better. Our ecosystems and connections are a pivotal part of this. We are active members of the Sustainable Business Council (SBC), New Zealand’s partner to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

Despite the growing commitment to ESG shown by businesses, the ‘social’ aspect of Environmental, Social and Governance leadership is lagging behind. To support SBC’s Thriving People programme, we collaborated on the 2023 Strengthening the ‘S’ in ESG for Aotearoa businesses report, which sets out the basis for defining social sustainability through the lens of te ao Māori. The report provides practical tools and recommendations and helped identify the role SBC can play in supporting its members to lead positive action. 

Towards the end of 2023, the SBC’s CEO-led Climate Leaders Coalition (CLC) celebrated five years with a snapshot report reflecting on what has been accomplished so far. Deloitte New Zealand is a proud member of CLC. We support its ambition in leading the way on climate adaptation and transition, and creating momentum that influences all businesses to act on climate change.  

Together we can make an impact that matters, and we are proud to be part of the ecosystems that are leading the way in this space.

Deloitte’s Directors’ Programme offers thought leadership, connections, and platforms for board members to meet, discuss current topics, and exchange ideas across different industries and organisations.

The programme is made up of a series of events, initiatives, and engagements designed to foster connections and knowledge exchange. 

Of particular note are our quarterly Directors’ Dinners, where board members can come together to discuss current topics and listen to guest speakers. Recent topics have included cyber security, generative artificial intelligence, workforce transformation and digital infrastructure. 

We also host an online Directors’ Hub where directors can access current developments, Deloitte perspectives and events. The latest reports and thought leadership pieces from Deloitte, covering local and global topics, are shared in our quarterly newsletter which is curated specifically for our audience of board directors. 

With boards facing the challenges of a rapidly evolving business landscape, Deloitte New Zealand is here to help. These programmes and platforms help Deloitte foster deeper engagements with governance leaders while supporting the exchange of ideas and knowledge across Aotearoa’s industries and organisations.

At Deloitte, we strive to support positive human, economic, social, and natural capital. One way we contribute is through procurement, ensuring our suppliers are committed to creating a more inclusive and equitable society.

Deloitte New Zealand works with over 600 direct suppliers in categories like travel, real estate, HR, technology, and business services. Seventy-five percent of our supplier spend is with just 50 suppliers, most of whom are based in New Zealand. For some categories, such as software, we leverage Deloitte’s global procurement while focusing on building local relationships.

Several of our WorldClimate goals directly involve our suppliers and their progress on sustainable outcomes. Our Supplier Code of Conduct includes aspirational targets to protect Te Taiao, our natural world, and its people. By the end of FY25, we aim for two-thirds of our suppliers (by emissions) to set science-based targets validated by the Science-based Targets initiative (SBTi). In FY24, we reached out to key suppliers to share our goals and understand their emissions reduction efforts. By the end of FY24, eighteen suppliers had set targets with SBTi, and another six had committed to doing so.

Over the past year, we've strengthened sustainability criteria in RFPs for large tenders and delivered sustainable procurement training to key staff. This training covered human rights and modern slavery risks in supply chains, offering practical steps for our people.

We embrace Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles, respecting Te Ao Māori in our operations. We collaborated with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei to incorporate cultural designs into our new build in Tāmaki Makaurau. Our opening celebrations featured artists who explained the cultural design significance, honouring Tāmaki Makaurau iwi and mana whenua, reflecting our values of mahitahi.