Nura Taef | Deloitte Canada
Nura's journey into climate action began in third grade when she joined her school's Environment Club.
“As a child, I was very passionate about what was happening in the environment, ensuring we were saving water and protecting animals from potential extinction. I was inspired at that age, thinking change was needed and that we had to educate ourselves on what was happening in the world.”
She earned a bachelor of commerce and her chartered professional accountant (CPA) designation and spent her first professional years focusing on corporate reporting, including complex accounting and audit.
With that experience, Nura sought a fresh career challenge and expertise in a different field of corporate reporting.
“I jumped at an opportunity to work on secondment at our London office in the UK and focus on the impact of climate change on financial reporting and our audit clients. On my return, I was tasked with developing and applying what I'd learned to a Canadian context for the launch of our Centre for Sustainability and Climate Action.”
“As a child, I was very passionate about what was happening in the environment, ensuring we were saving water and protecting animals from potential extinction. I was inspired at that age, thinking change was needed and that we had to educate ourselves on what was happening in the world.”
— Nura Taef
“The sheer scale and breadth of innovation from organizations looking to help the world decarbonize and tackle climate change is phenomenal. Seeing how ideas are being put into practice and how collectives are working together is very inspiring. It gives you hope that we can solve these problems.”
Nura at an elephant sanctuary in Bali
“Financial reporting in its simplest sense is telling an organization's story to its broader stakeholders. Sustainability reporting is telling those stakeholders the impact of climate change on the business and its impact on the climate. Crucially, your financial story depends on your sustainability story and vice versa. You can't look at them in isolation.”
“It is becoming foundational to build sustainability into how organizations do business and interact with their customers, suppliers, employees, and shareholders. Similarly, the connection between financial and non-financial reporting and storytelling is becoming critical because it's about telling not just what will happen but how. A story can only be authentic if it's embedded into the business, including its strategies, governance models, and risk management processes.”
“When telling a client's story on the impacts of people, planet and prosperity, there's a level of creativity and flexibility we can exercise, as reporting on these topics is in its infancy and we can help shape narratives.”
“There's been a lot of attention on greenwashing lately and it’s a big concern.”
“Reporting scope three emissions can be particularly challenging. The data inputs needed can be vast, which can bring the completeness and accuracy of reporting into question.”
“Just like with audited financial reports, stakeholders increasingly want that same level of confidence that the ESG metrics are correct. Assurance is one option to instill that confidence.”
Enjoying a tree-top view of the Bali rainforest
"Equitable can mean different things to different people at different points of this transition. We need to ensure that, while there is an urgency and importance to transitioning, it needs to be thoughtful.”
“There’s no single standard that makes everything equitable. Every organization is different. To operationalize an equitable and inclusive transition sustainably, we cannot push the same requirements on every organization. Different organizations will have various ways of responding. Allowing for those differences and capitalizing on the benefits these varied perspectives can offer are essential. “
“The pandemic offers valuable lessons on the speed and magnitude disruption can have on the economy, our lives, and organizations worldwide. “
“If we're not prepared, if we haven't created sustainable organizations that can withstand these many tests and challenges and crises, if we're not proactive, the impacts can be disastrous.”
“To operationalize an equitable and inclusive transition sustainably, we cannot push the same requirements on every organization. Different organizations will have various ways of responding. Allowing for those differences and capitalizing on the benefits these varied perspectives can offer are essential.“
— Nura Taef
“Almost everyone seems to be personally invested in sustainability, presenting an opportunity to bring that collective thinking and skill set together to develop your sustainability reporting as effectively as possible.”
“That collective effort across the organization also contributes to the authenticity of your storytelling.”
Connect with Nura
