Sustainability is more than just the environment. If you look at the UN Sustainable Development Goals, it's also about accessibility, equity, and inclusion in multiple areas of society, and covers things like the economy, infrastructure, community, and yes, climate and the environment. But they're the kinds of goals that bring everybody up so that no one is left behind.

Join us in our conversation with Dr Sandy Chong, founding member of the Sustainable Development Goals Forum in WA, former president of the United Nations Association of WA, and member of the World Economic Forum Expert Network. We speak about the impact of digital inclusion and how the UN Sustainable Development Goals benefit us all, and are for now, not later.

About Dr Sandy Chong 

A Harvard Alumna and Principal of Verity Consulting, Dr Sandy Chong is an award-winning Executive of the Year, Asia's Top Sustainability Women of the Year, and Singapore Management Consultant of the Year. The former President of the United Nations Association and the Founding Chair of the UN SDGs Business Forums in Western Australia, Sandy has chaired international forums that promote digital and energy transition. These include the inaugural Web3 for Sustainability Conference, the Intercity Hydrogen delegation between Singapore and Australia, and the upcoming AI & Data Science of Business Conference in Singapore. She was recently invited to speak on Digital Inclusion and the Impact of AI in International Trade convened by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Geneva. With over 20 years’ experience leading multidisciplinary projects, advising trade agencies and industry councils, Sandy currently serves on public-listed board and is the Chair of the ASEAN Business Alliance. Earning a Ph.D. in Digital Commerce in 2003 and appointed Adjunct Professor of Curtin University, Sandy has published peer-reviewed journals on international business, innovation adoption and sustainability since 2005.

Show Notes (link)

[00:01:09 ] Sandy's journey from marketing and management information systems.

[00:02:50 ] The cycles of growth in technology.

[00:04:06 ] The anthropological view of technology in society.

[00:05:58 ] Technological transformation and change management.

[00:08:19 ] Starting clients on the path to digital adoption.

[00:13:34 ] Bringing about cultural change within an organisation.

[00:15:35 ] Play to the strengths of your people, and help them thrive.

[00:18:30 ] The risks behind digital adoption accelerating past digital literacy.

[00:20:38 ] Closing the gap on digital literacy of new technologies.

[00:24:48 ] The ethics of technology and how we use it.

[00:26:42 ] Building (and keeping) trust.

[00:28:53 ] Transparency and authenticity in your leadership.

[00:32:37 ] Sandy's work with the UN Association of Australia and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

[00:34:22 ] Change can only be made when ideas leave the activism space.

[00:38:46 ] Australia's ranking for the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

[00:41:01 ] The pragmatic reasons for taking action.

[00:43:08 ] How private enterprise and communities measure their performance with the SDGs.

[00:47:13 ] What advice would you give someone who'd like to do what you do and what advice should they ignore?

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Hosted and produced by Michele Ong.

Music is "Gypsy Jazz in Paris 1935" by Brett Van Donsel.

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