ESG & CSRD Assurance by Design Workshop, UTRECHT

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) has emerged as a critical framework for businesses to operate responsibly, drive sustainable value, and meet growing regulatory and societal expectations. ESG reporting plays a pivotal role in transparency, allowing organisations to demonstrate their commitment to ethical practices, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility. With regulatory requirements like the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) coming into force, companies must embed ESG considerations into their core strategies, operations, and governance structures to remain competitive and compliant.

In this workshop, Michael Rasmussen, a renowned expert in GRC, will provide a strategic blueprint for designing and managing a robust ESG program. Attendees will learn how to integrate ESG considerations across their organisation, from governance structures and risk management to reporting and regulatory compliance. This workshop emphasises the importance of a proactive, comprehensive approach to ESG, empowering participants to design frameworks that not only comply with regulations but also drive long-term value creation and resilience.

What You Will Learn:

• ESG Strategy and Management. Understand how to align ESG goals with broader business strategies and build an ESG framework that addresses environmental, social, and governance challenges.
• ESG Reporting and Compliance. Learn the key requirements of ESG reporting, including how to meet the EU CSRD and other global regulatory demands, and develop transparent, accurate, and auditable ESG reports.
• Risk and Opportunity Management. Discover how to identify ESG risks and opportunities, integrate them into enterprise risk management, and leverage ESG performance to enhance organisational resilience and stakeholder trust.
• Technology and Data Architecture. Explore the role of technology in ESG management, including data collection, analysis, and reporting tools that streamline ESG efforts across decentralised and global operations.

Who Should Attend?

• ESG, Governance, Risk, and Compliance professionals tasked with integrating and managing ESG strategies across their organisations.
• Business leaders focused on driving sustainable value through environmental, social, and governance initiatives.
• Sustainability officers and professionals responsible for managing ESG compliance and reporting.
• Audit, legal, and compliance personnel providing assurance on ESG practices and ensuring regulatory compliance.

Agenda

08:00-08:30 | ARRIVAL

• Breakfast & Networking

08:30-09:30 | WORKSHOP PART 1: UNDERSTANDING ESG AND ITS IMPACT

• Understanding ESG and Its Impact
  • Introduction to ESG and its role in modern organisations.
  • Navigating the evolving regulatory landscape, including EU CSRD and other global standards.

08:30-10:30 | WORKSHOP PART 2: DESIGNING FOR ESG MANAGEMENT

• Designing for ESG Management
  • How to create a blueprint for integrating ESG into business operations, governance, and strategy.
  • Embedding ESG considerations into the DNA of your organisation.

10:30-11:00 | BREAK

• Coffee & Snacks

11:00-12:00 | WORKSHOP PART 3: DEFINING ESG PROCESSES AND REPORTING

• Defining ESG Processes and Reporting
  • Developing ESG processes for risk identification, management, and opportunity creation.
  • Building robust ESG reporting frameworks, including metrics, KPIs, and regulatory reporting requirements.

12:00-13:00 | WORKSHOP PART 4: ESG INFORMATION & TECHNOLOGY ARCHITECTURE

• ESG Information & Technology Architecture
  • Identifying the right technology tools for ESG data management, reporting, and compliance.
  • Building a business case for ESG technology solutions that enhance reporting accuracy, stakeholder engagement, and regulatory adherence.

13:00-14:00 | LUNCH AND NETWORKING

GRC 20/20 Instructor

Michael Rasmussen is an internationally recognized pundit on governance, risk management, and compliance (GRC) – with specific expertise on enterprise GRC strategy and processes supported by robust information and technology architectures.  With 30+ years of experience, Michael helps organizations improve GRC strategy and processes supported by the correct GRC technology architecture. This enables organizations to align GRC with the business and deliver effective, efficient, resilient, and agile capabilities to the organization.  He is a sought-after keynote speaker, author, and advisor and is noted as the “Father of GRC” — the first to define and model the GRC market in February 2002 while at Forrester.

Workshop Host

Workiva is on a mission to power transparent reporting for a better world. We build and deliver the world’s leading cloud platform for assured integrated reporting to meet stakeholder demands for action, transparency, and disclosure of financial and non-financial data. Workiva offers the only unified SaaS platform that brings customers’ financial reporting, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), and Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) together in a controlled, secure, audit-ready platform. Our platform simplifies the most complex reporting and disclosure challenges by streamlining processes, connecting data and teams, and ensuring consistency. Learn more at workiva.com.