Sustainability Governance

During 2011 there were no significant changes to the governance structure relating to the management and implementation of sustainability practices at Westfield.

The board of Westfield Group has ultimate responsibility for the corporate governance policies and practices of the company. Material management decisions are taken by the Group’s Executive Committee which comprises three Executive Board members (the Co-Chief Executive Officers and Group Chief Financial Officer); Deputy Group Chief Financial Officer; Head of Corporate Finance; Group General Counsel; and Westfield country Managing Directors. 

Each country Managing Director receives regular reports on sustainability matters and includes relevant information in an operational report provided at each meeting of the Board of Directors. 

The Group has nominated senior managers and teams in each of its operating markets to assume responsibility for climate change. The direct responsibility for managing information on climate change rests with these individuals located in Australia, New Zealand, the United States and the United Kingdom respectively, and the structures have been established to reflect the differing needs of each market. 

In Australia, the position responsible for climate change is the General Manager Facilities and Sustainability Australia. Previously responsible for sustainability for the Group’s Australian shopping centre operations, this position now incorporates the broader role as the business moves into the implementation of its sustainability strategy, working closely with all divisions, in particular design & construction.The role reports to the Director of Shopping Centre Management, to the Australian Executive Committee and the Managing Director Australia & New Zealand. The General Manager Facilities and Sustainability prepares and presents monthly reports to the Australian Executive Committee and in addition conducts one-on-one monthly meetings with the Australian Managing Director to communicate key issues.  

A cross-divisional committee – the Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability Network – meets bi-monthly and is chaired by  the General Manager Facilities and Sustainability. The members of the network include representatives from development, design & construction, finance, leasing, risk management, human resources, marketing, IT and shopping centre management. 

In New Zealand, sustainability practices are managed by the General Manager of Construction and the General Manager for Centre Management and Marketing. The progress and status of climate change is reported through monthly operational meetings and bi-annual sustainability planning meetings with the New Zealand Director. 

Progress and status is reported against the New Zealand sustainability plan, which requires the New Zealand Director’s approval.  Two dedicated team leaders from construction and shopping centre management respectively are tasked with implementing key objectives of the sustainability plan, reporting to their general managers on a regular basis. 

In the United States a Sustainability Group is headed by the Vice President National Operations, reporting to the Senior Vice President Center Management Los Angeles, National Operations, Security and Sustainability. Climate change issues are directly overseen by the Senior Executive Vice President Property Management Group.  

In the United Kingdom Westfield’s sustainability agenda is set by the UK Management Committee (UKMC), which is chaired by the Managing Director of UK/Europe. The UKMC meets monthly to discuss and review all UK business goals, including climate change related objectives. The progress and status of climate change is communicated to either the Chief Operating Officer or the Managing Director on a regular basis as the issue of climate change is managed across the business by the Director of the Stratford City site, the Director of Construction and Design and the Director of Operations.