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External Review Committee
Shell, for the fourth successive year, has invited an External Review Committee to assess the content and the process of producing its Sustainability Report. Two members were rotated out of the Committee from last year and were replaced by new members. This ensures fresh perspectives.
External Review Committee members for the Shell Sustainability Report 2008 pictured from left:
- Aron Cramer, Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) (Chair)
- Rebecca Adamson, First Peoples Worldwide. NEW MEMBER
- Philippa Foster-Back OBE, The Institute for Business Ethics. NEW MEMBER
- Karin Ireton, Standard Bank Group
- Dr. Ligia Noronha, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)
- David Runnalls, International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)
The Committee concentrated on three main questions:
1. Has Shell selected the most important topics for the Sustainability Report?
2. How well has the Report dealt with these topics and responded to stakeholder interest?
3. Did Shell provide sufficient information and access to the Committee to do their job effectively?
The Committee was again guided in its appraisal by the AA1000 Assurance Standard, an independent standard for evaluating sustainability reports against three basic principles: materiality, completeness and responsiveness to stakeholders.
The Committee provided input into the content selection process for the Report, reviewed several drafts, and met with senior executives and non-executives, including the Chief Executive, the Executive Director of our Exploration & Production business, and the Chairman of our Corporate and Social Responsibility Committee.
Its uncensored assessment of our reporting - opens in new window is published in the Report. The Committee also provided observations to senior executives, privately, on Shell’s performance in dealing with the company’s key environmental and social issues.
To recognise their time and expertise, Committee members were offered an honorarium payable individually or to a charitable organisation of their choice. They were also reimbursed by Shell for travel and accommodation expenses.