FY2009 was a significant year for Implats as the group’s internal management structures were reviewed and redefined and new structures put in place. This was largely as a result of a comprehensive review undertaken during the prior year, in conjunction with external management consultants. Of strategic significance was the decision to change the group’s management structure to focus on four strategic imperatives of the business, namely:

• Operations, which includes all existing mining, processing and refining operations of the group, as well as including the management of safety, health and the environment. This is led by the Operations Committee (OpCo).
• Growth, which includes marketing, new business and projects, exploration, mineral resource management, commercial ventures and business opportunities, and technical services. This is led by the Growth Committee (GrowCo).
• People, which includes talent and reward management, employee relations, stakeholder engagements and sustainable development. This is led by the People Committee (PeopleCo).
• Finance, which includes financial management, services, legal and secretarial. This is led by the Finance Committee (FinCo).

This approach was developed so as to ensure that the appropriate level of focus and resources is targeted and available to ensure the achievement of distinct goals, and to enable the group to react swiftly and decisively to any changes in the external environment that may have an impact on the company. This change in group structure has had a significant impact on the way in which aspects relating to sustainable development and, in particular stakeholder engagement and socio-economic development, are managed, and integrated within the functioning of the business.

Key to the structure that was put in place to ensure effective governance and execution within the sustainable development arena has been the appointment of sustainable development champions within the group who are responsible for the delivery on key sustainable development principles. These champions are advised by specialist heads on sustainable development policy and reporting and stakeholder engagement.

A new Sustainable Development Policy Statement was developed during the year (see section on Policies) and a new Stakeholder Engagement unit was formed.

Sustainable development operating framework

The Group Sustainable Development Forum meets on a quarterly basis. The Group’s Sustainable Development Manager develops and advises on group policy, targets and strategy and reviews performance.

Matters dealt with by the Forum are thus escalated through these structures to the SHEQ Audit Committee and the Transformation Committee, and where necessary to the Board Nomination, Audit and Remuneration Committees. (See Governance section for more details on the operation of these committees). It is supported at an operational level by operations-based Transformation Committees, Stakeholder and Sustainable Development Committees, Safety, Health and Environment Committees and Union Branch Committees.

Of particular importance is that the process of sustainable development does not take place in isolation, but rather that it is influenced by and takes cognisance of the primary stakeholders in the business, namely communities, employees, shareholders, business partners and government.

Group sustainable development champions have been appointed to key identified areas and make up the group’s Sustainable Development Forum.

Sustainable Development Forum

Group Executive Director: Finance

Dawn Earp

 

Group Executive Director: Growth and Projects

Shadwick Bessit

 

Group Executive:
People

Johan Theron

 

Group Executive:
Operations

Paul Dunne

Group Executive:
Commercial

Brenda Berlin

 

Group Executive:
Marketing

Derek Engelbrecht

 

Group Executive:
Safety, Health and Environmental (SHE)

Jon Andrews

Group Executive:
Strategic Finance

Leon van Schalkwyk

 

Group Stakeholder Engagement Manager

Johanna Tau

 

Group Sustainability
Development Manager

Pierre Lourens

Sustainable development reporting

An integral part of the management of sustainable development and, in particular, the identification of material issues has been the alignment of the management of sustainable development with the risk management discipline. The process of risk management is discussed more fully in the Governance section; and in the Annual Report.

The National Environmental Management Act requires consideration of the precautionary approach in respect of environmental management. This approach is entrenched within Implats’ Environmental Management Systems (EMS).

The following principles and criteria have been identified by the Sustainable Development Forum as critical to the delivery of Implats’ vision of sustainable development and its achievement in the medium to long term.