At OgilvyEarth, we aim for our communications counsel to be based on sound knowledge of the practical, technical and operational aspects of “the science of sustainability”.

We certainly don’t pretend to a have monopoly on that knowledge! It sounds like a cliché, but it’s actually true: sustainability is a journey. And, it’s one best travelled with people of diverse values, skills and experiences.

We’re pleased to be advised by an independent group of external experts, including individuals with significant policy, non-governmental organisation (NGO), and technical backgrounds.

In the words of the CEO of Ogilvy PR Worldwide in Australia, Earth-Group is about “getting our conscience, counsel, and connectedness right” in the sustainability space.

We want Earth-Group to play a significant role in both our internal and external performance. Earth-Group is part of meeting the challenge of helping people hold the “sustainability conversation” in a credible and worthwhile way.

Earth-Group’s initial terms of reference are:

• To independently review and provide input on Ogilvy PR’s sustainability performance, including Sustainability Policy and Earth-Plan and its targets;
• To independently review our upcoming Earth-Report, eg, public sustainability report;
• To independently provide feedback on OgilvyEarth’s draft business plan and our on-going provision of services;
• To independently review and provide input on Earth-Pledge – guidelines designed to drive integrity in our work, and;
• To identify new opportunities and provide networking for OgilvyEarth.

• Ian Higgins, a former senior executive at the NSW Department of Energy, Utilities and Sustainability (DEUS) and former leader of environmental NGOs such as Greenpeace and WWF. Ian  has spent most of the past 20 years, both in Australia and internationally, working on environmental sustainability issues including global warming. Ian is passionate about the strong role communications, information and behaviour change has in our transition to a low-carbon economy. As a former journalist, Ministerial Advisor and one-time General Manager, Corporate Relations with the ABC, Ian brings solid communications experience to the team alongside his expertise in the environmental sustainability arena. 
• Terence Jeyaretnam, a leading environmental engineering consultant and one of Australia’s pioneering practitioners of Life Cycle Analysis and public sustainability reporting. Terence is the Founding Director of Net Balance, a leading provider of sustainability strategy, assurance, greenhouse advice, environmental management capabilities and stakeholder engagement and community investment assistance to Australia's largest corporations.
• Michael Molitor, the founder of CarbonShift Ltd, an Australian company that helps companies develop, implement and communicate strategies to respond to the challenge of a climate system modified by human activity. He was responsible for launching Climate Wedge Ltd and the Cheyne Climate Wedge Fund, the world’s first voluntary carbon fund. Prior to his entrepreneurial activities he served as Senior Advisor on Climate Change at McKinsey & Company and between 2000-2003 was the global leader of Climate Change Services at PricewaterhouseCoopers based in London. In these roles his primary activities were in assessing the risk and opportunities presented by climate change to corporate performance, with particular emphasis on the cost of carbon emissions abatement.
• Jillian Broadbent, a Member of the Board of the Reserve Bank of Australia and a Director of Coca-Cola Amatil Limited and Special Broadcasting Service (SBS). After being on the Board of Woodside Petroleum Ltd for 10 years, she resigned from that Board in 2008. She maintains an active interest in public policy and regional economic developments. Jillian was made an Officer in the Order of Australia in 2003. She has an Honorary Doctorate Degree from the University of Western Sydney and was awarded the Qantas/Bulletin Business Woman of the Year in 1987. She was a recipient of the Australian Centenary Medal in 2001 in recognition for her contribution to the community.