What we do: Sustainability Expertise, Diverse Services

Serving a wide range of clients, from MNC's, government agencies, industry bodies, SMEs, and even sole proprietors-- we work as your trusted advisors to realise genuine change and new business possiblities.  Our services include:

Vision + Development

If you've been looking to innovate, we can help identify new business opportunities, assist with strategic goal-setting, research new products and services, and help execute your development plans.  We can also assist with a comprehensive Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR or CR) strategy. 

Performance Optimisation

Beyond sustainability management, we can help you recraft and retool your organisation.  Opportunities arise not just from doing "less bad", but doing more good.  Financial savings and new business ideas can come from increased efficiency, eliminating waste, cutting costs, increasing profitability, rewarding and retaining staff, and designing with the future in mind.  We are firm believers in Gunter Pauli's Blue Economy, and can help you expand beyond "core business" into new realms of possibility.  

Project Management

We help bring your plans to life, through scoping and planning projects, facilitating short term initiatives, managing long term projects, handling organisation transitions, and coordination of events and launches.  We've helped numerous clients manage the creation of everything from toolkits to summit coverage to special events.   Use us as your trusted partner to get things done right, on time, and on budget.

Content + Communications

Showcasing your evolution and success is key to building leadership.  We've helped many clients from strategy to delivery, including sustainable development reporting (SDR) done to Global Reporting Intiative (GRI) standards.  Harnessing the best in technology, we have also developed an expertise in online media coordination.  From websites to blogs to tweets-- let us help with marketing and branding, online media coordination, copywriting, and content creation.

Our expertise can assist in any area of your business.  Contact us to discuss how we can bring your organisation to the next level.

Advantages + Benefits

Working with FORWARD has its perks:

• Cost effective delivery is guaranteed: We will be on time and on budget with all deliverables.
• One stop to get the job done: Our multi-disciplinary expertise ensures we can meet your needs.
• You will be given a quick response: We work swiftly to help you-- no doddling, no excuses.
• We "get it": We share your values for creating a better world, and work proactively to meet your objectives.
• We provide leadership and truly creative thinking: With innovative spirit, we help you pioneer new directions.
• You are valued: You will be treated with respect and appreciation at all times. 
• You are treated like a friend: We provide prompt, friendly, helpful assistance.

Profile + Philosophy

At Forward, we not only believe in thinking outside the box, we think you can do without the packaging.  Recognising that the world is rapidly changing around us, our enterprise was born with sustainability as its ethos, not a tag-on.  As a result, we see things differently and make no assumptions about the way things have to be.  By translating this fresh energy into our work, we bring our clients a valuable new perspective.

Forward was initiated by Chris Tobias, a strategist with a passion for innovation and leadership.  Originally heralding from Chicago, he has been active since 2003 in the areas of design, communications, business development, and systems thinking.  During this time he has delivered innovative projects for the likes of BRANZ Ltd., Auckland City Council, Green Globe, Sustainable Business Network, and New Zealand’s only CSR focused consultancy.  He also serves as Editor-at-Large of Celsias.com and Correspondent for Eco-Business.com.  Chris has career experience in the United States, South Korea, New Zealand, and Singapore.  Through an interdisciplinary team, Forward offers a comprehensive, unique approach to business.  [download experiential profile]

Please take a moment to learn more about us and see our Portfolio.

Why we're different: Actions + Operations

In house as well as with our clients, we do our innovative best.  In order for an organisation to truly be effective, it takes action and change-- not rhetoric.  Some highlights from our operations include:

• Results Only Work Environment (ROWE) 
• Cutting Edge Technology: wireless premises that are printer free
• Energy Efficiency: Energy Star office equipment and CFL lighting
  
• Human Friendly: open plan, human-scale workplace, with access to natural light and ventilation
• Low-impact transport: alternative transport scheme
• CarbonNeutral: renewable energy focused electricity supplier
• Goal of Zero Waste: aided by on-site recycling and composting
• Informed, responsible procurement strategy
• Electronic invoicing and correspondence (where appropriate)
• Flexible work hours aimed at maintaining a healthy work/life balance
• Emphasis on social opportunities, networking, and relationship building
• Benefitting New Zealand: banking and investments handled by locally owned financial institutions
• Fair Trade corporate gifts sourced from Trade Aid
  

We can help you run a smarter, savvier, more socially conscious business.  Do right by the world and enjoy your working life that much more.  Talk with us to see how we can help you implement these and other strategies.