KPMG broadens Nature Positive Challenge to the South Pacific KPMG broadens Nature Positive Challenge to the South Pacific KPMG broadens Nature Positive Challenge to the South Pacific

• Program expands from Australia to PNG and Fiji with a new focus on protecting life below water and on land.
• Five startups will receive consulting, tax and accounting services from KPMG to help scale-up and grow their nature-positive impact.
• KPMG Nature Positive Prize of $100,000 to be granted to the winning startup. 
• An additional $50,000 will be awarded to the venture that wins a ‘People’s Choice’ vote by KPMG staff.
  

KPMG Australia is expanding the KPMG Nature Positive Challenge to include Fiji and PNG as part of its search for impactful eco startups looking to protect life on land and life below water.

With $400,000 dollars value in combined advisory support and prize money up for grabs, the firm is calling for expressions of interest from innovative ventures working on ideas, solutions and technology that deliver nature positive outcomes.

Five finalists will access a pool of $250,000 worth of consultancy, tax, and accounting services to help scale their business. One stand-out winner will also receive the KPMG Nature Positive Prize of $100,000. For the first time, KPMG staff will have the chance to vote for their favourite venture, which will be awarded $50,000 from our internal price on carbon (IPC) fund, an initiative introduced last year to support further investment in nature and biodiversity initiatives.

Now in its second year, the KPMG Nature Positive Challenge will focus on two key themes:

• Blue Economy – Encouraging the sustainable use of oceans and marine resources to support economic growth and community prosperity, while preserving the health of blue ecosystems. This could include scaling blue carbon opportunities, reducing plastic pollution, protecting marine ecosystems, and building climate resilience in coastal communities.
• Biodiversity – Accelerating the protection, preservation and regeneration of all species and living things on earth. This could include scaling biodiversity “carbon” credit infrastructure, restoring natural landscapes and supporting sustainable food systems.

KPMG Australia CEO, Andrew Yates, said the Nature Positive Challenge was an important part of the firm’s public commitment to understanding and improving our impact on nature and biodiversity.

“When our economies, livelihoods and well-being all depend on nature, we need to work in harmony with the environment as part of our business practice to ensure a sustainable future. Last year’s Challenge highlighted just how many innovative Australian ventures are developing impactful and disruptive solutions to complex and ongoing environmental problems. These startups have the potential to lead the way and we are thrilled to be able to support them again this year.”

West Australian startup, ULUU – which has developed a plastic alternative from sustainably farmed seaweed – won last year’s inaugural KPMG Nature Positive Challenge.

Co-Founders – marine scientist Dr. Julia Reisser and former mining executive Michael Kingsbury – described the win as a “defining moment” for their business.

“This program not only added credibility to our sustainability claims, but it also introduced us to so many customers and suppliers, seeding those vital relationships that will help us grow as a business,” Dr. Reisser said.

“We would highly recommend applying – it will make a massive difference to your business and help your dreams become a reality.”

• Helping ventures that accelerate positive outcomes for nature and biodiversity in Australia, Fiji and PNG.
• Open to the most innovative startups and impact ventures working on ideas, solutions and technology addressing biodiversity and blue economy related challenges.
• Five ventures will share a pool of bespoke consulting, tax or accounting services valued at $250,000 from KPMG to help scale-up and grow their nature-positive impact.
• The ultimate KPMG Nature Positive Prize of $100,000 to be granted to the winning venture.
• An extra $50,000 will be awarded from our Internal Price on Carbon Fund to a venture following a ‘People’s Choice’ vote by KPMG staff.
• The Challenge will also connect ventures to beneficial industry, business, science, knowledge and community partners, and impact investors.
• Expressions of Interest will be open from 5 to 28 April, with the KPMG Nature Positive Prize to be awarded in June. All five ventures will feature at a Nature Positive Showcase event to be held in September. 

Ashford Pritchard
0411 020 680
apritchard2@kpmg.com.au