To be successful, we need to be able to identify and act on opportunity, as well as continue to provide our trusted services for our customers. Our Executive Leadership Team (ELT) includes the heads of our four GBUs as well as our Chief Technology Officer. In this way, our
leadership has direct working knowledge of our business segments and relationships with customers and new product development processes.

Our new Technology Board was launched in 2021. The ‘Tech Board’ oversees short- and long-term Aquosum investments, prioritising those aligning with Aquosum and the opportunities identified within the GBUs. This year also saw the launch of our Innovation Lab, focused on connecting to market driven innovation for sustainable development outcomes.

The same megatrends that provide opportunity also present risks. Aquosum operates in a highly competitive and rapidly changing global marketplace. We consider risk management and due diligence a necessity for sound business and have adopted a structured approach comprising four elements: risk identification, risk assessment, identification of mitigating actions and risk reporting. Our risk management and due diligence includes non-financial topics and environment, social and governance (ESG) aspects.

Risk identification is a combination of bottom-up and a top-down approaches. Key risks are initially identified within each GBU using a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis and reported to the ELT together with information on what has been done and what is needed. High risks are aggregated, and a broad list presented in an annual risk report and overseen by the Board of Directors.

Business risks are continuously monitored. Local offices hold quarterly reviews of business risks and mitigation actions. All new staff are introduced to Aquosums core values and policies, with any incidents discussed with employee representatives on a quarterly basis.