Integrated Reporting and Thinking Conference 2024—key takeaways

The 2024 IFRS Foundation Integrated Thinking and Reporting Conference—organised in partnership with the Italian Foundation for Business Reporting (O.I.B.R.)—took place on 18 October in Milan. The event convened stakeholders from around the world to discuss the value of integrated reporting, including how it supports the adoption of the International Sustainability Standards Board’s (ISSB) IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards (IFRS S1 General Requirements for Disclosure of Sustainability-related Financial Information and IFRS S2 Climate-related Disclosures). More than 35 speakers from 15 countries shared insights on increasing the quality of integrated reporting and reinforcing its value. Here are six takeaways from these discussions on the future of integrated reporting.

1. The Integrated Reporting Framework is a powerful tool for aiding companies to adopt IFRS S1 and IFRS S2  

High-quality integrated reports require high-quality content and result in comparable, decision-useful information for capital markets. IFRS S1 and IFRS S2 require companies to provide content that can strengthen the quality of integrated reports. A company that publishes an integrated report already informs its stakeholders about sustainability-related risks and opportunities and how it manages them to create value. These companies are well placed to apply IFRS S1 and IFRS S2, because the Standards build on concepts from the Integrated Reporting Framework. Information prepared using IFRS S1 and IFRS S2 provides greater specificity and enables comparability.

2. Integrated thinking helps companies break down silos and strengthen governance

Integrated thinking helps companies break down internal silos, identify risks and opportunities and avoid the disclosure process becoming a pure compliance exercise. Integrated thinking can catalyse a company’s use of the Integrated Reporting Framework and/or its application of IFRS S1 and IFRS S2.

3. Using IFRS S1 and IFRS S2 has benefits for preparers who already publish integrated reports

Using IFRS S1 and IFRS S2 in preparing an integrated report improves the report’s quality, reliability and relevance to investor decision-making, thereby enhancing the report’s potential suitability for assurance. The business case for applying these Standards will be evident quickly because the quality of the company’s engagement with investors will be enhanced as will investors’ ability to identify and compare material information on risks and opportunities.

4. Integrated reports provide a useful location for investor-focused information

For investors, providing material information on a company’s business model, governance, risks and opportunities, performance and prospects aids in assessing issues that relate to an entity’s ability to create, preserve or erode value over the short, medium and long term.

5. The Integrated Reporting Framework remains an important resource for the IASB and ISSB

The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) has built on the Integrated Reporting Framework in developing its practice statement on Management Commentary, which the IASB expects to publish in 2025. The publication of this practice statement is another step towards greater integration in reporting. The ISSB has used concepts from the Integrated Reporting Framework in IFRS S1, such as governance and connected information, easing the path to applying the ISSB Standards by companies that currently use the Integrated Reporting Framework.

6. The Integrated Reporting stakeholder community is wide and active—we want your participation in our ongoing work

By using IFRS S1 and IFRS S2 in preparing integrated reports, companies are helping to provide the IASB and ISSB with evidence of ‘integration in reporting’—a body of practice that will be tested with investors and may inform the boards’ decisions. We invite you to offer your views through your local integrated reporting community. Contact Integrated Reporting for more information.

Thank you to the speakers, attendees and sponsors who contributed to this event.

Register your interest—2025 Integrated Reporting and Thinking Conference

The 2025 Integrated Reporting and Thinking Conference will take place in early April in Tokyo, Japan. Register your interest:

Integrated reporting resources

For companies that use the Integrated Reporting Framework and want to start using IFRS S1 and IFRS S2, we have resources to help, including the How to apply the Integrated Reporting Framework with IFRS S1 and IFRS S2: A mapping tool and an updated version of the Transition to integrated reporting: A guide to getting started.