The awards, which were established in 2012, are delivered in partnership by ICAEW, Accounting for Sustainability (A4S) and Deloitte. The ceremony took place at the Wallace Collection in London, with some international participants joining remotely.

Professor Mervyn King, Chair Emeritus of the International Integrated Reporting Council and a former Supreme Court judge in South Africa, was given the Lifetime Achievement Award. This is a new award for Finance for the Future and was given in recognition of Professor King’s extraordinary influence and impact on corporate governance and sustainability in finance. As Chair of the King Committee, Professor King’s work redefined governance by integrating sustainability into core business strategy. 

ICAEW Chief Executive Alan Vallance said: “Congratulations to the winners of the Finance for the Future Awards, who have been recognised for their achievements in embedding sustainability into making in business and markets. Our profession plays a vital role in securing a sustainable future, and these awards demonstrate the innovation and leadership of finance teams and individuals driving the transition to that future.

“I’d particularly like to extend my congratulations to Professor Mervyn King, whose work on transparency and governance continues to inspire.”

Jessica Fries, A4S Executive Chairman, said: “All the finalists at this year’s Finance for the Future Awards exemplify the kind of leadership our world needs – bold, innovative and grounded in long-term value creation. They are showing that finance has a critical role to play in shaping a more resilient, inclusive and sustainable future. It’s an honour to recognise and celebrate their achievements.”

Veronica Poole, Vice Chair, Deloitte UK said: "Mervyn’s impact has been profound. A recently published biography has aptly called him a ‘Corporate Revolutionary’. He has challenged traditional thinking, paving the way for a more holistic and integrated approach to business conduct. He has championed the idea that boards must act as guardians, and the CFO should be a Chief Value Officer, with the remit to promote the long-term success of the company. His impact has been to have changed the way boards think and the way companies operate, establishing the need for engagement with society beyond work and profit."

The winners in each category were:

Team of the year: National Grid

Judges’ comments: “The judges were impressed with the clear vision and integrated activities demonstrated by the finance team. The investment and focus on systems and processes to enable the integration of sustainability within day-to-day decision making was commended by the judges.”

Highly Commended: Proparco

Judges’ comments: “The judges were impressed by the passion, dedication and focus shown by the team to enable and implement new sustainable financing solutions that demonstrated additional benefits whilst maintaining returns. The examples given were compelling, concrete and responded effectively to macro sustainability trends.”

Finance changemakers: Centre for Climate and Business Solutions, UBC Sauder School of Business

Judges’ comments: “The innovative BMO SME Climate Clinic provides a solution that mutually benefits students, SMEs and the wider business environment. This innovative, replicable model empowers the next generation of professionals to drive sustainable change and effectively tackles the “long tail” of Scope 3 emissions – a significant data gap in the market.”

Rising star: Marcos Lima, Banco BV

Judges’ comments: “Marcos demonstrates what happens when education and opportunity come together with a passion for sustainability. Developing proof of concept funding models that tie together the needs of Chief Financial Officers and Chief Sustainability Officers into platforms that are scalable was a particular strength of this rising star’s work.”

Highly Commended: Olu Olawale, OMERS

Judges’ comments: “Olu has successfully blended his substantive professional strength with succinct communication and “multilingual” capacity to bridge the disciplines of sustainability and finance. His self-awareness drives his continued professional development and positive contributions towards his company and industry.”

CFO of the year: Claus Aagaard, Mars inc.

Judges’ comments: “Claus demonstrated a clear understanding of using finance as a lever for long-term change, and how CFOs can therefore leverage their positions to drive meaningful change by integrating sustainability into core business operations. By championing innovation and creating space for new approaches, he has cultivated a culture of collaboration, positioning sustainability not just as a priority but a driving force for business success. This is clear in his support for initiatives such as the Supplier Leadership on Climate Transition, as well as his public outreach and leadership on sustainability.”

Climate leadership award: Martin Murray, Swire Pacific

Judges’ comments: “Martin’s approach to integrating sustainability into finance is characterised by a clear focus on innovation and long-term impact. The judges valued his ability to connect sustainability initiatives to tangible business outcomes, illustrating how sustainability principles can be woven into decision-making and strategy. His openness to continuous improvement and adaptability has established him as a leader who leverages emerging trends and data to enhance business performance, while embedding sustainability at every level of the organisation.”

Nature and biodiversity leadership award: Finance Earth and Rishi Kalra, ofi

Judges’ comments on Finance Earth: “The passion, collaboration and innovation shown by Finance Earth were evident to the judges as were the innovative ways of working across the organisation. The focus on returns and addressing systemic challenges to unlock funding for environmental initiatives was a key highlight.”

Judges’ comments on Rishi Kalra: “The judges commended Rishi’s leadership in embedding sustainability into financial and strategic decision-making. Through initiatives like the Integrated Impact Statement and the creation of the Finance for Sustainability team, Rishi demonstrates how sustainability can be measured and reported with the same rigor as traditional financial reporting. His development of data driven platforms for sustainability outcomes and training of finance teams to manage both financial and environmental indicators reflect a deep commitment to making nature protection a core business driver.”

Communicating integrated thinking leadership award: National Grid; Margaret (Meg) Schmitt, Quilter Cheviot; Melanie Kreis, DHL Group

Judges’ comments on National Grid: “The judges were impressed with the clear vision and integrated activities demonstrated by the finance team. The investment and focus on systems and processes to enable the integration of sustainability within day-to-day decision making was commended by the judges.”
            
Judges’ comments on Margaret (Meg) Schmitt: “Margaret impressed the judges with her energy and commitment, showcasing how she’s creating space within her organisation where real change can occur with both colleagues and clients. Her work goes beyond reporting to use metrics and innovative communication to drive real change.”
            
Judges’ comments on Melanie Kreis: “The judges were impressed by Melanie’s effectiveness in embedding sustainability within the organisation’s financial strategy. She has championed robust climate reporting and been instrumental in the integration of a four-bottom-line approach, ensuring that sustainability is central to decision-making across the organisation. Her commitment to aligning financial decision-making with sustainability goals has driven significant, organisation-wide progress.”

Social impact leadership award: Alexandre da Rocha Leão, Natura; Jonathan Simmons, OMERS

Judges’ comments on Alexandre da Rocha Leão: “Alexandre has a vision for sustainability that is wide ranging, beautifully articulated and integrated with core financial systems. Navigating the peaks and troughs of sustainability, and realising that the forest will only be sustained if people are there, was an inspiration.”
            
Judges’ comments on Jonathan Simmons: “The judges were impressed by the breadth and particularly the strategic impact of Jonathan’s leadership. He demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainability and a clear understanding of his influence as CFO. He shows an exceptional ability to drive cultural and systemic change, build trust across stakeholders, influence capital markets, and create a multiplier effect by empowering others.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. For more information, visit www.financeforthefuture.org.
2. Photos of the winners are available upon request.

About Accounting for Sustainability 

Our aim is to make sustainable business, business as usual.

HM King Charles III established A4S in 2004, when he was The Prince of Wales, 
with the aim of working with the finance and accounting community to:

• Inspire finance leaders to adopt sustainable and resilient business models
• Transform financial decision making to reflect the opportunities and risks posed by the climate crisis and other environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues.
• Scale up action to transition to a sustainable economy.

A4S has three global networks: 

• Chief Financial Officers (CFO) Leadership Network - CFOs from leading organisations seeking to transform finance and accounting.
• Accounting Bodies Network (ABN) - members comprise approximately two thirds of the world’s accountants.
• Asset Owners Network - Pension Fund Chairs who integrate sustainability into investment decision making.

www.accountingforsustainability.org 

About Deloitte 

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