Going for green
The ICAS Sustainability Summit 2025 comes at a pivotal time, with the UK government expected to introduce reporting standards to aid the net zero transition
Going for green
The ICAS Sustainability Summit 2025 comes at a pivotal time, with the UK government expected to introduce reporting standards to aid the net zero transition
County Hall on London’s Southbank is the venue for the ICAS Sustainability Summit 2025
County Hall on London’s Southbank is the venue for the ICAS Sustainability Summit 2025
When the annual ICAS Sustainability Summit returns to London this month it will be with a mounting sense that this will be the most consequential gathering to date. At the two previous summits – the first in London in 2023, followed by Edinburgh in 2024 – we discussed the International Standards Sustainability Board and its drive to introduce new reporting standards for the disclosure of relevant information, such as carbon emissions.
Now the first two of those are here – and it is expected that they will soon be approved as the first UK Sustainability Reporting Standards (UK SRS). This is the most significant development in sustainability reporting in the UK to date, one that will effectively fire the starting pistol on formalising the ways in which businesses report on their moves towards decarbonisation by bringing in standards that will drive consistency in the field.
That will enable investors and consumers alike to accurately compare a business with its competitors in the sector. Investors would be in a better position to allocate capital in line with their values. Consumers could make informed decisions on the basis of a product or company's sustainability record, as easily as if they were comparing Tripadvisor reviews.
Best of all, perhaps, the UK SRS could help us banish the ghosts of greenwashing – that practice whereby companies try to cloak their environmental record with a few eye-catching initiatives – finally providing true transparency on a range of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues.
“UK standards could help us banish the ghosts of greenwashing, finally providing true transparency on a range of ESG issues”
This year’s summit – to be held at Sustainable Ventures, County Hall, on London’s Southbank, on 23 April – will explore the practical application of the UK SRS, as well as the implications of these new standards for decarbonisation and transition planning. The event is hosted by energy and environmental journalist and former BBC analyst, Roger Harrabin, while the keynote speaker is the Chair of the UK Sustainability Disclosure Technical Advisory Committee, Sally Duckworth, who also talks exclusively to CA magazine.
Our panellists will share practical insights and best practice to support those embarking on their sustainability reporting and net zero journeys.
Whatever form that takes, accountants’ experience with financial reporting means they are also likely to be at the forefront of the fight for sustainability reporting – implementing the controls and measures necessary to ensure the two are put on an equal footing.
County Hall on London’s Southbank is the venue for the ICAS Sustainability Summit 2025
County Hall on London’s Southbank is the venue for the ICAS Sustainability Summit 2025
When the annual ICAS Sustainability Summit returns to London this month it will be with a mounting sense that this will be the most consequential gathering to date. At the two previous summits – the first in London in 2023, followed by Edinburgh in 2024 – we discussed the International Standards Sustainability Board and its drive to introduce new reporting standards for the disclosure of relevant information, such as carbon emissions.
Now the first two of those are here – and it is expected that they will soon be approved as the first UK Sustainability Reporting Standards (UK SRS). This is the most significant development in sustainability reporting in the UK to date, one that will effectively fire the starting pistol on formalising the ways in which businesses report on their moves towards decarbonisation by bringing in standards that will drive consistency in the field.
That will enable investors and consumers alike to accurately compare a business with its competitors in the sector. Investors would be in a better position to allocate capital in line with their values. Consumers could make informed decisions on the basis of a product or company's sustainability record, as easily as if they were comparing Tripadvisor reviews.
Best of all, perhaps, the UK SRS could help us banish the ghosts of greenwashing – that practice whereby companies try to cloak their environmental record with a few eye-catching initiatives – finally providing true transparency on a range of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues.
“UK standards could help us banish the ghosts of greenwashing, finally providing true transparency on a range of ESG issues”
This year’s summit – to be held at Sustainable Ventures, County Hall, on London’s Southbank, on 23 April – will explore the practical application of the UK SRS, as well as the implications of these new standards for decarbonisation and transition planning. The event is hosted by energy and environmental journalist and former BBC analyst, Roger Harrabin, while the keynote speaker is the Chair of the UK Sustainability Disclosure Technical Advisory Committee, Sally Duckworth, who also talks exclusively to CA magazine.
Our panellists will share practical insights and best practice to support those embarking on their sustainability reporting and net zero journeys.
Whatever form that takes, accountants’ experience with financial reporting means they are also likely to be at the forefront of the fight for sustainability reporting – implementing the controls and measures necessary to ensure the two are put on an equal footing.
Event speakers
Roger Harrabin (host)
Energy and environmental journalist
Roger Harrabin is one of the media’s most influential voices on environment, energy and climate change. He reported for the BBC for more than 30 years as its Energy and Environment Analyst.
Sally Duckworth
Chair, UK Sustainability Disclosure Technical Advisory Committee
Sally Duckworth is a seasoned business executive with extensive experience in C-suite roles, chairmanship and venture capital, focusing on early and growth-stage technology companies. She holds an MSc in environmental technology from Imperial College London and currently serves in several non-executive roles.
Andrew Death
Deputy Director, Corporate Reporting, Assurance and Governance, Department for Business and Trade
Andrew Death is a senior civil servant whose responsibilities include leading a comprehensive review of corporate reporting for UK companies and the implementation of the ESG reporting commitments made in the green finance strategy. This includes the endorsement of ISSB standards and transition plan reporting.
Melanie Fox
Group Reporting Manager, ESG, Vodafone
Melanie Fox is an experienced finance professional, serving since 2022 as the Group Reporting Manager for ESG at Vodafone, where her responsibilities include the reporting of ESG data. Fox joined Vodafone in November 2015 and held the role of Group IFRS Reporting Manager prior to taking her current role. She is an FCCA and holds a BA in social policy from the University of Birmingham.
Ashleigh Lee
Co-Head, Transition Finance Market Review Secretariat, and Senior Policy Advisor, City of London Corporation
Ashleigh Lee co-led the secretariat of the Transition Finance Market Review and continues to lead the City of London Corporation’s work in transition finance. She previously managed the secretariat of the UK Carbon Markets Forum and led work in nature finance.
Jacques Morris
Head, International Transition Plan Network; Programme Leader, E3G
Jacques Morris heads the ITPN, a global network of finance ministries, regulators and central banks focused on supporting global coherence in private sector transition plans and their applications in policymaking and regulation. The ITPN is hosted by the climate policy think tank E3G, for which Morris is Programme Leader.
Lloyd McAllister
Head of Sustainable Investment, Carmignac
Lloyd McAllister joined Carmignac from Newton Investment Management, where he was Head of ESG Research, responsible for setting and implementing the firm’s responsible investment philosophy and research process. He is a qualified accountant and holds an MSc in political economy from the London School of Economics.
Sarah-Jayne Dominic
Head of UK Sustainability Disclosure Technical Advisory Committee Secretariat
Sarah-Jayne Dominic works in the regulatory standards division at the FRC which issues accounting, audit, assurance, actuarial and corporate reporting standards and guidance, and sets the UK’s corporate governance and stewardship codes. She specialises in sustainability reporting.
Event speakers
Roger Harrabin (host)
Energy and environmental journalist
Roger Harrabin is one of the media’s most influential voices on environment, energy and climate change. He reported for the BBC for more than 30 years as its Energy and Environment Analyst.
Sally Duckworth
Chair, UK Sustainability Disclosure Technical Advisory Committee
Sally Duckworth is a seasoned business executive with extensive experience in C-suite roles, chairmanship and venture capital, focusing on early and growth-stage technology companies. She holds an MSc in environmental technology from Imperial College London and currently serves in several non-executive roles.
Andrew Death
Deputy Director, Corporate Reporting, Assurance and Governance, Department for Business and Trade
Andrew Death is a senior civil servant whose responsibilities include leading a comprehensive review of corporate reporting for UK companies and the implementation of the ESG reporting commitments made in the green finance strategy. This includes the endorsement of ISSB standards and transition plan reporting.
Melanie Fox
Group Reporting Manager, ESG, Vodafone
Melanie Fox is an experienced finance professional, serving since 2022 as the Group Reporting Manager for ESG at Vodafone, where her responsibilities include the reporting of ESG data. Fox joined Vodafone in November 2015 and held the role of Group IFRS Reporting Manager prior to taking her current role. She is an FCCA and holds a BA in social policy from the University of Birmingham.
Ashleigh Lee
Co-Head, Transition Finance Market Review Secretariat, and Senior Policy Advisor, City of London Corporation
Ashleigh Lee co-led the secretariat of the Transition Finance Market Review and continues to lead the City of London Corporation’s work in transition finance. She previously managed the secretariat of the UK Carbon Markets Forum and led work in nature finance.
Jacques Morris
Head, International Transition Plan Network; Programme Leader, E3G
Jacques Morris heads the ITPN, a global network of finance ministries, regulators and central banks focused on supporting global coherence in private sector transition plans and their applications in policymaking and regulation. The ITPN is hosted by the climate policy think tank E3G, for which Morris is Programme Leader.
Lloyd McAllister
Head of Sustainable Investment, Carmignac
Lloyd McAllister joined Carmignac from Newton Investment Management, where he was Head of ESG Research, responsible for setting and implementing the firm’s responsible investment philosophy and research process. He is a qualified accountant and holds an MSc in political economy from the London School of Economics.
Sarah-Jayne Dominic
Head of UK Sustainability Disclosure Technical Advisory Committee Secretariat
Sarah-Jayne Dominic works in the regulatory standards division at the FRC which issues accounting, audit, assurance, actuarial and corporate reporting standards and guidance, and sets the UK’s corporate governance and stewardship codes. She specialises in sustainability reporting.
Agenda
16.00: Registration
16.30: Opening remarks
16.50: Keynote presentation: Sally Duckworth
17.10: Panel session: How to prepare for the UK Sustainability Reporting Standards (UK SRS)
17.55: Panel session: UK SRS – Implications for net zero and transition planning
18.40: Closing remarks
18.45: Networking drinks
19.45: End of event
Find more information and register here for the ICAS Sustainability Summit 2025
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