Embedding sustainability: Carol Adams reflects on her time on the ICAS Sustainability Committee

14 May 2026

Last updated: 14 May 2026

ICAS

Sustainability sits firmly at the heart ICAS’ work. In recent years, we’ve built real momentum and turned early conversation into meaningful action across our strategy, education, governance and global influence.

As Professor Carol Adams CA steps down from her role as Chair of the ICAS Sustainability Committee, she reflects on the progress made, what’s worked well, and what comes next.

A journey that started small

When you first got involved with ICAS, what did sustainability look like?

Carol Adams: When I joined in 2014, most of the sustainability work was being led very capably by Anne Adrain, alongside her wider role in corporate reporting and audit. There wasn’t much happening to embed sustainability across the rest of ICAS at that point. However, there was a real openness to doing more, just not much knowledge at as to ‘how’ and the then Sustainability Panel worked with Anne to address that across the organisation.

Turning point: From the margins to the mainstream

Looking back, what moment made you feel that sustainability had truly become embedded within ICAS?

Carol Adams: For me, it was when sustainability became part of the executive conversation. When Chris Barber CA, ICAS CFO, became responsible for sustainability, it brought both the resource and influence. That helped embed sustainability into different parts of ICAS, including work on reducing carbon emissions. It stopped being something on the side and became part of how decisions were made.

What were the biggest challenges in moving sustainability from a 'nice to have' to a strategic priority?

Carol Adams: The biggest challenge was changing how people think about sustainability. Initially, it was often seen as separate from core business. We had to show that it’s central to strategy, decision making and long-term success. That meant embedding it where ICAS has most influence – through education, training and assessments. It also took time to build the right internal structures and get the resources in place to support that shift.

Key achievement: Embedding sustainability into education

One of the most significant changes has been in how we train CAs.

How important is education in driving long-term change, and what more could be done?

Carol Adams: Education is absolutely critical. As a professional body, one of the most effective things ICAS can do is shape what CAs learn – during qualification and through CPD – to build professionals with the skills needed for the future. Since March 2024, sustainability has been built into the CA qualification, with the option to specialise if they choose to.

We felt strongly that CAs need to understand things like planetary boundaries and sustainable development, not just financial impacts. They need to think beyond short-term financial goals and understand how organisations affect society, the environment and the economy, and how these two areas are linked.

There’s still more to do, particularly in CPD, to support people already working in the profession. We also need to spread the word, so that accountants step up to support the systematic consideration of all risks, opportunities and dependencies, in strategies, reporting and results.

Changing the role of accountants

How do you think the role of accountants has changed because of sustainable development challenges?

Carol Adams: It’s changed quite significantly. Accountants are involved in so much more than just reporting financial numbers. They help build robust data collection systems with appropriate internal controls for social and environmental data and they’re part of strategic decision-making. They can advise on how to present this data to boards to assist risk identification and long-term decision- making.

CFOs sit on executive teams, they shape strategy and decide how resources are used. That means their teams need to understand sustainability information and what it means. It’s about helping organisations make better, more informed decisions.

Strengthening governance and influence

Which achievement are you personally most proud of during your time with the Committee?

Carol Adams: I’m particularly proud of how we strengthened governance. Moving from a panel to a committee that reports into the Oversight Board (one of the high-level governance bodies at ICAS) made a real difference. When I became chair in 2021, I wanted to help ensure sustainability continued to be a core part of strategy and planning. The Committee's elevated position in the organisation facilitates this.

I’m also proud of the policy positions we developed and continue to evolve. These publicly available expressions of what ICAS stands for brought together the different perspectives of Sustainability Committee members and their varied roles. They’ve helped ICAS take a leadership role, especially in areas like double materiality.

Policy, research and real-world impact

The Committee has also played an important role in shaping thinking beyond ICAS itself.

What gaps still exist in how the profession approaches sustainability?

Carol Adams: There’s still a tendency for academic research to focus too much on short-term financial impacts. That’s not enough. We need to take a broader view of how organisations impact society, the environment and the economy. There’s also more to do in turning knowledge gained through research into practical action and policy.

How has research supported this progress?

Carol Adams: ICAS research has helped build a strong evidence base. We’ve supported work on climate reporting, materiality and governance, and more recently, focused on practical tools that organisations can actually use.

Leading by example

How important is it for ICAS to lead by example on sustainability?

Carol Adams: It’s essential. If we expect others to act, we need to do the same. We develop people in a profession that makes a difference. This involves integrating sustainability in all that ICAS does, particularly education and training, influencing policy development, understanding our carbon footprint, and working towards decarbonisation. It builds credibility, shows leadership, and hopefully inspires ICAS members and others.

Getting involved in sustainability

What advice would you give to accountants who want to get more involved in sustainability work?

Carol Adams: Start where you are. You don’t need to know everything straight away. Build your understanding and think about how your role is connected to sustainability. Think about how you can use your skills as a CA to help those with responsibility for different areas of social and environmental work, particularly where it involves data.

Accountants, along with other professionals, are in a really strong position to influence change, so it’s about recognising that and taking the opportunity. Accountants are also well placed to meet the growing need for sustainability assurance.

Building on strong foundations

Looking ahead, what should ICAS focus on next to maintain its leadership in this space?

Carol Adams: The focus should be on building on what’s already been achieved. That means supporting members with practical tools, continuing to develop education and CPD, and staying active in policy discussions.

The focus also needs to be on supporting members through the global rollout of IFRS S1 and S2, as more organisations adopt or are mandated to produce sustainability disclosures, ensuring members have the skills and guidance to respond confidently.

Sustainability issues and our focus on them is evolving quickly, so it’s important to keep looking forward.

A closing reflection

As you step down, what gives you confidence about the future of sustainability at ICAS?

Carol Adams: What gives me confidence is the progress that’s been made, driven by the dedication of the committee and the positive impact of its members who come from a range of accounting/finance/sustainability backgrounds. Sustainability is now firmly embedded in strategy, governance and education. With strong leadership and a clear direction, that momentum will continue to shape a positive future.

The effective input of sustainability staff, currently Fiona Donnelly, James Barbour and Chris Barber, and the constructive collaboration of the Committee members over the years, made all this happen.

The future of sustainability at ICAS

Professor Carol Adams leaves behind a lasting impact at ICAS. What started as a small, focused effort has grown into a central part of who ICAS is and what we do.

The Sustainability Committee, now chaired by former committee member, Kathryn McLeod CA, Head of ESG Reporting at Heineken UK, will continue to build on Carol’s legacy. Kathryn will be supported by several new members, who all bring deep expertise from across business, finance and academia.

They include:

Laura Guittard CA, VP and Head of Global Finance Risk, Controls and ESG Reporting at GSK
David Harrison CA, CFO of Imex Group
Annette Lister CA, Group Sustainability Reporting Manager at The Weir Group PLC
Professor Charles Cho PhD CPA (Canada), Professor of Sustainability Accounting and Erivan K. Haub Chair in Business & Sustainability at York University
Chris Webb, Group Head of Climate and Nature at BUPA

Together, they’ll continue to strengthen the Committee’s influence and reinforce sustainability as a core part of our work.