Team of the Year
This award recognises finance teams OR teams within the financial services sector who lead on successfully embedding sustainability in their organisation’s overall strategy and decision-making processes.
Recipients would demonstrate:
- Embedding sustainability into their organisation’s overall strategy and decision-making processes.
- Generating tangible environmental and/or social benefits in addition to delivering positive financial outcomes.
- (If relevant) In relation to Financial Services companies, enabling the generation of such benefits through their investment activities, financial products or services.
- (If relevant) In relation to public sector and not-for-profit entities, delivering value for money within prudently managed budgets, through spending less, spending well and spending wisely.
The 2026 Finalists
Changemaker of the Year
This award recognises entrants that are contributing research, thought leadership, know-how and training or other behavioural change activities that inspire and enable accounting and financial professionals to embed sustainability into mainstream decision making.
Recipients would demonstrate:
- The accounting/financial research, thought leadership, know-how and training or other behavioural change activities contribute to the development of a more sustainable economy.
- The activities are generating, or are expecting to generate, tangible environmental and/or social benefits.
- They are proactively engaging students, peers or finance and accounting professionals to drive change.
The 2026 Finalists
Financial Services Innovator of the Year
This award recognises financial services organizations with innovative investment activities or financial products and services that demonstrate a contribution to a more sustainable financial system.
Recipients would demonstrate:
- The innovative investment activities or financial products and services contribute to the development of a more sustainable financial system.
- The activities are generating, or are expecting to generate, tangible environmental and/or social benefits IN ADDITION TO delivering positive financial outcomes.
- They are actively working to achieve successful adoption and scale.
The 2026 Finalists
CFO of the Year
This award recognises Chief Financial Officers who are leading the profession. The award is via nomination only.
Recipients would demonstrate:
- Strategic Leadership: They have demonstrated vision and leadership, driving the financial success and sustainability initiatives of their organization.
- Integrated Thinking: They have successfully integrated sustainability principles into their financial strategies and decision-making processes, contributing to positive environmental and social outcomes supported by robust governance structures.
- Stakeholder Engagement: They have effectively engaged with and influenced stakeholders, including investors, employees, customers, supply chain and communities, in a proactive and positive manner to promote transparency, accountability, and trust.
- Innovation and Adaptability: They have embraced innovation and adaptability, leveraging technology, data analytics, and emerging trends to drive innovation and navigate complex challenges in the finance landscape to underpin integrated thinking.
- Culture: They have been essential to aligning their organisation’s culture and values with its integrated approach.
The 2026 Finalists
Rising Star
The Finance for the Future Rising Star Award category recognizes and celebrates outstanding finance professionals who demonstrate exceptional commitment to driving positive change toward a sustainable economy.
Recipients would demonstrate:
- Innovative Thinking: They possess a creative and forward-thinking mindset, constantly seeking new ways to develop solutions and drive innovation towards sustainable thinking within their field.
- Leadership Potential: They exhibit strong leadership qualities, inspiring and motivating their peers to excel and make a sustainable difference in the industry.
- Commitment to Impact: They are passionate about making a positive impact, whether it's through sustainable finance practices, embedding long-term thinking, or ethical decision making.
- Professional Excellence: They demonstrate excellence in their work, consistently delivering high quality results and seeking opportunities for professional development.
- Adaptability and Resilience: They thrive in dynamic and challenging environments, demonstrating resilience and commitment to sustainable practices and adapting quickly to changing circumstances.
The 2026 Finalists
The awards finalists are all raising the bar. And more importantly, they are helping to build an economy that can not only endure but thrive! One that truly serves business performance whilst supporting the basis upon which success depends… the environment and the societies within which organizations operate.