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 2025 Finalists
Finance Changemakers
This award recognises individuals, teams or organisations that are contributing to product innovation, research, thought leadership or training that inspires accounting and financial professionals to embed sustainability into mainstream decision making.
Recipients would demonstrate:
- The accounting/financial product innovation, research, thought leadership or training contributes to the development of sustainable business models.
- The activities are generating, or are expecting to generate, tangible environmental and/or social benefits.
- They are proactively engaging students, peers or finance professionals to drive change.
The 2025 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 2025 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 2025 Finalists
Lifetime Achievement Award
The Finance for the Future Lifetime Achievement Award seeks to honour and celebrate exceptional individuals who have made profound and enduring contributions to improving, enhancing, and/or changing the sustainability practices of the finance and accounting sector throughout their illustrious careers.
Recipients would demonstrate:
- Visionary Leadership: They have demonstrated visionary leadership, shaping the sustainable direction of the finance industry and inspiring others to excel.
- Impactful Contributions: They have made significant and lasting contributions to the sustainability practices of the finance sector, leaving a positive and indelible mark on the industry.
- Sustained Excellence: They have consistently exhibited excellence in their sustainability work, setting the highest standards of professionalism and integrity.
- Innovative Thinking: They have been at the forefront of innovation, pioneering new ideas, practices, and technologies that have transformed the finance landscape towards a sustainable economy.
- Mentorship and Legacy: They have served as mentors and role models and shared their sustainability thought leadership, nurturing the next generation of finance professionals and leaving behind a legacy of excellence.
The winner will be announced at the ceremony on Tuesday 3 June.
As we collectively accept that we face not just a climate emergency, but crises both of catastrophic loss of nature and rapidly increasing inequalities, it is only fitting that we recognise those organisations that are demonstrating leadership in combating them.