National Grid, Mars, Banco BV and Finance Earth were among this year’s winners at the 2025 Finance for the Future Awards, with individuals and organisations recognised for their role in reshaping financial thinking to build a sustainable, inclusive and resilient future.

The awards, established in 2012 and run in partnership by ICAEW, Accounting for Sustainability and Deloitte, were presented on 3 June at the Wallace Collection in London, with some international finalists joining virtually.

“Congratulations to the winners of the Finance for the Future Awards, who have been recognised for their achievements in embedding sustainability into decision-making,” says ICAEW Chief Executive Alan Vallance. “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 that transition.”

The 2025 Finance for the Future Awards highlighted the role of finance in tackling global challenges – from climate risk and biodiversity loss to social inequality. This year’s winners demonstrated that sustainability and financial strategy are no longer separate agendas, but fundamentally interlinked in building a better future.

“All the finalists exemplify the leadership our world needs – bold, innovative and grounded in long-term value creation,” says Jessica Fries, Executive Chairman of A4S. “They are showing that finance has a critical role to play in shaping a more resilient, inclusive and sustainable future.”

The 2025 winners in full:

Lifetime achievement award

The new lifetime achievement award was presented to Professor Mervyn King, former Supreme Court judge in South Africa and Chair Emeritus of the International Integrated Reporting Council. King’s work on integrated reporting and board-level sustainability has transformed governance frameworks around the world.

“Mervyn’s impact has been profound,” says Veronica Poole, Vice Chair at Deloitte UK. “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.”

Team of the year

Winner: National Grid

Praised for embedding sustainability in financial decision-making, supported by strong systems and governance.

Highly commended: Proparco

For a compelling sustainability strategy backed by tangible impact.

Finance changemaker

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

Recognised for its BMO SME Climate Clinic, linking students with SMEs to reduce Scope 3 emissions, an “innovative, replicable model”.

Rising star

Winner: Marcos Lima, Banco BV

Acknowledged for developing scalable models aligning CFO and sustainability goals.

Highly commended: Olu Olawale, Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System

For bridging finance and sustainability through cross-disciplinary collaboration.

CFO of the year

Winner: Claus Aagaard, Mars

Celebrated for embedding sustainability in business strategy and championing supplier climate action.

Climate leadership

Winner: Martin Murray, Swire Pacific

Recognised for a data-led approach to integrating sustainability into long-term business planning.

Nature and biodiversity leadership

Winners:

• Finance Earth - impressed with its systemic funding approach. 
• Rishi Kalra, ofi - recognised for developing the Integrated Impact Statement and leading the Finance for Sustainability team.

Communicating integrated thinking leadership

Winners:

• National Grid – for consistently embedding sustainability into financial frameworks.
• Margaret Schmitt, Quilter Cheviot – for championing innovation through clear, actionable metrics.
• Melanie Kreis, DHL Group – for a four-bottom-line strategy and strong climate disclosure.

Social impact leadership

Winners:

• Alexandre da Rocha Leão, Natura – praised for aligning financial and social strategies to drive holistic impact.
• Jonathan Simmons, OMERS – recognised for cultural transformation and influencing capital markets with a sustainability lens.

For more information and to find out more about the winners, visit: Finance for the Future Awards