Sustainability Working Group

Our Aims

As professional accountancy bodies, we believe that we and our members have key roles to play in driving the transition to a sustainable economy. Professional accountants have the skillsets and knowledge in organizational governance, strategy, risk management and performance, to support sustainable decision-making through our business analysis, disclosure and assurance of financial and non-financial data. Our goal as professional bodies is to ensure our members are equipped to play this role.

The GAA’s Sustainability Working Group facilitates information sharing and collaboration among our member bodies on topics related to sustainability and accountancy and meet with key national and international stakeholders. Its goal is to lead the advancement of the accounting profession by undertaking special projects from time-to-time as directed by the Board and CEO.

Sustainability Working Group Members

AICPA & CIMA

Martin Farrar

AICPA & CIMA

Ken Witt

CA ANZ

Karen McWilliams

CA Ireland

Deirdre Moran

CPA Canada

Rosemary McGuire

CPA Canada

Taryn Abate

HKICPA

Chris Joy

HKICPA

Dickson Chung

Dickson Pak Siu Chung

ICAEW

Richard Spencer

SAICA

Nomsa Nkomo

GAA SWG Contractor

John Purcell

Net Zero Commitment Task Force Members

This task force is a subcommittee of the Sustainability Working Group. Its purpose is to facilitate knowledge exchange and resource sharing among Member Bodies as they move towards becoming net-zero.
Association of International Certified Professional Accountants Anjali Patel 
Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand Paul Shelbourn
Chartered Accountants Ireland Susan Rossney (Chair)
Chartered Professional Accountants Canada Norman Hait
Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants Dickson Pak Siu Chung
Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales Sarah Reay
Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland Craig Anderson
Sarah Wilkin
Japanese Institute of Certified Public Accountants Yuta Naito

Our Resources

Here are further GAA resources to help and guide you on your sustainability journey:

GAA's progress and pathways to success

GAA’s progress and pathways to success

In 2022, the GAA launched a call to action in response to the nature crisis.

Here we outline:

  • the GAA’s commitments,
  • the progress that has been made, and
  • look ahead to what must be achieved by 2030

Coming soon: A Starter Guide to Nature

There is a growing public expectation that accountants have a duty to help resolve the nature crisis and align business models with societal goals. However, many professional accountants are unclear about how nature connects with their professional roles and responsibilities, nor how to get started.

The GAA's Sustainability Working Group is creating a ‘Starter Guide to Nature for Accountants’ to help address this issue and build literacy across our global membership base.

The guide – due for release later in 2024 – will provide practical guidance to help our members understand why nature matters to them in their professional roles, and how to get started on embedding it in their day-to-day practices.

Watch this space for more news!

A starter guide to nature

Our Member Organizations

The Association of International Certified Professional Accountants
The Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA)
Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada)
Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ)
Chartered Accountants of Ireland
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
The Japanese Institute of Certified Public Accountants (JICPA)
South African Institute of Chartered Accountants
Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland
Institut der Wirtschaftsprüfer in Deutschland e.V.

Our Head Office

The Global Accounting Alliance
1345 Avenue of the Americas, 27th Floor
New York, NY 10105
USA

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