Catalysts in the global sustainability shift
The financial services industry stands at a pivotal juncture in the sustainability landscape, increasingly recognised as both a critical driver and a key beneficiary of the global transition towards sustainable development. Global sustainable fund assets reached nearly $2.8 trillion at the end of 2023, highlighting a growing commitment to integrating long-term sustainability into financial practices.
Key ESG issues affecting the financial services industry include climate risk management, investment in sustainable projects, data privacy, cybersecurity, diversity and inclusion, ethical governance, transparency, and regulatory compliance. How organisations handle these issues influences risk profiles, stakeholder trust, and long-term financial performance.
Insights and case studies
Meet our specialists in finance and insurance
Jane Cumisky
MD, UK
Jane is a sustainability and corporate communications specialist with more than 20 years of experience delivering external and internal initiatives. As Managing Director, Jane looks after the consultancy team and together with the Heads of each focus area, she helps to take a holistic view of our clients’ sustainability journeys, develop strategies and impactful initiatives and manages how best to communicate those to internal and external stakeholders.
After beginning her career in crisis management and corporate communications consultancy, Jane focused on sustainable business during her seven years at Vodafone Group. Other in-house sustainability roles included Direct Line Group and Leonardo, for the second largest supplier to the MoD. Understanding the challenges and stakeholder management nuances of the sustainability director is where Jane helps companies most.
Ed Packshaw
Head of Risk, Reporting and Communications
Ed joins the Simply Sustainable team with over 12 years experience in ESG and corporate sustainability, combining both in-house sustainability leadership roles with client leadership and project management expertise, across a range of sectors, including real estate, construction, education and pharmaceuticals.
As our Head of Risk, Reporting and Communications, Ed is responsible for leading clients through their disclosure journey, driving continuous improvement and transparency to deliver impactful and comparable reporting practices that align with a wide-range of stakeholder expectations and help clients present their achievements and goals towards becoming a truly sustainable and profitable business.
Ed has a wealth of experience in international standard and frameworks, including TCFD, SASB, ISSB, CDP, SDGs, GRI, UNGC and a detailed understanding of UK, EU and US regulations and compliance requirements.
Alongside his professional experience, Ed holds a diploma in Sustainable Finance from the University of Cambridge, professional qualifications in Environmental Management and Carbon Management from IEMA and an honours degree in Zoology & Biological Sciences from the University of Edinburgh.
Joaska Mischke
Head of ESG and Sustainability Strategy
Joaska leads strategic initiatives for our clients and embeds sustainability into organisations within an ever-evolving business landscape. As a specialist in sustainability, materiality, and transformation, Joaska excels at developing and integrating complete ESG and sustainability strategies. She has also successfully led numerous CSRD-aligned double materiality projects, both as part of broader strategies and standalone efforts. Her expertise in incorporating CSRD requirements into business processes ensures value creation beyond compliance.
Joaska attended the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) where she obtained an MSc in Management, Organisations and Governance. She also holds diplomas in Design Thinking from IDEO, Business Sustainability Management from the University of Cambridge and Sustainable Business Strategy from Harvard Business School. She is a registered Associate at the Institute of Environment Management and Assessment (IEMA) and is a GRI-certified sustainability professional.
Will Bourns
Senior Consultant – Climate and Carbon Services
Will specialises in the quantification of corporate greenhouse gas emissions across direct operations and supply chains in a range of sectors. This enables Will and the team to create net-zero targets and align strategies for companies to halt the worst impacts of climate change by transitioning their companies to 1.5 degrees. Will’s love for the natural world has led him to work with organisations to understand Forest Land and Agricultural emissions (FLAG), associated targets as well risks and opportunities associated with climate and nature.
Will studied Zoology and Natural Sciences at the University of Liverpool and since graduating Will expanded his knowledge through memberships at PIEMA and EI. Before joining Simply Sustainable Will worked at a series of not-for-profit organisations from WWF to Battersea Dogs and Cats Home as well as We are Albert where he created an emissions calculator tool used by the film and TV industry to support the supply chain in quantifying its impact. Outside of work, Will volunteers at Care4Calais, a charity supporting asylum seekers and refugees in the UK and Europe.