Global Forum for Sustainability

Dr Andrea B Coulson, Senior Lecturer in Accounting at University of Strathclyde introduces the Global Forum for Sustainability.

Chair

Dr Andrea B Coulson
Senior Lecturer in Accounting at University of Strathclyde

Dr Andrea B Coulson has over ten years' experience on environmental risk Dr Andrea B Coulson management projects and accounting for climate adaptation strategies. Her research began with a doctorate on Corporate Environmental Performance Considerations within Bank Lending Processes in particular lender's risk perceptions. She has since developed and chaired the ESRC Financial Sector Environment Forum and conducted research commissioned by funding bodies including the UK Economic and Social Research Council, F&C Asset Management, Lloyds TSB Group, Munro Holdings Ltd, the Scottish Executive and the United Nations Environment Programme Financial Institutions Initiatives.

Andrea is currently engaged in two primary research projects. "Sustainability disclosures and social accountability disclosures in international not-for-profit organisations" working with the University of Utara Malaysia and funded by the Ministry of Malaysia. "Risk Governance in Theory and Practice: Connecting Canadian and UK Risk Networks to Improve the Resilience of Critical Infrastructure" with co- investigators at Strathclyde University and Dalhousie University and co-researchers including KPMG, Scottish Power, Halifax Water, Port of Halifax and the Nova Scotia Department of Health Promotion & Protection.

ACCA Expert

Rachel Jackson
Head of Sustainability

Rachel has been a sustainability reporting technical expert at ACCA for 12 years, focusing on reporting and disclosure with specific reference to environmental, economic and social issues.

She manages the Environmental Accountability stream of research and insights. Rachel has been very involved in writing and executing ACCA’s sustainability strategy, directing the HQ workplan, and identifying new markets and emerging themes, in addition to formulating policy in areas including reporting and climate change. Rachel is secretary to ACCA’s Sustainability Committee.

Rachel has worked on sustainability reporting with focussed efforts in: Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Canada, America, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Ireland and Pakistan and has initiated all ACCA CSR (corporate social responsibility) work programmes in the above-mentioned countries.

Rachel has given many presentations on GRI (Global Reporting Initiative), carbon reporting, and more recently on integrating reporting around the world. She has worked in partnership with organisations including KPMG, AccountAbility, CERES (Certification of Environmental Standards) and WWF. She has initiated and managed projects covering diverse issues such as biodiversity, carbon accounting and stakeholder engagement.