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About MeI'm first and foremost a Sustainabilitarian. But I'm also an Accountant. In 2015, I became Planetary CFO (Chief Financial Officer). That’s an unpaid role that enables me to think the unthinkable; if the World was a single organisation and was operated sustainably for the benefit of the whole global population, and all other life in balance; what would that look like?
We've been operating in ecological overshoot since shortly after I was born. We're starting to do things to make the situation better, but it's taking far too long. We need new perspectives - planetary ones that see beyond artificial national, social and cultural boundaries. The transition to a sustainable future has started. Everything we do now can make a difference - to make the transition less disruptive, more inclusive and more compassionate. When I was young, I wrote an article calling for a sustainable future, and one in which the resources of the world are shared more equitably. With real-world experience under my belt, I return to that vision and still believe passionately that it is achievable and worth striving for. The Planetary CFO is custodian of the World Balance Sheet at WorldBalanceSheet.com My other sister site is Oxfordshire Cleantech (link opens in new window) where I have four years of older blog posts and have collected a range of thoughts and ideas (I've called them "sustainability in a nutshell" (link opens in a new window). You can see how we're all doing in keeping global warming below COP21 limits at the global warming index site. Below is an example screen-grab. |
What I do
I like to think of ways of using finance as part of the solution, not part of the problem.
My History
A Maths degree, an Accountancy qualification and an MBA. Worked in Big Oil, Pharmaceuticals, Venture Capital, Local Government, Environmental Charities, Social Enterprises and Campaigning NGOs.
Migration - especially climate migration - opportunity or threat?
Metrocosm - a site that gives a fascinating visualisation. For example see:
http://metrocosm.com/global-immigration-map/
http://metrocosm.com/global-immigration-map/
A Job Description for the Planetary CFO
This is new role for the planet. The CFO will be given responsibility for strategic and operational leadership of the organisation, overseeing its financial planning, including controllership, accounting, budgeting, planning and reporting and management of the World Balance Sheet comprising Natural Capital and other assets and the commitment to provide for peak global human population in sustainable co-existence with an appropriately large and biodiverse population of non-human species.
An accountancy qualification is desired but appropriate experience will also be considered. Previous position as CFO of a habitable celestial body is not required.
Established for over 4.5 billion years, the Earth has approximately 7 billion human stakeholders, organised into about 200 independent sovereign departments. Our current aggressive recruitment strategy will result in projected stakeholder numbers reaching over 9 billion by 2050.
Ours assets include a still functioning biosphere, rather depleted mineral resources, depreciating poles, fragile oceanic ecosystem and currently habitable atmosphere.
The successful candidate will hold fiduciary responsibility for every natural resource, every human life and every stick and stone of infrastructure. Asset planning will be required for all the birds, trees, schools, water, bumblebees, power-plants, aeroplanes, crops, mobile phones, algae, shopkeepers and anteaters etc.
Unfortunately there are no audited accounts available yet. Indeed there is some controversy over which parts of the planet are assets, liabilities or even overheads. The current market valuation method of ‘Gross Domestic Product’ is under review and alternative suggestions are welcome.
We are interested in an outstanding individual able to deliver;
1) Topline growth
The planet's return on capital is currently unacceptable. Significant operations are currently provided to stakeholders for free (including water cycles, insect pollination, oxygenisation and soil fertilisation). We refer candidates to A4S's Future Proofed Decision Making report for insights on integrating environmental and social factors into strategy, finance and operations.
2) Remuneration Committee
The governance of stakeholder pay and other financial returns has been heavily criticised. Performance related financial returns should be considered, taking into account all costs including those currently externalised. Currently the best rewarded 1% of stakeholders control 40% of the global pot of financial returns. The bottom half of stakeholders own barely 1% of global wealth. The stakeholder satisfaction survey does not make happy reading.
3) Comprehensive risk management
The Earth is an innovation based enterprise, with a R&D ‘evolution’ department that has been the leader in the adaptability field for millennia. However, some infrastructure systems have shown only limited innovation over time. With the market threat of climate change some capex investment may be needed in upgrading critical systems, such as energy, cities, transport, food and, well, you get the picture.
This is a truly meaningful career opportunity for an individual interested in a genuine professional challenge on a planetary scale.
An accountancy qualification is desired but appropriate experience will also be considered. Previous position as CFO of a habitable celestial body is not required.
Established for over 4.5 billion years, the Earth has approximately 7 billion human stakeholders, organised into about 200 independent sovereign departments. Our current aggressive recruitment strategy will result in projected stakeholder numbers reaching over 9 billion by 2050.
Ours assets include a still functioning biosphere, rather depleted mineral resources, depreciating poles, fragile oceanic ecosystem and currently habitable atmosphere.
The successful candidate will hold fiduciary responsibility for every natural resource, every human life and every stick and stone of infrastructure. Asset planning will be required for all the birds, trees, schools, water, bumblebees, power-plants, aeroplanes, crops, mobile phones, algae, shopkeepers and anteaters etc.
Unfortunately there are no audited accounts available yet. Indeed there is some controversy over which parts of the planet are assets, liabilities or even overheads. The current market valuation method of ‘Gross Domestic Product’ is under review and alternative suggestions are welcome.
We are interested in an outstanding individual able to deliver;
1) Topline growth
The planet's return on capital is currently unacceptable. Significant operations are currently provided to stakeholders for free (including water cycles, insect pollination, oxygenisation and soil fertilisation). We refer candidates to A4S's Future Proofed Decision Making report for insights on integrating environmental and social factors into strategy, finance and operations.
2) Remuneration Committee
The governance of stakeholder pay and other financial returns has been heavily criticised. Performance related financial returns should be considered, taking into account all costs including those currently externalised. Currently the best rewarded 1% of stakeholders control 40% of the global pot of financial returns. The bottom half of stakeholders own barely 1% of global wealth. The stakeholder satisfaction survey does not make happy reading.
3) Comprehensive risk management
The Earth is an innovation based enterprise, with a R&D ‘evolution’ department that has been the leader in the adaptability field for millennia. However, some infrastructure systems have shown only limited innovation over time. With the market threat of climate change some capex investment may be needed in upgrading critical systems, such as energy, cities, transport, food and, well, you get the picture.
This is a truly meaningful career opportunity for an individual interested in a genuine professional challenge on a planetary scale.
