Mardi McBrien, CDSB Managing Director was awarded the Sheila McKechnie Foundation (SMK) Environmental Award. The foundation rewarded her campaigning for companies to act on the risks and opportunities related to climate change.
SMK was set up in 2005 to commemorate Dame Sheila McKechnie, a dedicated and effective campaigner, who spent much of her life championing change. Sheila (Shelter, Which?/Consumers' Association) empowered individuals to recognise and assert their rights, and made governments and businesses understand, implement and respond to the issues she campaigned on.
The SMK Campaigner Awards recognise the outstanding contribution that individuals are making towards achieving social, environmental and economic justice here in the UK and abroad. The award was presented by environmentalist and writer Sir Jonathon Porritt.
Past winners of the SMK Environmental Award included Siobhan Grimes whose campaign encouraged Church Commissioners to become more active in tackling climate change and Lauren King, who campaigned against tar sands oil extraction along Canadian First Nation activists and supports organizations lobbing universities to become ‘Tar Sands Free’. Speaking at the award ceremony to distinguished guests and other award winners from other categories, Mardi reflected not just on the challenges that she personally has faced to receive this award, but the challenges we all face on the path towards sustainable development:
"In 2006, as a beginner campaigner, I attended a Shelia McKechnie Foundation training workshop to assist me in writing my first campaigns plan. Seven years on, I am delighted to accept this award for my work with the Climate Disclosure Standards Board where we work to offer a practical response to the demand for a global model that ensures fair and transparent capital markets, and encourages and inspires confidence in standardized reporting of climate change risks and opportunities in mainstream financial reports. At the Climate Disclosure Standards Board we believe it is important to challenge and expand what is believe possible in non-financial reporting and this award will support me in leading my organization to broaden its remit to encompass natural capital considerations, and play a key role in transforming the way the world does business to prevent dangerous climate change and protect our natural resources."
CDSB is delighted that Mardi’s tireless efforts have been rewarded, confirming and highlighting our mission to ensure transparent markets through the disclosure on non-financial information with financial information.
Image source: Sheila McKechnie Foundation