Chartered Star 2024 winner Evan O’Donnell talks to Susan Rossney, Sustainability Advocacy Manager with Chartered Accountants Ireland, about the future of sustainability in the profession

Evan O’Donnell was recently named Chartered Star 2024, an annual designation recognising outstanding work in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  

Run in partnership with One Young World and Chartered Accountants Worldwide, the aim of the annual Chartered Star competition is to celebrate the difference-makers in the profession who are helping to combat the climate crisis by bringing real, positive change to their workplaces and communities. As Chartered Star 2024, O’Donnell will attend the One Young World Summit, representing Chartered Accountants Ireland and Chartered Accountants Worldwide, in Montreal, Canada, in September. Here, he talks to Susan Rossney about his interest in sustainability and social responsibility.

Tell us about your decision to become a Chartered Accountant. What attracted you to the profession?

I loved accounting in secondary school – that “yes” moment when you know your inputs are the same as your outputs! My mother was a mathematics teacher, and my father was a banker, so figures are certainly in my DNA. 

I studied accounting at University College Cork, but it wasn’t until I attended a careers fair that I understood the versatility of a career in accounting and the many doors Chartered Accountancy can open. 

Have you always been interested in sustainability? 

I’ve been interested in social responsibility from the time I was 16 when I travelled to India and worked with street and slum children in Calcutta. 

Since then, I’ve volunteered for a range of charities, including Trócaire, Mary’s Meals, HOPE, Cork Penny Dinners, Pieta, Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, the Irish Cancer Society and Breakthrough Cancer Research. 

My interest in sustainability started when I led a sustainable gardening project at college. Volunteers completed training certificates and visited local nursing homes to assist the elderly residents in planting flowers and growing vegetables. It showed me what was possible.

Since then, I’ve looked for opportunities to do more and was delighted when I got the chance to host a sustainability networking event at the Apple headquarters in Cork when I was Co-Chairperson of Chartered Accountants Student Society Cork.

What initially sparked your interest in becoming a Chartered Star?

I heard about the Chartered Star competition during the first year of my training contract with PwC. 

In 2020, I was fortunate to be part of a fantastic network, the Irish FinBiz Task Force, with 30 finance and business professionals across Ireland. It had been founded by two previous Chartered Stars and, as the years went on, more Chartered Stars emerged from the network.

I was on the network’s SDG Awareness Team where Patrycja Jurkowska (2019 winner) provided us with great insight and knowledge on the topic. 

I saw how the competition opened many doors for my colleagues, and I felt it was an opportunity to meet amazing ambassadors of sustainability, be part of a knowledge platform and share key learnings with my network. 

I am very proud to be part of the Chartered Accountants Ireland Chartered Star family!

What do you see as the greatest sustainability-related impacts, risks and opportunities for Ireland? 

Ireland faces significant sustainability challenges, but also has many opportunities.

Climate change is causing more extreme weather, threatening infrastructure and agriculture. Biodiversity loss, due to urbanisation and intensive farming, is reducing ecosystem services like pollination and water purification. Resource depletion, including water scarcity and soil degradation, is harming agriculture and water supplies.

Economic risks include the vulnerability of agriculture to climate variability and potential negative impacts on tourism from environmental degradation. 

Dependence on fossil fuels poses a risk as global policies shift towards renewables. 
Social risks involve health issues from heatwaves and pollution, as well as displacement due to coastal erosion. 

Regulatory risks stem from the high costs of complying with EU environmental regulations.

However, through all this, there are significant opportunities. 

Renewable energy development, particularly wind and marine energy, can reduce fossil fuel dependence and create jobs. 

Sustainable agriculture, including organic farming and agroforestry, can boost biodiversity and resilience. 

Green technology and innovation, such as circular economy practices and smart grids, can enhance sustainability and efficiency. 

By implementing robust policies through the Climate Action Plan and participating in the EU Green Deal, Ireland can lead in global sustainability efforts, attract investment and build a resilient future.

Where do you see opportunities for young professional Chartered Accountants in sustainability?

Chartered Accountants have many opportunities to help meet sustainability challenges. We can leverage our skills in financial analysis and reporting to enhance transparency in sustainability metrics, ensuring that companies’ environmental and social impacts are accurately reported and assessed. 

We can specialise in sustainability assurance, auditing environmental, social and governance (ESG) reports to provide stakeholders with credible information.

We can advise businesses on integrating sustainable practices into their operations and strategies and identify cost-saving measures through energy efficiency, waste reduction and sustainable supply chain management. 

We can also influence policy by working with regulatory bodies to shape sustainability standards and frameworks. 

Additionally, we can drive innovation by supporting the development of green finance products, such as green bonds and sustainable investment funds. 

By combining our financial expertise with a commitment to sustainability, young professional Chartered Accountants can play a crucial role in fostering sustainable economic growth and addressing global environmental challenges.

Can you tell us about your sustainability role with PwC?

I always had a passion for sustainability, and I wanted to incorporate this into my day-to-day life at PwC. 

During my time with PwC Cork, I worked in the Assurance Department specialising in high-technology and pharmaceutical company audits along with pensions and grant engagements. 

In 2019, while on placement, I was on the Corporate Social Responsibility Committee, and worked under the food pillar of PwC Ireland’s Sustainability Council, focusing on food waste reduction initiatives primarily in PwC offices around Ireland. 

I also became an SDG Champion with PwC by completing ‘The Sustainable Life School’ course. This course inspired me to apply for, and later become, a Climate Ambassador earlier this year, where I have equipped myself with education about climate.

What does being named Chartered Star 2024 mean to you? 

Being the Chartered Star, an ambassador of Chartered Accountants, means representing my profession and country on a global stage. 

Having been selected to attend the One Young World Summit in Montreal this September, I am deeply honoured and grateful to have this opportunity. 

The Summit brings together young leaders from around the world to discuss and address critical global issues, including sustainability, innovation and social impact.

I am committed to making both my profession and my country proud by actively participating in the Summit, sharing insights and learning from global peers. This unique experience will enable me to bring valuable knowledge and innovative ideas back to my colleagues, fostering growth and development within our community. 

I look forward to leveraging this platform to highlight the pivotal role of Chartered Accountants in driving sustainable and ethical business practices, ultimately contributing to a better future for all.