Employability: A Sustainability Perspective for Students
Students interested in a career in business are invited to join us for a panel discussion with sustainability professionals, exploring career opportunities and essential skills for thriving in the green economy
- Event Time
- 10 Oct 15:00 - 10 Oct 16:15
- Event Location
- Alliance Manchester Business School
Calling all students! Join us for a panel discussion exploring the exciting world of sustainability careers.
The shift to a green economy is creating sustainability jobs within new and emerging sectors. Traditional roles within existing sectors are changing to tackle sustainability challenges and unlock new opportunities for growth. Everyone will need to learn about sustainability and develop skills relevant to their roles.
We are delighted that sustainability professionals from a variety of backgrounds will be sharing their career journeys, reflecting on the skills and capabilities critical for driving change and valued by employers.
Attendees will also get a first look at the exciting launch of the A4S International Case Competition.
Panel
Mohammed Mohamoud - Inspired PLC / IEMA
Mohammed develops Net Zero strategies for a wide range of client that span both the private and public sector. In his role as Senior ESG Analyst at Inspired PLC he leads teams, engages with C-suite stakeholders and supports securing contracts by delivering high-quality sustainability solutions.
He is also the Chair of IEMA Futures Steering Group, who organise events, webinars, soft skills training and introductions to a number of sustainability topics. He has appeared on podcasts and radio to discuss the opportunities and challenges for Young Professionals.
Personally, he is a Muslim, Somali from Manchester that speaks Danish and is currently learning Arabic. He loves nature and wildlife, and is sports enthusiast.
Sofia Bonetti - Turner and Townsend
Following her Masters in Business Analysis and Strategic Management at AMBS, Sofia joined Turner and Townsend over a year ago where she works as a passionate Sustainability Consultant. She helps organisations transform their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies into actionable, impactful outcomes.
Her expertise lie in advising businesses on sustainable growth strategies, reducing environmental footprints, and adopting circular economy principles to improve both financial performance and social impact.
Katharine Smith - Accounting for Sustainability (A4S)
Katharine Smith is a seasoned financial professional with a strong background in accounting and management. As a Chartered Accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), Katharine brings a wealth of her accounting expertise to her role as Knowledge and Technical Manager at Accounting for Sustainability (A4S).
Prior to joining A4S, Katharine gained valuable experience working as an external auditor at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) providing assurance for both private sector and FTSE 100-350 companies across multiple industries. Her time at PwC provided her with the technical skills and competencies that are crucial to the role of finance in driving sustainability in business.
Engagement with finance teams across multiple geographies and industries have provided essential insights into the integration of sustainability within finance. Katharine's technical expertise and practical experience make her a valuable asset to A4S. She plays a key role in providing knowledge and technical support to the A4S network and beyond, both contributing to and staying ahead of, a dynamic and evolving space.
Her contributions include the development of content for the A4S Knowledge Hub, supporting the delivery of the A4S Academy and contributing to a diverse range of A4S projects, including the International Case Competition.
Desré Hancocks - Accenture
Growing up in South Africa, social justice became a core value. Desré spent her youth volunteering in the community and this continued when she moved to the UK at the age of 16 with her family. She thought she would become a High School Teacher, but while studying for an undergraduate degree at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, she attended a panel discussion on the topic of conflict minerals in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and found out about children going down mines.
This moment changed the course of her life and career. With an Executive MBA in hand, she now works for Accenture, as part of their Sustainable Value Chains team. With ten years of professional experience, she leads, elevates, and transforms procurement teams and departments to strategically embed sustainability throughout their governance, policies, sourcing processes, and systems to deliver on their Science Based Targets, Net-Zero and ESG commitments - with a particular focus on human rights.
Please note this event is in-person only and open only to students.