Paul Holland

I'm a Chartered Accountant and Senior Statutory Auditor with over 20 years' of audit and assurance experience and a passion and expertise in all things related to ESG reporting and assurance.

My ESG life began over 10 years ago when I spent two years seconded to HRH, The Prince of Wales leading corporate engagement for The Prince's Rainforests Project (PRP), working with sustainability and communication leaders in UK large businesses. Through this, I established working relationships with about half of the FTSE 100, which has given me a great insight into how different businesses view and deal with the ESG agenda.

I have significant experience in providing ESG and sustainability services including the identification, measurement, reporting and assurance of key ESG aspects for many of the largest companies in the UK, including having provided external ESG assurance and related services to over 15% of the FTSE 100.

Before joining the firm, I was the UK head of sustainability services for a leading accountancy firm. I have a range of international experience, leading projects in Germany, South Africa, Japan, the USA, Canada, and much of Europe.

I'm a member of the Marine Stewardship Council Audit Committee, providing support and constructive challenge to the board. I was an original steering group member of the Forest Footprint Disclosure Project – an initiative helping investors identify how an organisation's activities and supply chains contribute to deforestation and link this 'forest footprint' to their value. Further, I was a Global Impact Investing Network member and assisted clients worldwide for the Global Green Bond group. I have also been a member of the ICAEW Sustainability Committee, a position I held for six years, including chairing the ICAEW's working group responding to proposed UK mandatory GHG reporting legislation.

Outside of work, I'm a qualified FA football coach and have held an FA coaching license for over five years. Until recently, I was an active vice-chair of a youth football club with over 250 members. I enjoy being active and play Eton Fives as part of the Newbury Eton Fives club. I'm married with two teenage children, both of whom are better than me at Fives!