Sustainable Value Creation: Creating impact through collaboration between Finance, Sustainability and IT
About the event
Date: September 24, 2025
Time: 08:30 – 11:00 ET
Location: Midtown Manhattan
According to a 2025 survey, 93% of senior leaders across IT, finance and ESG say sustainability is important to commercial success and business resilience; however, only 37% of senior leaders believe sustainability is “very integrated” into the core of their business. Achieving integration is critical not just for achieving sustainability goals, but also to realizing the business benefits that drive commercial success and the ability to achieve greater impact through sustainability as a driver of value.
Please join A4S, AICPA & CIMA and IFAC for a panel discussion that will explore the interplay between finance, sustainability and IT, highlighting the unique strengths that each function brings. The session will include practical insights of sustainability integration driven by collaboration between these three functions, and attendees will walk away with a better understanding of opportunities for their own organization.
A light breakfast and coffee will be available.
Panelists
Matthias Medert, Global Head of Sustainability, SAP
As SAP’s Global Head of Sustainability, Matthias Medert is responsible for sustainability strategy across internal and external global operations at SAP SE.
Medert started his career in product management at SAP, holding several senior management positions in licensing and customer adoption. Previously, he held the role of SVP Global Adoption Insights & License Compliance, which allowed him to understand the intersection of customer needs and compliance across regions. Complementing his business expertise, Medert’s personal commitment to forging a sustainable future pushed him to provide mentorship to social start-ups and NGOs fueling sustainable transformation. He also published the book, “17 Ziele für eine lebenswerte Zukunft,” to outline practical ways individuals can support the UN Sustainable Development Goals and inspire organizations to find the synergy between business success and sustainability.
Medert holds a degree in mechanical engineering from Technische Universität Darmstadt.
Denise Lucas, Assistant Controller, Responsible Business and Technology, IBM
Denise Lucas is Assistant Controller, Responsible Business and Technology, at IBM, overseeing the ESG controllership and AI governance for IBM Finance & Operations. IBM’s ESG Controllership is responsible for mandatory ESG reporting and disclosures, acting as a key business partner to the sustainability function and other stakeholders, as well as establishing a strong management system for the company's ESG activities. Her team’s AI duties include operationalizing AI governance requirements and embedding responsible technology principles into IBM’s culture and day-to-day execution.
Prior to this role, Denise had various finance and accounting roles, with over 15 years of experience. Most recently, Denise was the Director, Accounting Policy & External Reporting. Her team was responsible for worldwide accounting policies and preparation and review of SEC filings.
Denise was also in IBM’s Investor Relations department. Earlier in Denise’s IBM career, she led the $34 billion acquisition of Red Hat for IBM Accounting and assisted in the accounting standard implementations, including ASC 606 and ASC 842.
Previously, Denise spent nine years at Deloitte. Beginning her career in the assurance practice, followed by two years in Deloitte's National Office Accounting Services group focusing on revenue, leases, and leading the business combinations team.
Nikita Asthanta, Team Lead, Sustainability Finance, Olam Agri
Nikita Asthana is a sustainability leader in the food and agriculture sector, focused on integrating climate and nature-related risks into enterprise strategy and core business decision-making. She leads the Sustainability Finance team at Olam Agri, where she advances TCFD, TNFD, and ISSB-aligned disclosures and pioneers natural capital valuation. Her work bridges finance, sustainability, and strategy to enable credible, decision-useful reporting. A CFA charter holder and INSEAD MBA, she chairs the multi-stakeholder advisory group for the EU co-funded Project A-track, which aims to accelerate business, finance, and policy action for nature-positive outcomes.
Kimberly Ellison-Taylor, CPA, CITP, CGMA, CIA, CISA, NACD.CD, Chief Executive Officer, KET Solutions, LLC
Kimberly Ellison-Taylor is a Global Technology and Finance leader with over 30 years of career achievements. She is the CEO of KET Solutions, LLC, a consulting firm focused on business growth, innovation, strategy, transformation and leadership. Kimberly is a sought- after keynote speaker and has received many awards and recognitions for her expertise and leadership including Accounting Today's Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting, CPA Practice Advisor's 25 Most Powerful Women in Accounting, Forbes Top 200 CPAs in America, and Forbes Top Best in State CPAs.
She has also earned the University of Oxford-AICPA ESG and Sustainable Financial Strategy Certification and Diligent’s ESG Leadership Certificate as well as its Climate Leadership Certificate.
Kimberly has volunteered in the profession for over 20 years including past leadership positions as Chairman of the American Institute of CPAs, Chairman of the Association of Certified Professional Accountants, and Chairman of the Maryland Association of CPAs. Kimberly is a Past President for Beta Alpha Psi, the Chairman of the Maryland Association of CPAs Education Foundation and serves on the board of trustees for Loyola University Maryland.
In her personal life, Kimberly is also committed to volunteerism and has served in various leadership positions for a community service organization that serves women, youth, and families, seniors and the military.