on impact
Impact is the creation of lasting value for people and planet through honest, evidence-based and sustainable action
Beyond ESG
Too often, as impact professionals we limit “impact” to a professional niche or industry label.
I think it's far broader and simpler than that.
Impact is not confined to ESG frameworks, sustainability departments, or development institutions. It can be found in the integrity with which decisions are made, the way people treat one another, and whether organisations create genuine long-term value for society rather than extracting short-term gains from it.
Genuine Value Creation
A truly impactful professional culture can exist almost anywhere: in pushing for commercially viable clean energy solutions within a traditional energy company, in advocating for more ethical advertising practices within a major consumer brand, or simply in approaching colleagues, clients, and stakeholders with honesty, fairness, and respect.
To me, meaningful impact is ultimately about “true value creation” — creating tangible outcomes for society that remain beneficial over the long term rather than merely appearing beneficial in the short term.
That requires pragmatism rather than dogmatism. The energy transition, for example, cannot happen overnight without destabilising energy systems and economies. Ethical business practices must also remain commercially viable if they are to scale sustainably. Real impact therefore involves balancing ideals with implementation realities, trade-offs, incentives, and changing conditions.
Intellectual Humility
Impact is not about moral superiority or performative virtue. It requires intellectual humility: the willingness to question one's assumptions, adapt to new evidence, and change course when necessary.
At its core, impact is about creating enduring value for people, communities, institutions, and future generations. It also requires the courage to speak honestly about what matters, even when doing so carries personal, professional, or financial costs; as well as the humility to revise one's views when better evidence emerges.
Areas of Focus
The following pages explore some of my thinking on how we can create lasting positive impact in the areas of global development, European policy, and public health.
