Aideen O’Hora, Laura Heuston, and Karen Deignan established SustainabilityWorks in early 2019. We felt there was a need for a different kind of sustainability consultancy in Ireland – one that brings together financial, business, and communications know-how to create solutions that unlock opportunity and mobilise action.
SustainabilityWorks’ core services reflect our experience as Co-Founders, gained over 20+ years working at the forefront of sustainable business and sustainable finance in Ireland and internationally.
As a mission-driven consultancy, we are focused on impact. We work on projects and initiatives that we believe will move the needle and deliver meaningful change.
We love bringing people together, connecting the dots, and making sustainability work.
Our team draws on two decades of experience at the leading-edge of sustainability practice across the public and private sectors.
An environmental scientist by background, Aideen is an expert in sustainable business, energy, and climate innovation. Over her career, she has created national programmes to inform policy and drive progress on corporate sustainability. She is passionate about creating change by connecting the dots between climate and business. A pioneer in the area of climate innovation, she’s a big believer in the opportunities climate tech provides for Irish entrepreneurs and businesses.
Aideen previously worked with The Green Way (Ireland’s first climate tech cluster), Sustainable Nation Ireland, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, Abbott Laboratories, Novartis and Cork County Council.
Laura is a leading authority in Ireland on sustainable finance. An accountant and tax expert by background, she specialises in EU and global sustainable finance policy and regulation. She has a unique ability to cut through complexity and provide practical actions for corporates, investors, and financial services firms. Over the last decade, she has been at the forefront of raising awareness and building knowledge on sustainable finance across Ireland.
Laura previously worked with Sustainable Nation Ireland, Airtricity, and KPMG. She is a Fellow Chartered Accountant and a Chartered Tax Consultant.
Karen is an expert in sustainability strategy, communications, and reporting. With a background in organisational psychology, she has spent her career working with global corporations to engage leaders and employees in driving sustainability transformation. Karen specialises in developing actionable sustainability programmes that reflect a company’s purpose, culture, and commercial goals. She’s passionate about making sustainability simple and understandable for everyone.
Karen previously worked in the UK with the Carbon Trust and with independent consultancies Salterbaxter, di:ga, and Corporate Culture. She is a trained B Leader who can support companies on their B Corp certification journey.
Sharon is an experienced consultant, sustainability practitioner, and entrepreneur. An engineer by training, she started her first business in her early twenties, then spent a decade honing her consulting skills at McKinsey & Co where she focused on strategy development, organisational capability building, and operational improvement. Driven by a desire to make a positive difference to our shared environment and future, she pivoted in 2018 and started the world’s first eco-activist toystore, Jiminy, earning recognition and awards for sustainability leadership both in Ireland and the global toy industry.
Sharon decided to return to her consulting roots in early 2024 by taking up the role with SW.
Donall specialises in sustainable finance and ESG. A qualified Associate Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Adviser, he brings a wealth of financial experience and industry knowledge to his work with SW’s clients. Donall advises on sustainable finance regulations and ESG strategy for sectors including financial services, real estate funds, and Private Equity investors. He also works with corporate clients on CSRD reporting, double materiality assessments, and strategy development.
Donall previously worked with KPMG and AIB.
Ciara brings extensive experience to the SW team having worked in the financial services sector as an Auditor, Consultant, Regulator, and Head of Risk. In these roles, her focus was on guiding organisations in the development and implementation of risk management, governance and internal control systems to meet local and European regulations. Attracted by SW’s mission and focus on impact, Ciara is now applying her skillset to supporting clients with sustainability and climate risk management, CSRD reporting, and sustainability strategy development.
She previously worked with EY, the Central Bank of Ireland and KPMG and is a Fellow Chartered Accountant.
Paddy specialises in sustainable finance and holds a Master’s in renewable energy and environmental finance. He has an in-depth understanding of EU sustainable finance regulations and best practice, bringing expert knowledge and insights to the SW team. Paddy supports clients on SFDR compliance, EU Taxonomy alignment, and ESG strategy development.
He previously worked for Sustainable Finance Ireland.
Hannah specialises in sustainability strategy, stakeholder engagement, and leadership development. She brings a wealth of experience in developing sustainability training programmes that build knowledge and capability among leaders and employees on sustainability and ESG. Hannah also draws on her user experience and marketing skills to create content and develop strategies designed to engage.
She previously worked as a sustainable innovation consultant with EY and as a project manager with the Institute of Banking.
George has worked in sustainability since 2019 and brings a range of knowledge and skills to the SW team. His experience spans corporate sustainability and sustainable finance, having been both an ESG Analyst and a Sustainability Consultant. George supports clients on sustainability strategy development, strategy implementation, and ESG reporting.
He previously worked in the UK with EY, GAM Investments, and the University of Exeter.
Sheila is an innovative and strategic operations lead with a proven track record of delivering operational efficiencies. She provides the SW team with expert business support, on a part-time basis, across all aspects of our operations.
Sheila also runs her own company through which she offers business operations management, company secretarial and governance services.
In addition to our core team, we work with a small number of trusted Associates who bring specific expertise to our client projects and initiatives.
Kim has over 20 years’ experience leading strategic transformation within organisations, both nationally and internationally. Her professional career has spanned a wide range of industries and disciplines from utilities to healthcare, and process design to product development. Well-practiced in strategy formulation, programme management and transformation and change, she has a proven track record for translating a strategic vision into tangible results.
Kim is also a trained B Leader who can guide companies on their B Corp Certification journey.
Jillian is a skilled Executive and Non-Executive Director with wide ranging board, committee and corporate governance experience across the private, public and international financial institutions sector. She brings unique and varied knowledge across many areas, including strategy, business model design, funding and investment, risk management and public policy implementation.
Jillian is also a member of the national Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC) and the CCAC Adaptation Committee.
Ron has extensive experience in the areas of entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship, strategy, innovation and SME engagement. He is an author, lecturer, facilitator and advisor on topics such as business planning, future trends, resilience and sense-making.
Over the course of his career, he has worked with Universities, member organisations, and corporate clients throughout Europe, providing unique perspectives and insights to inform their thinking.
They capture the spirit of SustainabilityWorks and guide how we make decisions, how we do things, and how we treat all those we work with.
We give it out and expect it back.
We partner and share, there is no room for ego.
We are honest and transparent.
We’re positive and look for solutions.
We strive always to do the highest quality work.
We give it out and expect it back.
We partner and share, there is no room for ego.
We are honest and transparent.
We’re positive and look for solutions.
We strive always to do the highest quality work.