Our Mission 

AccountAbility’s mission is to lead and advise the global community on ethical, environmental, and socially responsible practices. We do this by providing transformative solutions that help corporations, non-profits, and governments mainstream sustainability into their organisational DNA.

Our Values 

Derived from our flagship AA1000 principles, AccountAbility’s core organizational values are Inclusivity, Materiality, and Responsiveness:

  • Inclusivity: People should have a say in the decisions that impact on them 

  • Materiality: Decision makers should identify and be clear about the issues that matter 

  • Responsiveness: Organizations should be transparent about their actions 

Our Organisational Model 

AccountAbility is registered in the UK as a Company Limited by Guarantee. Consistent with its not-for-profit standing, funding generated from any of the firm’s three areas of focus (Standards, Research, and Advisory Services) is focused on further advancing the firm’s mission and offerings. AccountAbility’s legal Directors have fiduciary responsibilities and lead the organisation according to its mission and strategy.

Our Governance

Since its inception in 1995, AccountAbility has sought to maintain the highest standards of governance to support our mission and values. The firm’s governance practices emphasise active engagement across a broad community of stakeholders to promote transparency, accountability, innovation, and impact.

The top governing body for AccountAbility is the Advisory Council, a veritable “Who’s Who” of internationally renowned CEOs, policymakers, thought leaders, and regulators from the public and private sectors and civil society. The Council members reflect AccountAbility’s commitment to diversity and global impact.

The Council’s role is to advise and support the firm in the development and execution of its strategy, help operationalise its core principles of Inclusivity, Materiality and Responsiveness, and be a catalyst for engagement with the broader community of stakeholders.

The AccountAbility Advisory Council

The Members of the Advisory Council are:

  • Mr. Hans W. Decker – Former President and CEO of Siemens Corporation (USA); Adjunct Professor, School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University; Board of the Graduate Faculty of the New School University, NYC (Emeritus); President of Heidelberg University Association

  • Ms. Carol  Atwood – Entrepreneur; Chair of King Arthur Flour; Board Member – Community Investment Partners (CIP), Calvert Foundation, New Paradigm Fund

  • Mr. John A. Fraser – Chairman and CEO of UBS Global Asset Management; Member of UBS Group Executive Board; former Deputy Secretary (Economic) of the Australian Treasury

  • Mr. Robert H. Herz – Former Chairman of the US Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB); Board Member of Morgan Stanley; Board Member of Fannie Mae; Trustee of the Kessler Foundation; Executive in Residence, Columbia Business School

  • Mr. Abdallah S. Jum’ah – Former President and CEO of the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco); Board Member – Halliburton Company, American University (Cairo), Reliance International, Saudi Investment Bank

  • Mr. Mthunzi Mdwaba – Entrepreneur; Member of the Governing Body of the International Labour Organisation (Geneva, Switzerland); Board Member of the International Organisation of Employers (Geneva, Switzerland); former CEO of Torque Holdings; Vice-President of Business Unity South Africa(BUSA)

  • Sir Mark Moody-Stuart – Chairman of Hermes Equity Ownership Services; former Chairman of Anglo-American plc; former Chairman of Royal Dutch/Shell Group; Board Member – Accenture, Saudi Aramco; former Board Member, HSBC

  • Mr. Subramaniam Ramadorai – Chairman of Tata Technologies Limited; Chairman of CMC Limited; Chairman of Tata Elxsi; Vice Chairman of Tata Consultancy Services; Chairman of the Bombay Stock Exchange

The Standards Board

The AA1000 Standards are governed by a separate structure to ensure their independence and provide for multi-stakeholder participation. An independent Standards Board has sole responsibility for setting the strategic direction and on-going technical development of the Standards and ensuring broad stakeholder engagement. More information about the governance of our Standards can be found on our Standards page.