Cundall announces new ESG appointments

International sustainability and engineering consultancy Cundall has announced two significant environmental, social and governance (ESG) appointments.

Madlen Jannaschk (pictured) will step into the role of ESG Director for the global business, a new position that will lead the evolution and implementation of the consultancy’s own ESG policies, action and reporting. In the Asia–Pacific region, ESG expert and accredited carbon auditor Alex Stathakis will join the Australian business as Associate – ESG.

Jannaschk previously held the role of ESG Lead for Asia–Pacific, achieving significant milestones for the business, including the first formal Climate Active certification for a property sector services provider. She has also led the development of sustainability and decarbonisation strategies for clients including government departments, private health sector trusts, construction companies and commercial services organisations.

“The success of our work with clients demonstrates the importance of having measurable targets, verifying milestones and continually looking for opportunities to improve,” Jannaschk said.

“In my new role, I will be working across the business to ensure Cundall as an organisation continues to progress our own ESG commitments, embedding them in every aspect of our internal practices and equipping all our people to share the lessons we learn with clients and the wider industry.”

“Madlen brings enormous passion and a vast body of knowledge to her new role, including ensuring Cundall’s policies, practices and systems align with global and all relevant local standards such as the EU Taxonomy, the ISSB mandatory reporting standards and Science Based Targets,” said Cundall Managing Partner Carole O’Neil. “Just as many of these major policy and regulatory initiatives touch our clients and their work, they also apply to us, and we are taking the lead on demonstrating best practice.”

Alex Stathakis.

With qualifications including Bachelor of Business Management, Master of Business and Master of Technology & Innovation Management, Stathakis has a substantial track record across corporate, infrastructure and the finance sectors. He is also one of a handful of approved Airport Carbon Accreditation verifiers in the Asia–Pacific region.

Australia Managing Director David Collins said Stathakis’s appointment reflects a rapid uptick in demand for tangible ESG credentials and credible reporting.

“There are two big forces at work in the Asia–Pacific region — the push factor of regulatory shifts in relation to mandatory disclosure of climate impacts and other ESG matters such as modern slavery compliance and social value metrics, and the pull factor of continued growth in infrastructure, transport, industrial and data centre developments,” Collins said.

“Alex brings a wealth of experience in delivering the meaningful strategies that embed best practice ESG as business as usual.”

Stathakis said he was excited to engage with Cundall’s global technical and engineering expertise.

“Cundall’s global reach and extensive resources will enable me to provide advanced technical emissions reduction solutions that go beyond typical offerings. I will be delivering practical greenhouse gas abatement solutions, including strategies for challenging sectors such as aviation,” he said.