About

I bring that ASX level climate and sustainability expertise to Australian businesses who can't afford Big 4 pricing but refuse to settle for carbon accounting startups that leave directors exposed to personal liability.

I spent years working in corporate sustainability and leading climate disclosure projects for ASX companies like QBE and Suncorp. I have navigated complex ASX reporting and audit requirements, board scrutiny, and regulatory pressure. I've seen what survives scrutiny and what gets torn apart. I know the difference between compliance theatre and work that actually protects your board.

Here’s what I won’t do.

I'm not a generic sustainability consultant who'll waffle about “saving the planet”. "purpose" and "ESG alignment" without delivering tangible outcomes.

I'm not an inexperienced carbon accounting startup selling AI-generated reporting that is likely to fail assurance audits.

I’m not here to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on pretty sustainability reports and cupcake days.

Here’s what I do.

I am a fractional Chief Sustainability Officer who's navigated climate-related financial disclosure at ASX financial services firms.

I align climate considerations (and broader sustainability) with your company’s purpose and priorities.

I am a straight-shooter who believes climate disclosure is a commercial opportunity, not a compliance burden, if you do it well.

Here’s what you need to do.

Group 3 entities have less than 18 months until Jul 2027. Businesses sitting just outside Group 3 are being squeezed by supply chain demands right now. Carbon accounting tools are spamming your inbox with promises of "minimum viable compliance." And generic consultants are charging $150K+ for work that won't pass assurance audits.

Whether you’re captured as Group 3, or simply want to compete, you need someone who's actually done this work. At scale. Under ASX reporting scrutiny. With directors' reputations and personal liability on the line.

That's me.

Book a no pitch discovery call

Organisations I’ve worked with

Testimonials

  • Greg Liddell | Impact Frameworks

    “I had the pleasure of working with Kate McHugh during our time together at Suncorp, where she consistently demonstrated an exceptional ability to deliver on complex, multi-stakeholder projects.

    Kate brings both intellectual depth and practical execution to her work; a rare combination that enables her to translate ambitious sustainability and climate agendas into tangible outcomes. Kate has a deep understanding of the risks and opportunities presented by climate change and broader sustainability issues. She combines this with strong technical expertise in impact frameworks and reporting, helping the business navigate evolving expectations with clarity and confidence...”

  • Kunal Gupta | Executive Upskilling

    “I’ve had the pleasure of partnering with Kate at AXR to deliver joint sessions on ESG and Sustainability. These sessions have consistently stood out, receiving excellent feedback from our CFO network for their informative, engaging, and highly relevant content.

    Kate is a true specialist in this space; her passion and commercial acumen set her apart from the typical “tick-the-box” approach. She goes beyond compliance, genuinely supporting companies to create meaningful and lasting impact in this crucial market segment. Kate’s expertise and commitment make her a standout consultant you can trust.”

  • John Minns | Exec. Engagement

    "A strategic thinker, with strong project management capability, Kate's diverse leadership skills enable her to drive performance through sustainability initiatives, deliver influential advice to senior sector leaders, and manage complex change initiatives.

    She is prepared to strongly advocate for a position she believes in, provide direct and honest feedback, and negotiate positive outcomes for stakeholders. These attributes were vital to the delivery of the Strata Futures initiative and enabled our partnership to produce a one of a kind roadmap for change in the national strata sector."

  • Andrew White | Climate Reporting

    "Kate McHugh is a positive force in the challenging world of sustainable business. In the 10 years that I’ve known Kate, I’ve been fortunate enough to witness and benefit from the proactively delivered sustainability-focused outcomes and solutions that have been adopted by businesses on the back of her hard work.

    I’ve witnessed how Kate navigates complex organisations and stakeholders with a level of care, respect and candour. And I’ve witnessed Kate bring together people and build communities of practice and interest. But what has always impressed me most, is how I’ve seen Kate continually step up, and step in when the times get tough and others are looking to find the quickest and easiest exit."