Sophie Graham

Sophie Graham is an accomplished sustainability leader and speaker, recognised for her ability to bridge the gap between business strategy and environmental responsibility. With a strong background in environmental law and corporate sustainability, she has spent her career guiding global organisations towards meaningful, measurable change. Her expertise lies not only in designing sustainability strategies but also in inspiring others to take action. Today, as Chief Sustainability Officer at IFS, she brings clarity, purpose and passion to conversations about how businesses can drive positive environmental and social outcomes.

Sophie’s commitment to sustainability began early in her academic journey. After completing a Bachelor of Laws at University College London, she pursued a Master of Laws in Environmental Law at SOAS University of London, where she developed a deep understanding of global environmental policy and regulation. Her early professional experiences, including internships at the Environmental Law Centre and the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, allowed her to apply her legal knowledge to corporate social responsibility and sustainability frameworks. These formative years shaped her belief that responsible business practices must be grounded in both ethical and legal principles.

Her career progressed rapidly as she took on increasingly senior roles in the corporate sustainability sector. As a Research Analyst at Mosaic within Business in the Community, Sophie contributed to national programmes promoting responsible business conduct. Her tenure at Fujitsu marked a significant chapter, where she served as Responsible Business Lead for EMEIA and later as Responsible Business Manager for the Americas. During this time, she championed sustainability initiatives across multiple regions, embedding environmental and social governance into core business operations. Following this, she became Sustainability Strategy Manager at Santander UK, and then Global Sustainability ESG Director at IFS, where she developed and implemented strategies that helped the company achieve substantial progress on its sustainability commitments.

Sophie Graham’s appointment as Chief Sustainability Officer at IFS is a testament to her leadership, vision and influence. As a speaker, she brings a rare combination of technical expertise, strategic insight and authenticity. Her talks connect with audiences because she communicates complex sustainability challenges in a practical and inspiring way. Drawing on her legal background, corporate experience and global perspective, Sophie empowers organisations to see sustainability not as a compliance requirement but as a source of innovation, resilience and long-term value.