London 2012 sustainability guru awarded OBE

Shaun McCarthy, the man behind the greenest Games ever, has been awarded an OBE for services to sustainability and to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

As the chair of the Commission for a Sustainable London 2012, the independent assurance body established to monitor the Games’ sustainability commitments, McCarthy coordinated the Commission’s small but dedicated team of experts, whose remit stretched from investigating waste management to the ethics of corporate sponsorship.

McCarthy joined the Commission in its inaugural year, 2006, and remained in the role until the Commission officially closed in March this year. In this role, he set an Olympic precedent – never before has an Olympic Games had an independent body to monitor and advise on sustainability issues.

Shaun McCarthy described his role at the Commission as: “One of the most challenging, and most rewarding jobs I have ever had, and that includes a stint at BAA during the construction of Terminal 5.”

He added: “This OBE is a huge honour, and I am incredibly grateful for the support of my colleagues at the Commission over the years, whose passion and dedication helped make the Games such a ground-breaking British event.”

McCarthy is now director of social enterprise Action Sustainability.  He is also a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA); and a member of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (MCIPS), Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (MIEMA) and the Institute of Directors (MIOD).

Image credit: Shinnosuke Ando/Unsplash