Consultant Spotlight: Austen Crean
Austen joined the Sancroft team in 2023 as a Senior Analyst and was promoted to Consultant in 2024. He brings with him a lifelong connection to the natural world combined with a strong commercial background. We spoke to him about his purpose, perspective, and what drives his work.
Where does your interest in sustainability stem from?
I was a competitive skier growing up and am still an avid skier. Through skiing I developed a deep connection with the mountains, snow, and nature. In the mountains, the impacts of the climate crisis are the most evident – you can see the changes each year in the form of reduced snowfall, higher temperatures and melting glaciers. I became interested in sustainability through this personal connection with nature and the desire to do what I can to ensure future generations can enjoy and experience nature the way I have.
Why did you choose to join Sancroft?
During my MBA I ran a student-run management consultancy with five of my classmates. I really loved the camaraderie that came along with working in a small team and took great pride in having a sense of ownership over client projects and the strategic direction of the firm. I was drawn to Sancroft as I saw this same camaraderie among the team. Every member feels they have a meaningful impact on the work we produce and the direction the firm takes.
I was also drawn to the wide range of industries Sancroft works in and the fact that we work across all aspects of ESG, not just on environmental issues. I believe this model enables us to take learnings from across industries and apply them in new contexts to provide added value for our clients. I also believe that many ESG issues are connected – having expertise across the full spectrum allows us to see the bigger picture and provide solutions with this in mind.
What have you been most proud of in your career so far?
It is very difficult to pick out one single achievement – for me, I am proud of the fact that I am able to contribute to Sancroft’s purpose of creating a just and sustainable world through the energy, ingenuity, and impact of business and finance. I love that my work has purpose and that my work contributes to positive changes in the world.
What kind of impact do you hope to make through your work?
I believe that the threat posed by the climate and nature crises is existential to our way of life and by extension the businesses that we advise. As the same time, I recognise that the clients we work with face a many challenges outside of sustainability and have to make difficult decisions to ensure their business remains profitable and resilient. I want to work collaboratively with our clients to challenge ways of thinking and find innovative and practical solutions that help our clients grow, deliver profits, and remain resilient.
What can Sancroft clients expect from working with you?
A level-headed, collaborative and pragmatic advisor who seeks to deeply understand your businesses and provide bespoke solutions that consider the various challenges you are facing.
And finally, what do you get up to when you’re not advising our clients?
I love anything that is active and involves being in nature. I am a keen runner, cyclist (catch me in Richmond Park in head-to-toe lycra most Saturday mornings), skier, backcountry camper, and hiker. I also enjoy reading (mostly about sustainability but have recently forayed into fiction), travelling, and spending time with friends and family.