Mary Whitelaw has been named Green Leader at the Green Awards 2026, recognised for embedding sustainability at the heart of Irish banking and demonstrating how financial services can drive national climate action through strategic leadership and measurable impact.

The award, announced on 24 February 2026 at the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, honours Mary's work as AIB's Group Strategy and Sustainability Officer, where she has transformed the bank's environmental positioning since joining the Executive Committee in 2019.

Judges praised Mary for serving as Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer at AIB Group, where she has embedded sustainability at the core of organisational strategy. She has led major climate finance initiatives, scaling green and transition funding to €30 billion while advancing renewable energy adoption and sustainable operations across the bank.

"She has led major climate-finance initiatives, scaling green and transition funding to €30 billion while advancing renewable energy adoption and sustainable operations across the bank. A graduate of University College Dublin and Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland, she also serves as a Non-Executive Director at Goodbody. Her leadership champions collective action, aligning commercial success with long-term environmental and social progress," the judging panel stated.

The bank has become one of the top ten ESG bond issuers in Europe under her guidance, with 87% of AIB's energy now sourced from renewables. These achievements reflect how sustainability strategy, when integrated at executive level, can reshape institutional priorities while delivering commercial and environmental outcomes simultaneously.

The Green Leader Award recognises individuals whose vision and execution set benchmarks for their sectors. Mary's recognition reflects the critical role financial services play in enabling Ireland's climate transition through capital allocation, risk assessment, and strategic partnerships with businesses navigating sustainability transformation.

As the Green Awards continue into their nearly two decades, Mary Whitelaw joins a distinguished group of leaders proving that environmental progress and commercial success are integrated imperatives.

For the complete 2026 winners list, category insights, and leadership profiles, visit the official Green Awards website and subscribe to the newsletter.