Available for engagements

Senior Advisor.
Strategic Transformation
& Sustainability.

From sustainability strategy to real business impact. I operate at the intersection of sustainability, data and operations — translating strategy into cost efficiency, investor confidence and real operational change.

Discuss an Engagement Advisory Services
Electra Karanasiu — Senior Advisor, Strategic Transformation & Sustainability
20+ Years delivering transformation & sustainability globally
15+ Years in PwC & EY advising multi-market programmes
9+ Years C-suite engagement, PwC ME Leadership Team
69% Reduction in operational emissions delivered
$4M Cost savings unlocked through travel decarbonisation

About

With over 20 years of experience — including a decade leading internal transformation within the "engine room" of PwC Middle East — I understand how complex organisations actually function. I don't just provide a roadmap; I ensure the governance, data systems, and leadership alignment are in place to make Sustainability and Net Zero strategy stick.

Based in Dubai, I offer a rare 'insider' vantage point gained from senior leadership and two years as Chief of Staff to the regional Managing Partner at PwC. I specialise in turning Scope 3 and operational data into actionable business insights — identifying where decarbonisation intersects with cost savings and efficiency. From building ESG governance frameworks to managing supplier engagement, my focus is on ensuring sustainability initiatives don't just meet targets, but actively drive operational excellence and bottom-line resilience.

I partner with consulting firms requiring senior advisory capacity, and provide organisations with interim support, fractional sustainability leadership (CSO), or project-based delivery at the Principal level.

What I Solve For

Mitigating Risk & Regulatory Pressure

Board-level disclosure obligations, met with confidence.

  • Bridging the Regulatory GapTranslating technical gap reports (ADX, DFM, SCA) into actionable roadmaps — moving your organisation from voluntary disclosure to mandatory federal compliance.
  • Operationalising IFRS S1 & S2Building the internal audit-trails and controls required to ensure your sustainability disclosures are defensible and assurance-ready.
  • Greenwashing & Litigation ProtectionEstablishing evidence-based reporting frameworks that protect Board liability and ensure every claim is backed by a transparent data trail.

Optimising Performance & Protecting Margins

Sustainability data that works for the bottom line, not against it.

  • Monetising ESG InitiativesTranslating environmental impact into monetary value — allowing leadership to see the direct financial implications and potential savings of sustainability goals.
  • Operational Waste IdentificationDesigning the logic for predictive models and scenario analysis to uncover hidden waste within Scope 3 and complex operations.
  • Strategic Data ArchitectureDefining the formulas and processes that allow technical teams to replace static spreadsheets with automated, real-time leadership dashboards.

Strategic Growth & Access

ESG as a competitive advantage, not a cost centre.

  • ICV & Tender CompetitivenessMastering In-Country Value (ICV) governance to gain a decisive advantage in government and private sector tenders across the GCC.
  • Investor & Lender ConfidenceEnhancing enterprise value protection by aligning ESG performance with the rigorous due-diligence requirements of regional banks and institutional financing.
  • Preferred Partner StatusAligning your business with the ESG codes of conduct required by global giants to secure your position as a preferred supplier in high-value value chains.

National Vision & Public Sector

Sovereign policy commitments brought to life on the ground.

  • Sovereign Policy DeliveryBridging the gap between corporate strategy and national goals — UAE Net Zero 2050, Saudi Vision 2030, and Saudi Green Initiative.
  • Workforce & Nationalisation ModelsDesigning the governance and workforce models required for large entities to meet regional labour goals and sovereign priorities.
  • Cross-Ministry Stakeholder ManagementProviding the strategic oversight needed to align complex, multi-stakeholder projects with public sector mandates.

Core Advisory Services

01

Sustainability Strategy & ESG Implementation

Architecting credible, board-level sustainability roadmaps and turning them into operational reality. I bridge the gap between high-level ambition and day-to-day execution, ensuring your strategy is embedded across data, systems, and performance tracking to remain defensible to investors and regulators.

Net Zero & Carbon Neutrality MENA Regulatory Alignment Board-Level Governance (GRC) Climate Transformation Strategic Roadmap Architecture
02

Reporting Gap Closure & Governance Operationalisation

Moving beyond technical gap reports to full governance execution. I build the internal audit trails, controls, and evidence packs required for IFRS S1/S2 and UAE regulatory compliance. I specialise in policy operationalisation, ensuring your disclosure cycle is consistent, controlled, and assurance-ready.

IFRS S1 & S2 Compliance ISSB & GRI Standards Audit-Ready Controls Evidence Pack Preparation Mandatory Federal Disclosure (Law No. 11)
03

Tech-Enabled ESG & Digital Intelligence

Architecting the data-logic for automated ESG workflows and real-time leadership dashboards that replace manual spreadsheets with scalable, intelligent infrastructure. I design the predictive models and decision-support tools required to translate complex datasets — including aviation and mobility emissions — into high-impact executive insights.

Scope 1–3 Data Logic Aviation & Mobility Emissions Predictive Scenario Modelling Real-Time Leadership Dashboards ESG Data Automation
04

Supply Chain & Operational Execution

Operationalising sustainability within procurement and supplier relationships to manage Scope 3 risk. I lead the execution of data collection, cleansing, and validation across your value chain, ensuring your supply chain remains commercially resilient and aligned with global partner requirements.

Scope 3 Value Chain Mapping Supplier Decarbonisation Data Cleansing & Validation Ethical Procurement Frameworks Operational Waste Identification
05

Sustainability PMO & Programme Governance

Providing senior-level oversight to keep your sustainability programme on track. I establish Programme Offices (PMOs) to manage milestones, dependency tracking, and risk escalation — delivering the senior capacity needed to drive cross-functional delivery without the overhead of a permanent hire.

Enterprise-Scale Delivery Cross-Functional Stakeholder Alignment Milestone & Risk Tracking Senior Interim Capacity White-Label Senior Advisory
06

Organisational Resilience & Capability Building

Embedding sustainability into corporate culture and governance to drive permanent institutional change. I lead the strategic change management, role clarity, and capability building required to ensure your teams have the skills to sustain ESG performance long after the initial implementation.

Strategic Change Management Corporate Wellbeing Strategy ESG Capability Building Nationalisation & ICV Models Institutional Culture Transformation

Leadership Track Record

9+ Years at the Heart of
PwC Middle East Leadership

Across two successive roles, I operated at the core of the regional leadership team, reporting directly to the Managing Partner, CFO, and CSO. I provided the strategic oversight and enterprise governance required to drive executive decision-making and cross-border transformation for the firm's most critical regional initiatives.

Jan 2017 – Jun 2019 Reporting to: Regional Managing Partner

Executive Leadership & Governance

Chief of Staff to the Middle East Managing Partner — a strategic partner directing enterprise digital transformation, change management, corporate governance and MENA regulatory reviews.

Launched the first unified regional service portal, driving digital transformation for 4,500 employees
Jul 2019 – Apr 2021 Reporting to: Managing Partner → CFO

Operational Transformation & Wellbeing Lead

Directed high-impact regional transformation initiatives — from the COVID-19 response and firmwide wellbeing strategy to tax digitisation and confidential financial governance systems.

Spearheaded the Middle East's first commercial office to achieve WELL Platinum Certification for PwC Dubai
May 2021 – May 2026 Reporting to: CFO → CSO

Regional Net Zero & ESG Strategy Lead

Architected the regional Net Zero governance framework and Scope 1–3 emissions programmes. Pioneered a digital transformation by automating sustainability data into a financial model that drives operational cost-efficiency.

Achieved a 69% reduction in operational emissions and $4M in travel cost savings through data-led sustainability initiatives

A Legacy of Trusted Performance. I sustained a senior position within the regional leadership team for over nine consecutive years — progressing from Consulting Manager to Chief of Staff and ultimately Net Zero Lead. Each appointment was a high-stakes leadership role requiring direct partnership with the firm's senior-most principals to deliver cross-functional impact at enterprise scale.

Selected Impact

69%

Operational emissions reduction Led Scope 1 & 2 decarbonisation across PwC ME regional operations

27%

Increase in formal SBT commitments Supplier engagement programme embedding Science Based Targets across the value chain

4,500

Employees across 5+ countries Regional service portal, Google G-Suite transformation and governance programmes

ISAE 3000

External assurance obtained Sustainability disclosures and underlying processes subject to independent external assurance

Engagement Models

Flexible ways to partner, from strategic guidance
to embedded leadership.

01

Fractional Sustainability Leadership (CSO)

Embedded, part-time leadership for organisations that require a senior Chief Sustainability Officer perspective without the overhead of a full-time executive. I sit within your leadership team to steer strategy, governance, and board-level reporting.

02

Strategic Advisory & White-Label Delivery

Providing trusted senior capacity for consulting firms to support high-stakes client mandates. Available for white-label senior delivery, managed service execution, and expert second-opinions across the full ESG and digital transformation spectrum.

03

Principal-Led Project Execution

Results-driven leadership for specific, time-bound transformations. As a Principal Consultant, I take full ownership of the "engine room" — from architecting data-logic and automating dashboards to leading cross-functional PMOs and change management programmes.

Professional Experience

View full experience

Let's Work Together

Available for
strategic partnerships
& senior leadership.

"If you are looking for experienced senior capacity to lead, advise, or deliver — get in touch to discuss how we can accelerate your transformation."

Fractional CSO White-label Advisory Interim Leadership Project-based Delivery Speaking & Keynotes
electrakaranasiu@gmail.com +971 52 847 4981 Dubai, UAE — Available for travel across GCC, Europe & globally

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