Scott Lane

CEO of Speeki. Sustainability assurance and ESG expert.

About

Updated 13 April 2026

Hi, I’m Scott Lane. I write about sustainability, board-level governance, responsible AI, and ESG assurance.

Subscribe for clear market insight, practical guidance on building robust assurance frameworks, and real-world case studies showing where companies go wrong – and what you can learn from it.

See a preview of the newsletter first

Join 9,000 followers

Your inbox matters. Expect carefully curated insights, never spam.

About Scott Lane

Scott is a recognised expert in sustainability, governance and compliance. As the founder and CEO of Speeki, an independent ESG and sustainability assurance company, he helps organisations globally demonstrate the value of their non-financial initiatives to drive long-term value creation.

With over 25 years’ experience in ESG risk management and corporate governance, his expertise spans anti-corruption, sanctions, ethics and integrity, workplace issues, and human rights. He has built, designed and managed more than 2,500 non-financial programmes for the world’s leading companies.

Scott previously founded risk and compliance giant The Red Flag Group, scaling the company to 500 staff across 15 countries and servicing many of the world’s largest multinationals, before selling the business to the London Stock Exchange Group in 2020.

Committed to lifelong learning, he has completed executive programmes at Harvard Business School, Wharton School, MIT, Cambridge University and other institutions.

Featured

Newsletters

The Trust Business: Assurance only drives value when you stop viewing it as a rubber stamp

Here's a scenario I've seen play out recently. A mid-sized manufacturing company made public commitments to science-based emissions reductions targets.

March 2026

The Trust Business: Your sustainability team shouldn't be running non-financial assurance

When it comes to non-financials, businesses seem to lose their marbles and throw the principles of financial assurance out the window.

February 2026

Op-eds

Sustainability’s million-dollar problem

7 April 2026

The sustainability industry has a systemic problem. Boards are wasting millions generating data they already have for ESG reports, but they don't realize it

To save sustainability, we need to stop talking about it

27 Jan 2026

The language of sustainability has lost its power in the boardroom. To regain influence, sustainability leaders must stop selling virtue and start making the commercial case

Governments’ failure on climate is an opportunity for businesses to lead

5 Nov 2025

The global surge in emissions is proof that governments are no longer fit to lead on climate change

How the banking net zero fantasy ran out of gas

20 Aug 2025

Over the past year, the world’s biggest banks‘ net zero enthusiasm has quickly and quietly dried up. Top lenders have backtracked, diluted or outright abandoned their environmental, social and governance (ESG) policies.

How to equip the auditco to monitor sustainability

19 May 2025

The board’s expanding remit to oversee non-financial reporting calls for significant reforms, with stakeholder trust being the prize.

ESG is a victim of subject-matter expertise – generalists are the remedy

10 Oct 2024

For ESG initiatives to thrive, the need to be led by individuals with the right mix of specialist knowledge and broad business experience.

Shorts

Interviews

UK employers overestimate employee trust in sustainability efforts

HR Magazine

There is an 18% credibility gap in the UK between employer perception and employee trust in sustainability efforts

Scrapping Clean Energy Initiatives A “Wake-Up Call” To Empower CSOs

Green Energy News

Green energy setbacks in the US should trigger corporate action to boost CSO financial authority, not sideline it

Regulators should classify excess CO2 as noxious to force faster progress on emissions

The Energyst

Calling on regulators to classify excess levels of CO2 as noxious to force accountability for its effects on the planet’s health

So You Have to Purge Your DEI Language

Agenda

Since his arrival to the White House, President Donald Trump has taken aim at diversity, equity and inclusion policies

Videos

Photos

Frequently Asked Questions

What kinds of assurance are you and Speeki experts in?

We focus on non-financial assurance that actually matters to the business – ESG, sustainability, compliance, and governance areas where failure has real financial or legal consequences. From carbon data and disclosures to anti-corruption systems and supply chains, we test whether your claims stand up when challenged by regulators, investors, or the market.

How can I tell what kind of non-financial assurance I need?

Most companies start in the wrong place – they assure what is visible, not what is risky. The right approach is simple: identify where a failure would damage value, trigger scrutiny, or expose the board, and start there, even if the answer is uncomfortable.

What does working with you on non-financial assurance typically look like?

This is not a box-ticking audit designed to produce a clean report. We focus on the areas that matter, test them properly, and give you a clear view of what is credible, what is weak, and what needs fixing before someone else finds it.

Who is this non-financial assurance newsletter for?

It is written for people carrying real accountability – board members, audit committees, legal teams, and sustainability leaders who sign off on disclosures. If you are expected to stand behind claims in front of regulators, investors, or a court, this will feel directly relevant.

How often do you send the newsletter, and what will I get in each edition?

It’s a monthly newsletter, sent with discipline, not noise. Each edition focuses on one issue that boards and assurance leaders should be paying attention to, with a clear point of view and practical steps you can act on straight away.