Karien Erasmus

Director - Perth

Karien Erasmus is an accomplished Director in our Risk Consulting team in Perth, specialising in Climate Change & Sustainability Services.

Karien is a seasoned sustainability professional with nearly two decades of experience in sustainable development policy, strategy, and implementation. Her expertise spans carbon and sustainability risk advisory, ESG reporting, climate risk assessment, climate scenario analysis, and TCFD-aligned disclosures.

Based in Perth, Karien is a Director at RSM and co-leads the ESG and climate services team. She works closely with clients to develop tailored sustainability strategies and to identify, manage, and monitor climate-related risks and opportunities.

She has advised boards and C-suite executives across the mining, manufacturing, freight, and financial services sectors on embedding sustainability into core business strategies and developing practical climate risk management plans.

Originally from South Africa, Karien has contributed to several national policy initiatives, including the South African carbon offset scheme, the National Tourism Climate risk framework and implementation plan, national climate reporting to the UNFCCC, and socio-economic assessments for climate adaptation planning.

A recognised technical expert, Karien has been actively involved in professional working groups throughout her career. She was an elected member of the International Initiative for Climate Action Transparency (ICAT) working group and currently serves on the South African Institute for Chartered Accountants (SAICA) Technical Sustainability Committee. She is also a frequent speaker, panellist, and commentator on topics such as energy transition, sustainability disclosure, and climate adaptation.

Karien holds a Master’s Degree in Development Practice, with a focus on leadership in addressing global challenges including climate change, energy, and economic inequality. Her thesis, exploring responsible leadership in GHG target setting within developing economies, was published by Springer in 2022.

Her international project experience includes work across Africa, notably in Nigeria, Ghana, Lesotho, and Botswana as well as assisting clients with assets in Papua New Guinee and Peru. 

Outside of work, Karien enjoys outdoor adventures with her family and is an avid reader, especially of autobiographies and Booker Prize-winning novels.

Solutions Karien Erasmus provides

Karien provides expert knowledge in the following areas:

• Climate mitigation and adaptation
• Climate risk analysis and planning
• Sustainability strategy development
• Carbon accounting and analysis
• Low carbon transition planning
• Sustainability reporting
• ESG auditing and assurance
• Project management

Associations

• SAICA Sustainability Technical Committee
• CA ANZ Sustainability Committee
• AMEC Environmental and Water Committee

Qualifications

• Global Association of Risk Professionals: Sustainability and Climate Risk Certification
• MPhil -  Development Practice
• Bachelor of Honours - Sustainable Development
• GRI certification: reporting, materiliaty and stakeholder engagement
• Certified Carbon Footprint Analyst (Global Carbon Exchange)
• Diploma: Ecological rehabilitation and mine closure
• Diploma: Community Development