The Origin of the Gasperini Awards
Honouring a Pioneer of ESG in Financial Analysis
17 March 2026 | Frankfurt am Main
The Gasperini Awards, established by the European Federation of Financial Analysts Societies (EFFAS), honour the legacy of a professional who played a foundational role in integrating sustainability considerations into financial analysis long before these topics entered mainstream market practice and regulatory agendas.
A Vision Ahead of Its Time
Andrea Gasperini contributed over many years to the evolution of the financial analysis profession through his work within the Italian Association of Financial Analysts (AIAF) and EFFAS. His work emerged at a time when sustainability was still peripheral to discussions in financial markets. Yet he recognised early on that environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors would progressively transform analytical practice, investment strategies and corporate reporting.
Gasperini was among the first to understand that financial professionals needed to anticipate shifts in the economic and social landscape. He actively promoted the integration of ESG considerations in technical working groups, professional committees and specialised forums within AIAF and EFFAS. His work also intersected with early European policy and reporting discussions that later contributed to the development of today’s sustainability reporting frameworks.
Building Bridges Between Practice, Policy and Market Evolution
One of Gasperini’s distinguishing strengths was his ability to foster dialogue across diverse stakeholders including analysts, technical experts, standard-setters and emerging regulatory bodies. Through this work, he helped build networks and knowledge-exchange platforms that would later underpin Europe’s leadership in sustainability and non-financial reporting.
His professional approach combined intellectual rigour, curiosity and a strong commitment to collective progress. By encouraging structured debate and cooperation, he contributed to strengthening the foundations on which today’s ESG analysis, sustainability reporting practices and professional standards are built.
A Legacy That Inspires Future Generations
The Gasperini Awards were created to honour this legacy and to recognise professionals whose work reflects the same forward-looking vision. The Awards celebrate contributions marked by:
- Analytical excellence
- Practical relevance
- The ability to anticipate market and regulatory developments
- A commitment to enriching the profession through knowledge sharing and collective engagement
During the opening remarks of the first Gasperini Awards ceremony in Milan in 2024, a reflection from Andrea Gasperini himself captured this philosophy:
“To maintain our position in a fast-moving world, we must run as fast as we can. But to progress and make a difference, we must run at least twice as fast.”
This perspective continues to resonate today, at a time when sustainability is reshaping markets, regulation and analytical practice at unprecedented speed.
Looking Forward
By recognising excellence in ESG integration, the Gasperini Awards aim not only to commemorate Andrea Gasperini’s contribution but also to support the next generation of professionals committed to advancing sustainability within financial markets.
The initiative reflects the values he upheld: vision, collaboration and the belief that progress emerges from shared knowledge and collective effort.
About EFFAS
EFFAS is a not-for-profit organisation set up in 1962 with 15 national member associations in Europe, representing more than 18,000 financial analysts, asset managers, pension fund managers, corporate finance specialists, risk managers, treasurers among many other professional profiles from the investment profession. EFFAS is a leading certification body with over 27,000 certificate holders worldwide, offering prestigious designations such as the Certified European Financial Analyst by EFFAS, the EFFAS Certified ESG Analyst® (CESGA), and the EFFAS Climate Risk Analyst (ECRA).
For any further information, please contact:
Álvaro Wagener Díez | Marketing & Communications Manager
E-mail: a.wagener@effas.com | Phone Number: +49 69 98959519
