I read engineering and economics at Cambridge University, and after some initial experience in heavy engineering, trained as a Chartered Accountant with Cooper Brothers (which became Coopers and Lybrand and then PriceWaterhouseCoopers). I had about 20 years of corporate management experience with a focus on improving profit performance, as a unit controller, budget manager, cost accountant, MIS developer, CFO and even for a time a VP Manufacturing. For another 20 plus years, I have been a consultant to the World Bank, the IFC, many UN agencies and international relief and development agencies trying to solve world problems, and over my career I have worked in more than 50 different countries.

My biggest lesson learned is that management information is very powerful. Because of its power, it is also very important that the data are about the most important things. Conventional accounting is very good for profit optimization, but inadequate for optimizing socio-economic progress and performance.

Building on experience, I have been developing Multi Dimension Impact Accounting (MDIA) so that the critical changes needed for a more sustainable society and global economy may be better managed. As MDIA matures, there will be quantified metrics for everything that really matters.

MDIA is a collaboration and feedback is welcome. Information about MDIA is shared on the TrueValueMetrics.org website and on 'slideshare'. These materials are 'work-in-progress' and are being revised and improved periodically.