Business & Sustainable Development Commission (BSDC)

Staff

Based in London, the Secretariat staff are responsible for leading the initiative's research, communications and engagement efforts, and for the general coordination of the Business Commission.

Jeremy Oppenheim

Programme Director Jeremy spent over 20 years at McKinsey, developing and leading its Sustainability and Resource Productivity Practice (SRP) from 2007-2015. He is Founding Partner of SystemiQ, a new firm dedicated to building sustainable, market-based economies, programme director of the Energy Transitions Commission, lead author of the Better Growth, Better Climate report of the New Climate Economy project, and advisor to multiple governments, companies and foundations on system transformation and resource productivity.

Gail Klintworth

Business Transformation Director Before joining the Commission, Gail worked for Old Mutual, where she helped build its Positive Futures Plan, encouraging inclusive growth and responsible investment. Gail held the role of chief sustainability officer at Unilever, positioning the group as a pioneer in corporate, social and environmental stewardship. She served as CEO of Unilever South Africa and executive vice president for Unilever's savoury category.

Clare Oh

Communications Director Clare has 20 years of experience leading communications to promote global development issues, including eight years at Columbia University where she led media strategies on sustainable development. She most recently was a communications consultant to Virgin Unite and the End Rabies Now campaign. A former digital journalist with The Washington Post, she holds an MA in International Affairs from The New School, and a MA in Oral History from Columbia University.

Rebecca Brook

Associate Prior to joining the Business Commission, Rebecca was Programme Coordinator for one of the five civil construction companies within the Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild Team (SCIRT) alliance; created to restore the damaged horizontal infrastructure after the Christchurch earthquakes. Rebecca has a Masters of Commerce in Economics from the University Canterbury, New Zealand.

Annabel Farr

Associate Annabel has joined the Business Commission team in 2017. She was previously a management consultant at McKinsey & Co, where she worked out of the Sydney office for over three years, gaining experience across a range of industries from energy to mining to agriculture. Annabel holds a degree in Civil Engineering and Mathematics from the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia.

Melinda George

Research Manager Melinda joined the Commission from the Secretary-General’s Cabinet of the OECD. She began her career as Junior Policy Analyst on Post-2015 in the OECD’s Development Co-operation Directorate. She also worked as Wikichild Manager in the Statistics and Employment, Labour and Social Affairs Directorates. Melinda holds a Master’s degree in European Affairs from Sciences Po, Paris, with a focus on European Development Policy, and a BA from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Gabriella Hillgren

Project Assistant Before joining the Business Commission, Gabriella’s interest in the link between sustainability and business was energised from being a corporate governance researcher at PIRC, as well as supporting the stakeholder engagement prior to and during COP21 at the New Climate Economy. Gabriella has also worked at the Institute for Security and Development Policy, at Plan International and has an undergraduate degree in Development, Peace & Conflict.

Austin Morton

Senior Communications Manager For the last three years, Austin has worked on the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate, building a global communications campaign advocating for low-carbon economic policies. Austin has worked on communications campaigns for international development initiatives at USAID, as well as climate change and environmental sustainability issues with global nonprofits. He received his undergraduate degrees in Political Science and International Relations from American University in Washington, DC.

Celia Partridge

Programme Manager Celia began her career in international education, at the Royal College of Music and UK Council for International Student Affairs, where she led on the Prime Minister’s Initiative for International Education. She has also managed Barclays UK community investment programmes. As a consultant her work has included strategic reviews and sustainability strategy, as well as web and e-learning programmes and communications for both charities and private enterprises.

Corinne Sawers

Director of Special Initiatives Corinne started her career at UNOCHA, driving research in climate related humanitarian risks. She spent five years at McKinsey & Co., focused on consumer goods and retail sectors, during which time she initiated and led the McKinsey Global Institute research on obesity, developing a deeper interest in complex systems challenges. She is currently a project leader at SystemiQ. She is also a co-founder of More United, a tech start-up and social movement disrupting UK politics.