Emily has spent almost a decade leading and developing initiatives, building movements and catalysing action on the world’s most pressing sustainability challenges with businesses, NGOs and governments.
Prior to joining Global Optimism, she was Head of Communications, Advocacy and
Partnerships at the UN Global Compact Network UK, the biggest corporate sustainability initiative in the UK and Programme Director at Chapter Zero – the Directors’ Climate Forum. While at Chapter Zero she helped the organisation grow to have over 200 FTSE250 companies represented in its membership, supporting business leaders to hold climate conversations in the boardroom.
Before this, she was Network Director at the UKSSD, a cross-sector initiative to accelerate
the UK’s progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UKSSD had over 190 partner organisations representing all sectors of the UK economy and was recognised for its landmark projects to challenge the UK Government to deliver on its SDG commitments.
Emily worked for award-winning sustainability charity Bioregional, including leading its advocacy work during the SDG negotiations and at COP21. Her early career was spent working in NGOs in the social justice and community development sectors in the UK.
She has a MSc in International Development with a research focus on the intersection of
social justice and environmental sustainability, a bachelor’s degree in Fine Art, and is a Fellow of the RSA.
