About Lucas Simons: Driving transformation

My personal mission is to help build new concepts and new programs that inherently value sustainability and drive transformation towards sustainable markets in a mainstream way.

My past:

Prior to founding NewForesight in 2008 Lucas started Utz Certified in 2002 and was Global Program Director till 2008, responsible for setting up the coffee, cocoa, tea, palm oil and biofuels certification programs and traceability systems.

• Lucas holds a MSc Environmental Hygiene degree from Wageningen University

• And a MBA degree from Nimbas Graduate School of Management.

Lucas lives in the Netherlands and is father of three.

For more information about his background visit LinkedIn

About Pauline Simons – Authentic & Pragmatic

CSR is not a must but a chance! That’s what I want to show organizations by offering them practical approaches and concepts to integrate the care for people and planet in their daily and future business.

My past: 

In 2004 I switched my career in Marketing and Commercial Management in the corporate sector to sustainable entrepreneurship. Since then I successfully completed projects in the corporate and governmental sector and for NGO’s.

My strong skills: 

• Quick researcher and analyzer          
• Intelligent project manager             
• Strong process facilitator
• Enthusiastic networker       
• Inspiring people manager              
• Expert in certification & round table programs and their governance structures

My degrees:

• Nima B (Marketing)
• MA, Culture, Organisation & Management, VU University Amsterdam
• BHA, Hotelschool The Hague, International University of Hotel Management

For more information please visit linkedIn

I am a practical idealist and engaged realist. I believe in empowering people to do better for themselves, while remaining economically viable. Changing political, social, and economical structures is not going to happen overnight. Being pragmatic and taking a step-wise approach to sustainability is what drives mainstream change and can truly be considered sustainable.

 Strong skills

• Analytical thinker with demonstrated talent for identifying, analyzing, improving, and streamlining complex business processes
• Conscientious go-getter and result-driven achiever who is highly organized, dedicated, and committed to excellence and success.
• Innovative problem-solver and creative thinker who can generate workable solutions that are pragmatic in nature.
• Enthusiastic, knowledge-hungry learner, eager to meet challenges

Concrete knowledge & experience

• BBA in International Business Management
• Expert in sustainable supply chain traceability; developed, managed, and implemented a palm oil traceability system for RSPO.
• Excellent understanding of certification programs and how its different elements interrelate in order to create a real drive for sustainable change together.
• Broad knowledge on round table development and engagement processes.

For more information please visit linkedIn

I sincerely believe in the power of money to create positive change. Sustainability is here to stay. Companies and markets increasingly recognize this megatrend and start to act on it. Especially in the aftermath of the crisis, the financial industry has a unique responsibility to value and reward this trend and thus become one of the drivers for change. As a finance professional, I'm glad to contribute to the transformational power of sustainable finance.

I previously worked as a sustainability analyst for ABN AMRO Asset Management, as portfolio manager for the Green Fund of Fortis Investments and as an analist for Triodos Research. I also have been a journalist. I have a master’s degree in Business Administration.

For more information please visit linkedin

My mission is to bring together organizations and the vision of sustainable development within a fast-changing and challenging environment. I am interested in innovative strategies and processes to enhance sustainability and corporate social responsibility. It is my personal belief that supply chain management and market transformation play a key role in the path to a sustainable and more equitable future.

Strong skills

• Good analytical and communication skills
• Continuous search for personal development
• Critical thinker and supporter of creative solutions

Past

• Corporate sustainability analyst at Sustainalytics - responsible for the analysis of three industry sectors and involved in the coordination of controversial news-screening.
• MSc in Environment and Resource Management (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) with final dissertation on business strategies to enhance Corporate Social Responsibility
• BSc in Marketing and Advertising (IADE, Lisboa)