Top 8 female leaders in sustainability

Meet our extraordinary top eight female leaders in sustainability, who are shaping the future, and the present, as we live in it

Together with Sustainability Magazine, we carefully curated our list of the Top 100 Women in Sustainability – we’re proud to share with you, the pioneering figures that were selected to be in the top 8. These women all have different backgrounds and are from very different companies – but all share the same passion for sustainability.

08: Cecile Texier

Sustainability & CSR Vice President, Alstom 

Cecile Texier's career journey has straddled continents and companies.

Joined KPMG Sustainability Department and as a manager, Cecile was a leading technical and financial assessments of environmental issues in the frame of merger and acquisition projects. After taking a year off to complete a world tour, she joined Alstom Group as Environment Health and Safety analyst in 2005, managing corporate Energy and CO2 programmes and co-ordinating environmental reporting ever since.

 

07: Velislava Ivanova

Americas Chief Sustainability Officer, EY

Velislava is a leader committed to inclusivity and innovative ESG solutions. With her understanding of three languages – Bulgarian, English and French – she is able to foster a collaborative environment to develop diverse talent alongside ESG solutions. At EY, Velislava has supported the transition to a low-carbon and circular economy, aiming to positively transform the long-term value strategies of global businesses.

 

06: Christine Uri

CLO/CSO, Engie Impact

Christine Uri is a force to be reckoned with, and has emerged as a leader in the sustainability sector. Through her 15+ year career, Christine has advised start-ups, technology companies, nonprofits and global enterprises. Christine has led multiple functions including legal, human resources, health and safety, sales operations and data governance. She leverages her broad experience to create strong cross-functional collaborations.

 

05: Marie-Claire Daveu

Chief Sustainability and Institutional Affairs Officer, Kering

Marie took the role of Chief Sustainability Officer and Head of international institutional affairs at Kering in 2012, and has since been responsible for some of the world's biggest brands, including Balenciaga and Gucci. 

She is the force which brings luxury together with sustainability strategies. Through her career in both the private and public sectors, she has been committed to promoting sustainable stewardship in business, empowering women leadership and championing animal welfare.

 

04: Kathleen McGinty

VP & Chief Sustainability, Government Relations & Regulatory Affairs Officer, Johnson Controls

Kathleen McGinty has over 25 years of public and private sector experience. A recognised innovator in clean energy and environmental protection, she champions technology development, sustainability, and creative policies to solve tough environmental problems. 

Her public sector career includes serving as Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality and as Deputy Assistant to the President, as Pennsylvania Secretary of Environmental Protection, and as Chair of the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority.

 

03: Ida Krabek

Director, Head of Global Sustainability, Ørsted

Ida first studied Political Science at the University of Copenhagen, where she enjoyed volunteering as the debate coordinator for the debate club. Later, she studied Political Science at the University of Copenhagen and Public Policy at University College London. 

At Ørsted, she started as Head of Group Environment and moved on up to Head of Global Sustainability.

 

02: Mireille Lefebvre

Head of Global Sustainability Communications - Corporate Strategy & Sustainability, Schneider Electric

Although Mireille Lefebvre shares that her most important job is being a mother, she also describes herself as a global citizen who speaks English and French.

Mireille is on a mission to elevate Sustainability for All, through the power of Brand, Marketing and Communications. Through her role at Schneider Electric, Mireille heads both internal and external communications and engagements on corporate sustainability with corporate leaders, employees, investors, journalists, analysts, customers and partners.

 

01: Lisa Ekstrand

VP Sustainability, Vestas

Described as "a true professional, trustworthy and with a high level of integrity," by colleagues, Lisa Ekstrand has led an incredibly successful career, with sustainability at its very core. Lisa has worked at Vestas in Copenhagen, Denmark, for 13 years, starting as a Policy Adviser for Group Government Relations but working on policy and regulatory environments across the Nordics.

Prior to joining the firm, Lisa spent three years as an Advisor to the European Union and was part of the European Union Parliament’s negotiation team on the EU Climate Change Package and REACH. She has also served on the board of the Norwegian Wind Energy Association, WindEurope, and the Swedish Wind Energy Association.

 

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