AbouT Me

For almost 20 years, I have worked hand in hand with local communities, global brands, host governments, and other development and commercial stakeholders to improve sustainability outcomes in raw material supply chains. For the past 11 years, I have developed and led Pact’s renowned responsible supply chain programs, which works with global brands seeking to perform on the leading edge of sustainability and human rights performance. 

I am a global authority on responsible mineral sourcing, artisanal & small-scale mining (ASM), supplier diversification and engagement (particularly for women and young people/ 'youth') and local content, effective engagement on child labor, and high-value material supply chain dynamics. 

I have worked with global companies and producers across the following sectors: jewelry, beauty, tech (computer hardware, laptops, and mobile phones), electric vehicles, consumer home goods, and global food/ingredient supply chains. 

Due to this unique real-world expertise, I teach at Columbia University Law School and Climate School's Center for Sustainable Investment's annual Executive Course on Extractive Industries and its 'massive open online course' (MOOC). 

I am a highly innovative thought partner and a pragmatic reformer within traditional industry. I believe that sustainability reforms must have a business case, or else they will not be successful over the long term. 

 Within smallholder environments, I have an established track record on the following thematic issues: 

Responsible sourcing, due diligence, risk management

• Setting strategy, vision, risk detection and guiding adaptive management and organizational learning 
• Performing sustainability & human rights materiality assessments, gap analyses, risk management and readiness 
• Traceability innovations and progressive improvement in sensitive raw material supply chains 
• Detecting and stopping modern slavery, such as human trafficking, forced work, and child labor
• Company alignment with applicable global sustainability standards

Environment & biodiversity 

• Engaging women as climate change leaders in smallholder environments  
• Carbon insetting tools and approaches 
• Environmental management considerations in areas of high conservation value or sensitive ecosystems 

Social and economic 

• Smallholder producer (livelihood) formalization, such as ASM formalization 
• Gender-sensitive & gender-transformative approaches and procurement 
• Youth entrepreneurship and export readiness (ages 18-30)
• Host government and community relations
• Co-creating pragmatic solutions to resolve complex problems with local and national stakeholders where supply chains begin

See some of my sustainability case studies. 

I have direct experience or working familiarity with the following standards and frameworks: 

Due diligence frameworks. guidance, and directives: 

• OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas (OECD DDG) 
• RBA/RMI Risk Readiness Assessments and Reporting
• EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) 
• UK Modern Slavery Act 
• Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act
• California Transparency in Supply Chains Act

Disclosures & reporting frameworks 

• Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) 
• Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) 
• EU's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) 
• ISSB Disclosure Standards IFRS S1 and IFRS S2 

Industry & Commodity Standards 

• Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance
• Fairmined, CRAFT, Fairtrade 
• Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) P&C and ISH Standard.
• Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)  
• RMI ESG Standards 
• SA8000:  social certification standard for factories and organizations focused on decent work

Additional professional or industry standards 

• Global Impact Sourcing Coalition Standards (GISC) 

Scientific target, classification systems, or protocols  

• Science-based Targets Initiative (STBi)
• Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHGP) 
• Sustainable Accounting Standards Board (SASB) 
• Task Force on Nature-Related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) 

Human rights tools, mechanisms, and frameworks 

• Free, Prior and Informed Consent of Indigenous Peoples 
• Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights 
• The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) 
• The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) 
• European Court of Human Rights 
• Inter-American Court of Human Rights 
• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) 
• ILO Child Labor Standards & Definitions 

• Lecturer, Columbia University's Executive Courses & MOOC  
• Technical Advisor, ConservationX Labs 
• Advisor, Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2030   
• Board of Directors, Ethical Metalsmiths 
• Technical Advisory Council, CRAFT ASM Standard (versions 1& 2) 
• Advisor, Root Studios (Sierra Leone) 

Past commitments 

• Gemstone & Sustainable Development Knowledge Hub 
• Technical Advisory Group, Fairtrade 
• Expert Associate, Artisanal Gold Council 

I have field-based work experience in Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mongolia, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. I have visited more than 60 countries.  

• Director of Sustainable Markets, Pact. 2014 - current. Leads Pact’s renowned responsible supply chain programs with a focus on jewelry and green transition materials (cobalt, copper). Works with global brands seeking to perform on the leading edge of sustainability and human rights performance. Co-founded Moyo Gems, which has been featured in Paris Fashion Week, London's Selfridges, and in myriad fashion outlets. 

• Owner & Director. Catalyst Resources Development Group. 2013-2015. I founded Catalyst Resources to offer sustainable supply chain advice to companies, industry associations, and  governments that are interested in responsible sourcing. After immediate success and series of impactful projects, I was recruited to Pact, which operated the largest specialist programs in the world in minerals & development themes. 

• Senior Associate, Levin Sources. 2010-2013.  I led projects with global brands to improve practical ESG performance with diverse global brands. Materials of focus: diamonds, colored gemstones, gold, tin, and petroleum.  Conducted mineral risk and materiality assessments to identify, document, prioritize, and then advise on corrective action regarding sustainability concerns and issues.  Led environmental engagements, global studies, and practitioner toolkits. 

• Extractive Industries Advisor, WWF Uganda and WWF Central Africa. 2010-2011. Assisted WWF and its local stakeholders engage pragmatically and productively with large international oil companies in a conflict sensitive, high-value conservation context.  Assisted local communities to understand the production cycles and associated risks and engage strategically with governments and companies. 

• Development Officer, Fund for Global Human Rights. 2005-2009. Raised private funds for this then-startup organization to make specialized, high-impact grants supporting human rights movements worldwide. Developed a thematic expertise in environmental justice and women's rights.  

• Communications Manager, Women & Philanthropy. 2003-2005. Led communications for this membership organization serving the philanthropic sector and promoting gender transformative approaches. 

• Consultant, World Bank Group, 2002-2004. Backstopped various infrastructure programs in Guatemala and Venezuela.   

• London School of Economics (LSE), London, UK    2009-2010. MSc. Human Rights (Merit) with focus on natural resources, civil conflict, African development. 
• University of California, San Diego (UCSD), San Diego, CA, USA    1998-2003.  B.A. Latin American Studies (Distinction) and B.A. Public Policy. Minor in Economics (Environmental Economics, Energy Economics, Law)
• Ongoing education: I have completed additional graduate-level online coursework from Harvard University (conservation management), the School of Oriental & African Studies (CSR approaches), and Edumine (various technical mining topics). 

• American Society of Mining Engineers
• American University 
• Brigham Young University 
• Camborne School of Mines, University of Exeter 
• Columbia University's Executive Course on Extractives 
• Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference 
• Gemological Institute of America (GIA) 
• Gemological Association of Great Britain (Gem-A) 
• Georgetown University  
• Harvard University 
• Initiatives in Arts and Culture (IAC) 'All that Glitters' Conference 
• International Colombian Emeralds Conference, Dubai 
• MJSA 
• Mujeres Brilliantes Internacional (MUBRI)
• New York University (NYU) 
• OECD Responsible Minerals Forum
• Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
• Society of Economic Geologists 
• United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) 
• US Geological Survey National Mineral Information Center (USGS NMIC) 
• US Department of Labor (USDOL) 
• US Department of State (USDOS) 
• World Bank