3 July, 2024 - Forum for the Future has today announced the creation of a new Advisory Board, which will provide strategic guidance aimed at deepening the non-profit's programmatic impact and strengthening its stakeholder engagement in the United States. 

Operating in the US since 2010, Forum aims to accelerate the shift to a just and regenerative future by influencing how food is produced and consumed, and by enabling trailblazing businesses to put people and the planet at the heart of their responses to escalating sustainability challenges. In the US, it particularly focuses on themes of regenerative agriculture, climate justice and sustainable local food systems.  

The Advisory Board will meet quarterly, with each advisor serving a voluntary two-year term. Among the programs it will advise Forum on is Growing our Future, which aims to accelerate the transition to a just and regenerative agriculture system, and American Climate Futures, which aims to put the needs and voices of those most impacted by climate change at the forefront of solutions.  

The Advisory Board will also provide guidance on Forum’s engagement with businesses and philanthropies – bringing new ideas and perspectives that foster learning and innovation. Its inaugural members are: 

  • Michelle Arévalo-Carpenter, Executive Director, Strategy and Content, SOCAP Global 

  • Shameek Bose, Partner, Global Lead for Responsible Business, Global Impact, Fleishman Hillard

  • Casey Cronin, Senior Director, Global Intelligence, ClimateWorks Foundation 

  • Mayuri Ghosh, Senior Director, Climate Resilience and Sustainability, Clinton Global Initiative; Co-chair of DEI Steering Committee, Clinton Foundation 

  • Jeffrey Hollender, Co-founder, Seventh Generation; Adjunct Professor, New York University  

  • Joel Makower, Chairman and Co-founder, Trellis Group 

  • Kelsey Overby, Vice President of Impact, Second Horizon Capital 

  • Leonardo Pradela, Program Officer – Oceans, Walton Family Foundation 

  • Amanda Yates, Senior Director, Global Sustainability, 3M 

  • Adriana Zupa-Fernandez, Director, Global Corporate Sustainability Strategy, Culture and Engagement, Bristol Myers Squibb 

Commenting on the Advisory Board’s creation, Samantha Veide, Managing Director - Forum for the Future Americas, said: “The sustainability movement is changing at a rapid speed, and it is critical that Forum for the Future stays on top of what’s emerging in the landscape to better support our partners and deliver more impact. That’s why we’ve created a US Advisory Board. With representatives spanning business, philanthropy and more, our advisors will bring a unique blend of experience to help us learn, innovate and better engage stakeholders across the sustainability movement. They will help us to build relationships, deepen our programmatic impact and – acting as a much-valued ‘critical friend’ - provide ongoing feedback to help Forum continue to be a relevant sustainability leader in this market.” 

The Advisory Board will work closely with Forum’s Board of Trustees, whose US based representatives include: Andrew Winston – author, speaker and advisor at Winston Eco-Strategies; Heather Grady – Vice-President at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors; and Komala Ramachandra, Head of Responsible Sourcing at Gap Inc  


Meet the US Advisory Board members

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