Transform to Net Zero

David works with companies to develop and implement credible environmental goals, manage climate and nature risks, integrate justice into environmental action, and incubate collaborations to build a net-zero economy. 

He strives to maximize the impact of our applied research, collaborative initiatives, and work with individual companies. This often means innovating how companies credibly align with the Paris Agreement, adapt to inbound climate disclosure regulation, and take advantage of growing interest in science-based nature goals. David also directs BSR’s Transform to Net Zero collaborative initiative. 

Before joining BSR, David was a climate diplomat for the Marshall Islands with the advisory group Independent Diplomat and led on emissions reductions and transparency in the UN climate negotiations for the Alliance of Small Island States. As an international lawyer with the Foundation for International Environmental Law and Development, David built up the environmental treaty expertise of governments across the globe. He began his career as a securities litigator with Fried Frank in New York and a commercial litigator with Cassels Brock in Toronto, before focusing on climate change. 

David holds a LLM in International Law from New York University, a JD and MA in International Relations from the University of Toronto, and a BA in Ethics, Politics, and Economics from Yale University.  

Deb leads BSR’s climate work in the US. She works closely with BSR’s external partnership teams to accelerate decarbonization while engendering climate justice. She works with Transform to Net Zero (TONZ) collaborative initiative members to amplify leadership behaviors that promote a just and resilient future. Deb leads efforts to create a series of TONZ Transformation Guides on issues such as climate transition action plans (CTAPs), climate policy engagement, and climate justice.

Prior to joining BSR, Deb was a professor at Duke University, where she led the Business and Environment program. Her research focused on business leadership behaviors required to advance sustainability, including stakeholder relationship management, ESG data acquisition and use, public policy engagement, and design of strategic partnerships. Over the course of 20 years at Duke, she mentored over 200 sustainability leaders. Prior to Duke, she held environmental leadership positions in manufacturing and government.

Deb holds a PhD in Public Policy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Master's in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School, and a BS in Chemical Engineering from Northwestern University

Maria works with companies on sustainability strategy, climate change, and supply chain sustainability. She is also part of the Future of Reporting and Transform to Net Zero collaborative initiatives.

Prior to joining BSR, Maria worked at the World Wildlife Fund on food sustainability and environmental conservation topics. There, she was part of projects that aimed to eliminate deforestation from beef and soy supply chains by working with international retailers and suppliers. Maria also worked at the UN Global Compact on science-based target setting and sustainability reporting. 

Maria holds an MBA and M.Sc. in Environmental Change and Management from the University of Oxford and a B.Sc. in Biology from Universidad San Francisco de Quito. She speaks English and Spanish.

Nicole works with BSR members and partners across various industries to develop impactful climate change solutions and tailored sustainability strategies, with a focus on the tech sector.

Prior to BSR, Nicole worked at Tesla managing residential energy project development, service center operations, and environmental, health, and safety (EHS) initiatives. Nicole has also led ESG programs in sustainability consultancies, where she helped companies and nonprofits of all sizes create holistic CSR programs, implement net-zero goals, navigate environmental risks, attain credible sustainability certifications, and spearhead climate justice action. She began her career working for clean tech accelerators in New York City, helping emerging tech companies manage their supply chains, innovate end-to-end marketing campaigns, form strategic collaborations, write robust reports, and conduct technical assessments.

Nicole holds a MS in Sustainability Management from Columbia University and a BA in Environmental Studies from New York University (NYU). She speaks English and Mandarin.

Ariela works with BSR member companies across various industries on sustainability management, with a focus on climate change and human rights.

Prior to joining BSR, Ariela was an Environmental Defense Fund Climate Corps fellow with Sustainable Jersey, where she helped New Jersey municipalities implement energy efficiency projects. Previously, she worked as a consultant with Amnesty International, where she helped develop the organization’s platform on tear gas. Ariela was also a research assistant for the Mexican Ministry of Health, where she researched the impacts of changing climactic conditions on dengue. Ariela’s experiences focus on the intersection of climate change, human rights, and health.

Ariela holds an MPA from Columbia University in Environmental Science and Policy as well as a B.S. in Society and Environment and B.A. in Public Health from UC Berkeley. She is a native Spanish speaker and is proficient in French.

Anine works with BSR member companies across industries on sustainability management with a focus on the intersection of climate change and people, namely climate justice, just transition, and climate and human rights. She supports this work through one-on-one advisory engagement with companies, through facilitation of cross-sector collaborative initiatives like Transform to Net Zero, and through grant-funded resource development.

Prior to joining BSR, Anine worked at Operate A/S, a Danish consulting company, specializing in stakeholder analysis, stakeholder mapping, and stakeholder engagement.

Anine holds a MSc in Business and Development Studies from Copenhagen Business School with a focus on sustainable development and cross-sector collaboration. She also holds a BSc in Business, Language, and Culture, also from Copenhagen Business School.

Lizzie supports BSR’s climate and sustainability work across industries with a primary focus on climate change, climate justice, and collaboration. She has also supported BSR’s Collaborative Initiatives portfolio, facilitating the development and implementation of impactful multi-stakeholder solutions that tackle systemic challenges to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Prior to joining BSR, Lizzie worked at Sephora on its social impact and sustainability teams. Lizzie has also accrued a range of relevant experience from work with the US Mission to the EU; with Reconsidered, an environmental and social impact consultancy; and with Hope of Children and Women NGO in Uganda, an initiative that equips refugees with marketable skills through job training programs and entrepreneurial initiatives.

Lizzie holds a BA in Contemporary European Studies and Sustainability Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is fluent in English and German and is proficient in French and Swiss German.