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Simon Billenness

Simon Billenness ... President of CSR Strategy Group, experienced in corporate accountability & shareholder advocacy, and blogger ... Washington D.C. Metro Area ... Nonprofit Organization Management

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Peter Burgess

Simon Billenness 1st Simon Billenness President of CSR Strategy Group, experienced in corporate accountability & shareholder advocacy, and blogger Washington D.C. Metro AreaNonprofit Organization Management Current CSR Strategy Group, Unitarian Universalist Association, US Campaign for Burma Previous Amnesty International USA, Sierra Club, Strategy for Corporate Responsibility and Social Investment Education The Prince of Wales’s Business and Sustainability Programme 500+ connectionsSend a messageMore options Relationship Contact Info Connected 18 seconds ago Activity Recent updates Simon Billenness In a comment to an article in the New York Times on the power of public pension funds over corporations, Todd Gitlin urges that public funds throw away their leverage and instead divest from fossil fuel companies. Please read my comment on why this would make little sense. NY Times: Some Big Public Pension Funds Are Behaving Like Activists dealbook.nytimes.com Like Comment Send a message Share 1 day ago Simon Billenness (ESG Investing) posted a link: NY Times: Some Big Public Pension Funds Are Behaving Like Activists dealbook.nytimes.com Like Comment Share 1 day ago Simon Billenness In a comment to an article in The New York Times on the power of public pension funds over corporations, Todd Gitlin urges that public funds throw away their leverage and instead divest from fossil fuel companies. Please my comment on my this would make little sense. NY Times: Some Big Public Pension Funds Are Behaving Like Activists dealbook.nytimes.com Like (1) Comment Send a message Share 1 day ago Marcy Murninghan Simon Billenness joined the group Global Sustain Group Join Group1 day ago Simon Billenness likes this discussion by Ryan Brightwell in Save Our Bank Amidst the cynicism, ten reasons the Co-op Bank is still worth saving. Like (6)3 days ago Simon Billenness joined the group CSR Jobs Join Group6 days ago Simon Billenness likes this discussion by Simon Billenness in Amnesty International - working to protect human rights worldwide Shareholders continue to press Chevron over pollution in Ecuador Like (1)6 days ago Simon Billenness shared a link into 3 groups Shareowners Opt for Engagement to Press Chevron on Corporate... socialfunds.com 'Shareowner advocate Simon Billenness updates SocialFunds.com on judgment against Chevron in Ecuador, and explains why engagement with fossil fuel companies is more effective than divestment.' Share Posted to (3) groups... 6 days ago Simon Billenness Why shareholders will continue to put pressure on Chevron over its gross mismanagement of its liability and lawsuit regarding its pollution in the Ecuadoran Amazon. Shareowners Opt for Engagement to Press Chevron on Corporate... socialfunds.com 'Shareowner advocate Simon Billenness updates SocialFunds.com on judgment against Chevron in Ecuador, and explains why engagement with fossil fuel companies is more effective than divestment.' Like Comment Send a message Share 6 days ago Simon Billenness joined the group CSR Asia Join Group8 days ago See Less Background Summary I am an experienced advocate for environmental sustainability, human rights, corporate governance, and social justice. I have worked for social investment firms, development NGOs, religious institutions, human rights organizations, and trade unions. My network includes advocates, experts, elected officials, corporate executives, and grassroots activists. I help educate and mobilize organizations and individuals to use their power effectively to push corporations to change their practices and elected officials to take action. I support people in their pursuit of justice. Specialties:

  • - Developing and implementing strategy for corporate campaigns.
  • - Building coalitions of NGOs, shareholders, unions, and grassroots activists to change corporate policy and practices.
  • - Negotiating with companies to reach solutions to problems involving social justice, human rights, and the environment.
  • - Developing and implementing campaigns to lobby legislators and government officials to change laws, policies, and practices that integrate 'inside' lobbyists and 'outside' grassroots activists
Experience President CSR Strategy Group April 2009 – Present (4 years 9 months)Washington, DC I consult to non-profits, corporations, trade unions, and social investment firms on strategy addressing issues of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and socially responsible investment. My more recent work includes: • Filing a shareholder proposal at Berkshire Hathaway and implementing a media strategy that successfully pressed Russell Athletic to re-open a closed union apparel factory in Honduras • Leading a workshop to help Asian civil society leaders develop a shareholder advocacy strategy targeting oil companies building the Shwe gas pipeline from Burma to China • Advising the American Federation of Teachers on development and implementation of its strategy to engage TIAA-CREF to deepen its shareholder advocacy on issues of human rights and labor rights • Advising and assisting MoxyVote to secure partnerships with social investment firms, union pension funds, religious institutions, and non-profits to provide content and direct users to MoxyVote's new website that allows investors to vote their shares online • Helping to develop the business plan for SumOfUs.org, a start-up NGO that will use the online organizing tools of Moveon.org and Avaaz.org to mobilize people globally to hold corporations accountable • Writing and promoting a report, commissioned by Amazon Watch and Rainforest Action Network, on the financial and operational risks to Chevron from the February 2011 judgment of $19 billion against the company for its environmental damage in Ecuador • Organizing investors with over a half a trillion dollars of assets to press Chevron publicly to reach a fair and equitable settlement with the communities in Ecuador affected by oil company pollution of their land and water An Analysis of the Financial and Operational Risks to Chevron From Aguinda vs. ChevronTexaco An Analysis of the Financial and Operational Risks to Chevron From Aguinda vs. ChevronTexaco Unitarian Universalist AssociationMember, Committee on Socially Responsible Investment Unitarian Universalist Association 2008 – Present (5 years) • Help develop andlead shareholder advocacy on issues of LGBT workplace rights, executive compensation, human rights, climate change, and immigrant rights • Helped develop UUA policy and statement concerning fossil fuel divestment • Updated UUA proxy voting policy for social and environmental shareholder resolutions Board Member and Treasurer US Campaign for Burma September 2003 – Present (10 years 4 months) • Provide continual mentoring of the Executive Director and led his/her performance evaluation • Serve as Treasurer and Chair of the Board Governance Committee; develop and maintain organization bylaws • Develop improved financial management and reporting, the establishment of specialized board committees, and a clearer system of reporting from the Executive Director to the board • Develop and implemented shareholder advocacy and grassroots corporate campaigns focused on corporations operating in Burma • Organized citizen lobbying that led to the enactment of the Massachusetts Burma Law in 1996 and similar laws in 20 cities including Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco • Built network that lobbied 64 NGOs, 22 state attorneys general and 78 Members of Congress to sign amicus briefs to the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the Massachusetts Burma Law • Pitched and/or quoted in stories on Burma to media, including New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Economist, NPR, Voice of America, and BBC News • Raised several thousand dollars by organizing fundraising events and targeted appeals by email and through social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter • Helped research potential foundation donors and edit grant proposals Co-chair, Business and Human Rights Group Amnesty International USA June 2003 – Present (10 years 7 months) • Helped restructure the Business and Human Rights Program in accordance with a new strategic plan • Helped develop “SHARE POWER” campaign to empower Amnesty members to lobby public pension funds and mutual funds for Amnesty-supported shareholder resolutions • Trained Amnesty members in grassroots lobbying of Congress and corporate campaigns • Developed Amnesty International's guidance document for corporations operating in Burma • Helped screen potential corporate donations to Amnesty International USA • Lead advocacy work in the U.S. on oil, gas, and mining corporations, including campaign to press Shell to clean up oil pollution in the Niger Delta p.h. balanced filmsMember, Board of Directors p.h. balanced films 2013 – Present (less than a year) Member, Advisory Board SumOfUs October 2011 – Present (2 years 3 months) United4IranMember, Advisory Board United4Iran October 2010 – Present (3 years 3 months) The Harry Potter AllianceMember, Board of Advisors The Harry Potter Alliance 2005 – Present (8 years) Amnesty International USAMember of the Board of Directors Amnesty International USA July 2005 – June 2011 (6 years) • Recruited, managed, and evaluated the Executive Director • Developed organizational restructuring, strategic plan, and national priority campaigns • Served on the Finance Committee, the Investment Committee, and as liaison to the Business and Human Rights Group • Led board member fundraising campaign Sierra ClubSenior Campaign Representative for Corporate Accountability and International, Beyond Coal Campaign Sierra Club October 2009 – March 2010 (6 months) • Trained state-wide teams in shareholder advocacy targeting coal-using utilities • Organized meetings with U.S. Treasury officials and journalists in Washington, DC, for South African delegation seeking to block World Bank funding of coal-fired power plants by Eskom • Developed rating system for banks on issue of mountaintop-removal mining Consultant Strategy for Corporate Responsibility and Social Investment April 2008 – September 2009 (1 year 6 months) I consulted to non-profits, corporations, and social investment firms on strategy and issues concerning corporate social responsibility (CSR) and socially responsible investment. AFL-CIOSenior Advisor, Office of Investment AFL-CIO May 2007 – April 2008 (1 year) • Built and managed a coalition of social investment firms, public pension funds, and NGOs that blocked harmful regulatory changes proposed by the Securities and Exchange Commission • Developed and led shareholder advocacy with companies operating in Burma and/or Sudan, including Chevron, Total, PetroChina, and Sinopec • Assisted AFL-CIO member unions and allies on specific shareholder advocacy campaigns, including leading dialogue on labor and human rights with Chevron and ExxonMobil Director Big Box Collaborative June 2006 – April 2007 (11 months) • Built capacity of religious, environmental, labor, development, community, and shareholder organizations to develop strategy and conduct campaigns focused on Wal-Mart Oxfam AmericaSenior Policy Advisor, Corporate Engagement Oxfam America June 2002 – March 2006 (3 years 10 months) • Developed corporate engagement policy with the board of directors and senior staff • Developed annual corporate engagement strategic plan with staff and allies • Conducted trainings to build the corporate campaign skills of Oxfam staff and partners • Developed and implemented corporate campaign strategies and built coalitions of religious investors, social investment firms, and NGOs on issues of fair trade, paying a living wage, and community consent to mining operations • Represented Oxfam in the media, including an interview on “NOW with Bill Moyers” Board Member CPPAX (Citizens for Participation in Political Action) 2000 – 2005 (5 years) Social Accountability InternationalBoard of Advisors Social Accountability International 1998 – 2002 (4 years) • Helped create and develop the SA8000 standard for auditing labor rights standards at factories and Social Accountability International as the certification agency for SA8000 Trillium Asset ManagementSenior Analyst Trillium Asset Management June 1993 – June 2002 (9 years 1 month) • Developed annual shareholder advocacy strategy • Conducted research, built coalitions, and engaged companies on human rights and social justice • Managed network of media contacts leading to frequent stories in local, national and trade press and participation in both live and recorded radio and television • Updated the proxy voting policy and managed proxy voting process (Open)1 recommendation David Wolfberg David Wolfberg Data Center Facilities Manager at Shopzilla, Gardening & Eco Enthusiast I have known Simon since 1993. I have known him while he worked at Trillium Asset Management and Oxfam America. All that time, he has served in numerous volunteer roles within the Free Burma movement culminating in his current as Co-chair of the US...View Board Member Fenway Community Development Corporation 1994 – 1997 (3 years) Skills & Expertise Most endorsed for... 99+Corporate Social... 99+Human Rights 99+Nonprofits 99+NGOs 51Fundraising 35Sustainability 25Policy 20Corporate Fraud 18Strategy 15Non-profits Simon also knows about... 12Policy Analysis 11Public Policy 11Community Outreach 11Public Relations 11International... 11Proposal Writing 10Grassroots Organizing 7Civil Society 7Research 7Leadership 7Governance 6Politics 6Lobbying 6Corporate Governance 5Community Development See 16+ Education The Prince of Wales’s Business and Sustainability Programme 2002 – 2002 Boston College - Wallace E. Carroll Graduate School of Management MBA, Accounting 1991 – 1993 Loughborough University Loughborough University BA, Political Science and Economics 1982 – 1985 Activities and Societies: Liberal-SDP Alliance Society Archbishop Tenison's Grammar School 1975 – 1982 Chipstead Valley Primary School Recommendations Received (1)Given (9) Peter, would you like to recommend Simon? Recommend Simon Senior Analyst Trillium Asset Management David Wolfberg David Wolfberg Data Center Facilities Manager at Shopzilla, Gardening & Eco Enthusiast I have known Simon since 1993. I have known him while he worked at Trillium Asset Management and Oxfam America. All that time, he has served in numerous volunteer roles within the Free Burma movement culminating in his current as Co-chair of the US Campaign for Burma. Simon is among the most active and well-informed people within the US Campaign for Burma. His work has...more August 7, 2007, David worked directly with Simon at Trillium Asset Management ConnectionsShared (24) Alice Tepper MarlinAlice Tepper Marlin1st President, Social Accountability International (SAI) Meredy Talbot-ZornMeredy Talbot-Zorn1st Manager, Global Development Public Policy and Advocacy at Save the Children Henk CampherHenk Campher1st Senior Vice President, Business & Social Purpose and Managing Director, Sustainability at Edelman Tobias WebbTobias Webb1st Founder, Ethical Corporation and Stakeholder Intelligence Seth RosenSeth Rosen1st Managing Director of Development, Communication, and Marketing at GMHC Danielle NierenbergDanielle Nierenberg1st Co-Founder, Food Tank: The Food Think Tank Jeffrey AsheJeffrey Ashe1st Director of Community Finance at Oxfam America Maaike FleurMaaike Fleur1st Senior Manager Conference and Events at Global Reporting Initiative Jem BendellJem Bendell1st Director, and Professor of Sustainability Leadership at Institute for Leadership and Sustainability (IFLAS) Howard J. FinkelsteinHoward J. Finkelstein1st Founder, Law Offices of Howard J. 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