1.Please describe your role and responsibilities. How many years have you been in the company?

I joined Corporate Citizenship almost four years ago and I’ve been accountable for the development & delivery of our strategic change programme including the expansion of our Frameworks to include Social Innovation & Social Procurement, complimenting the internationally recognised Community Investment Framework. The launch of these innovative streams have deepened our strategic partnerships with other key global organisations such as DJSI, WBCSD, UN Global Compact, World Economic Forum and of course our name change from LBG to B4SI.

I’m also accountable for global growth and the quality of delivery across our regions.  Naturally none of this can happen without the fantastic core team based in North America, LatAm, EMEA & APAC.

2.What was  your  background  previously  and  where  did  your  interest  in social impact begin?

My career to date has been a ‘game of two halves’.  The first half concentrated on SME development in conjunction with EU & Government structural funds in Ireland and while deeply involved at national level, started to notice the impact that business could have locally and the increase in entrepreneurs who wished to make a difference. Something we now call social enterprises.

The other half of my career and my step into social impact began when I joined Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI) in 2000.  As the second employee in a new organisation, I developed and grew the social offering and engaged at government & national level in the development of an infrastructure to support volunteer brokering in Ireland.

At the same time an organisation called Corporate Citizenship started to develop thought leadership in the area including the development of a Framework called LBG.  As the representative for Ireland at CSR Europe and in the EU CECILE Network, I met some of the founders!  Little did I know that some twenty years later I would work for them, charged with the next stage of development for LBG.

3.How has your social impact evolved?

Since first starting in the ‘Social Impact’ arena I’ve seen terms such as ‘Employer Supported Volunteering’, ‘Corporate Community Involvement’ and ‘CSR’ morph into ‘Social Impact’, ‘ESG’ and ‘Sustainability’.

I’ve seen how corporate philanthropy has been shaped by stakeholders internally & externally through a drive towards understanding what’s changed.  How has a company made an impact, and how can they prove it?

And most clearly a shift towards shared value, where a business recognises that its rights and responsibilities are intrinsically linked with the global and local community in which it operates.

Most recently investor views on how a businesses bottom line might be impacted by the ‘S’ in ESG has pushed Social Impact into the Boardroom.

4.What are  the  challenges  you encounter  in driving the social  impact  agenda through B4SI and how do you stay inspired?

I love a challenge!  It’s a new frontier, and to me just an unanswered question.  Some of the challenges we have overcome have been the development of Frameworks that are fit for purpose across multiple sectors, geographies, cultures, and scale of operations.  And as a practitioner led organisation, we find the answers to these challenges by convening our network.  This has been done many times and ensuring that the Frameworks are practical are key to our success.

I’m continually inspired by the network we support, in my role I’m incredibly fortunate to meet so many companies and engage with the individual practitioners across many programmes, and with my colleagues in CC support in a consultancy capacity too.  The effort that goes into each companies’ strategy, targets and intent on social impact is incredible.  I never tire of seeing B4SI being used in corporate reports too!

In addition, I love the B4SI team and the incredible energy, commitment and thought leadership they bring to the table.  I’m inspired by them and their intense hunger to make the world better.

6.Please tell us how you have supported the network during Covid-19.

At the very outset the core B4SI team pivoted quickly to support communication and learning across the network.  Programmes dependent on volunteering were cancelled, teams were being furloughed, colleagues were ill. But throughout there was an incredible drive to support each other including sharing best practice, engaging in conversations on immediate and emergency funding to NGO’s and partner organisations.

The core B4SI team responded to support in capturing the learning and published guidelines on measurement and reporting and we continue to publish our learnings, the most recent in our Annual Review 2021.

7.What is your biggest accomplishment or learning so far?

I’m really excited that next year we will introduce a new self-assessment tool to support our members understanding of their social impact journey better.  Based on the pillars of Plan, Implement, Measure, Report & Engage this on-line tool, developed in conjunction with Nottingham Trent University, will assist our members and their account managers ascertain where to support best using our suite of B4SI tools.  Again, another tool to move the social impact dial!

I’m also incredibly proud of the team effort involved in onboarding thirty-one new global businesses this year.  We’re expanding too – so if you want to come join us have a look at these roles!

EMEA

Social Impact Client Manager, London – Corporate Citizenship (corporate-citizenship.com)

Social Impact Business Network Manager, London – Corporate Citizenship (corporate-citizenship.com)

APAC

B4SI Regional Lead, Australia – Corporate Citizenship (corporate-citizenship.com)

8.What is your motto in life?

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step