As part of an ongoing commitment to expand its thought leadership, diversity and effectiveness as a global sustainability organization, the World Environment Center’s Board of Directors has elected three individuals for Board membership. They are:
Managing Principal (San Francisco Office), Beveridge & Diamond (USA)
Lauren’s practice focuses primarily on global product stewardship, responsible sourcing, and corporate sustainability. She advises clients across a range of industry sectors on environmental, social and governance (ESG) disclosures, responsible sourcing of raw materials including “conflict minerals” and forest products, as well as human rights and labor issues in corporate operations and supply chains.
While attending law school at Vermont Law School, Lauren interned with the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. At Yale University, Lauren wrote her master’s project on Kyoto Protocol implementation in Russia and participated in clinical projects with the Natural Resources Defense Council, Environmental Protection Agency, Defenders of Wildlife, and Connecticut Farmland Trust.
Vice President and Global Client Account Executive | Global Environmental Solutions, Jacobs (USA)
Kris has 35 years of corporate, academic and professional society leadership experience in environmental, health and safety (EHS), enterprise risk mitigation, sustainability and engineering. She has led global EH&S operations for Fortune 100 companies, including GE, Tyco International, United Technologies Corporation – Pratt & Whitney and Asea Brown Boveri – Combustion Engineering, Inc.
Presently, Kris is a member of the Jacobs Global Environmental Solutions executive leadership team focusing on relationship development and management with several new and current Jacobs clients, while also leading initiatives to enhance the company’s focus on industrial water and wastewater services, strategic consulting, enterprise risk assessment/mitigation and corporate sustainability.
Kris earned a B.S. in Biology from Fairfield University, an M.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Connecticut, a Master’s in Environmental Management from Yale University, and an Executive MBA from the University of Connecticut. She is a licensed Professional Engineer in nine states; a Board-Certified Environmental Engineer in the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists; a Certified Safety Professional, Diplomate ; Water Resources Engineer; an ENVISIONTM Sustainability Professional and Certified Class IV Water Treatment Operator in the State of Connecticut. For several years, Kris was a visiting lecturer at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and previously served on its alumni board.
Executive Vice President, Human Resources and Deputy General Manager, Shared Services, Ricoh Americas (USA)
Deputy General Manager, Human Resources Division, Ricoh Company, Ltd (JAPAN)
Donna Venable was appointed Deputy General Manager, Human Resources (HR) Division for Ricoh Company, Ltd. on April 1, 2018, becoming integral to the design and implementation of Ricoh’s global HR policies, procedures, and platforms. As Executive Vice President, Human Resources for Ricoh in the Americas, a position she’s held since 2015, Venable leads all HR functions and activities in the U.S. and Canada while also overseeing Ricoh’s Order Management, Process Improvement, and Supply Chain operations as Deputy General Manager of Shared Services, a role she took on in 2017. She is an accomplished professional who has been key to Ricoh’s transformation to a services-led organization and aligning Ricoh’s worldwide HR efforts. She had more than 14 years of HR experience with IKON, and has 26 total years managing HR functions.
Venable is a graduate of Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She is engaged in the HR community serving as a board member of the HR Executive Alliance and co-chair of the HR Executive Summit, Pennsylvania and New Jersey Chapters. She has presented at industry speaking engagements focused on leadership and employee development, and has been featured in Chief Learning Officer magazine.
WEC is an independent, global non-profit, non-advocacy organization that advances sustainable development through the business practices and operations of its member companies and in partnership with governments, multi-lateral organizations, non-governmental organizations, universities and other stakeholders. WEC’s mission is to accelerate sustainability solutions through innovation, thought leadership and public-private collaboration. It manages projects for companies across their global operations, builds executive-level learning and competency in applying sustainable development across a number of business sectors, and recognizes performance excellence through an annual awards program. WEC is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with regional offices in China, El Salvador and Germany.
