Rachel Owens

As CEO of the Solar Stewardship Initiative (SSI), I lead a global, independent, multi‑stakeholder organisation working to strengthen responsibility, transparency, and trust across solar supply chains. I set SSI’s strategic direction and oversee its standards, assurance system, governance, partnerships, and external engagement—working closely with industry leaders, civil society, policymakers, and financial institutions to drive measurable improvements in ESG performance and supply‑chain traceability. The Solar Stewardship Initiative (SSI) brings together buyers, manufacturers, civil society organisations, financial institutions, and independent experts to implement the first ESG and Supply Chain Traceability Standards designed specifically for the solar sector. Through independent certification, robust governance, and multi‑stakeholder oversight, SSI helps the rapidly growing solar industry demonstrate responsible practices while supporting a credible and just energy transition.

I serve as a Non‑Executive Director on the Board of Global Witness, providing independent oversight on strategy, governance, and organisational performance for an international NGO working at the intersection of human rights, environmental protection, and corporate accountability. In this role, I support the CEO and Senior Leadership team and fellow Board members to ensure strong governance, accountability, and long‑term strategic direction. Global Witness investigates and exposes how corruption, exploitation, and abuse of power drive environmental destruction and human rights violations, and works to secure systemic change through advocacy, policy reform, and strategic litigation. My board role draws on my previous leadership experience within the organisation and my broader background in sustainable finance, corporate accountability, and international governance.

Eurosif is the leading pan-European association promoting Sustainable Finance at the European level. It works as a partnership of Europe-based national Sustainable Investment Fora (SIFs) with the direct support of their network which spans over 400 Europe-based organisations drawn from the sustainable investment industry value chain. These organisations include institutional investors, asset managers, financial services, index providers and ESG research and analysis firms. I am a Non Executive Director on the board supporting with: - Strategic Direction: Collaborate with fellow board members to define Eurosif's strategic goals and ensure alignment with its mission to advance SRI and ESG integration. ​ - Governance and Oversight: Monitor the performance of Eurosif's executive management, providing constructive feedback and ensuring that the organization's activities adhere to its strategic objectives. ​ - Risk Management: Ensure that Eurosif has robust systems in place to identify, assess, and manage risks, particularly those related to ESG factors and sustainable investment practices. ​

ECF is the largest climate philanthropic organisation operating in Europe and globally. I led ECF’s Climate Finance team and portfolio. The Climate Finance programme aims to ensure that the global financial system is transformed to make financial flows consistent with a 1.5-degree pathway and climate-resilient development. My role involved: - Leading the development of the ECF Climate Finance Program strategy, priorities and implementation plans - Providing strategic advice and support on climate finance developments in Europe and globally - Program and portfolio management oversight - Leading, coaching and developing the ECF Climate Finance Programme team - Establishing, nourishing and managing strategic partnerships and relationships, with ECF grantees and funders and the broader community - Conducting high level political advocacy - Strategic support to the CEO and Executive Director

Member of the Steering Committee to the Climate Emergency Group. This involves: - Providing strategic advice and support to the CECG core team in its delivery of a high impact strategy that promotes an inclusive and climate safe recovery; - Working across geographies and sharing lessons and best practices; - Approving large grants

Award winning leadership course designed to support leaders with young children progress in their career.

I was simultaneously the Head of EU Office and Head of the Corporate Accountability team. I led Global Witness' campaign on corporate governance relating to human rights, environmental and governance impacts through their operations, business relationships and value chains. This involves: 1. Strategy and strategic planning: - Setting 3 to 5 year strategic direction for campaigns, using a variety of sources and tactics to develop insight - Turning insight into plans, tactics, activities and anticipated impact - Working with team to ensure alignment to the broader organisation’s objectives, mission and purpose 2. External profile: - Accountable for ensuring campaign has a strong external profile - Applying a variety of channels to develop the campaign profile; represents the campaign externally - co-develop communication strategy for the campaign 3. Inclusive team leadership: - manages a team of 6 talented campaigners and investigators with line management over 4 senior campaigners - Work in partnership with other teams to meet internal duty of care and health and safety standards, processes and legal requirements 4. Campaign management: - Accountable for the oversight of team’s work. Including: - Sign off, risk management, monitoring and evaluation 5. Financial Sustainability - Working in partnership with the development team to identify prospects and secure funding and plan and implement fundraising strategies - Preparing and overseeing an annual budget including regular reforecasting, exercising good budgetary control and works with finance dept - Ensuring team meets all required finance deadlines (annual budget, reforecasting and expenses) - Monitoring budgetary risk More information on the campaign see here: https://www.globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/european-union-brussels-global-witness-eu/time-eu-act-and-introduce-mandatory-corporate-due-diligence-legislation-protect-people-and-planet/

I was a key member of the Global Witness global campaign leadership team. In 2017 I set up Global Witness' first EU office in Brussels and have led it since. My responsibilities include: - Heading up Global Witness' EU Office and representing the organisation in Brussels - Developing and delivering a strategy for Global Witness' EU work - Leading EU advocacy and policy work, working with a variety of different Global Witness campaigns - Building networks and relationships with key stakeholders - Lead EU office team of passionate and talented campaigners and communications staff - Co-develop and deliver Brussels communication strategy together with communications team - Responsible for EU office budget, working together with Global Witness teams on fundraising and budgeting.

Leading campaign to end the corporate involvement in threats and attacks to land and environmental defenders. I am doing this simultaneous to Heading up Global Witness' EU Office and leading our Corporate Accountability campaign. This involves: 1. Strategy and strategic planning: - Sets 3 to 5 year strategic direction for campaigns I am running, using a variety of sources and tactics to develop insight - Turns insight into plans, tactics, activities and anticipated impact - Works with team to ensure alignment to the broader organisation’s objectives, mission and purpose 2. External profile: - Accountable for ensuring campaign has a strong external profile - Uses a variety of channels to develop the campaign profile and represents the campaign externally - Works closely with the communications team to develop and support the communication strategy for the campaign 3. Inclusive team leadership: - manages a team of 9 talented campaigners and investigators with line management over 4 senior campaigners - Work in partnership with other teams (HR and Facilities) to meet internal duty of care and health and safety standards and processes as well as legal requirements 4. Campaign management: - Accountable for the oversight of team’s work. Including: - Sign off - Risk management - Monitoring and Evaluation 5. Financial Sustainability - Works in partnership with the development team to identify prospects and secure funding - Works closely with the development team to plan and implement fundraising strategies - Prepare and oversee an annual budget including regular reforecasting, exercising good budgetary control and develops a positive working relationship with the finance team - Ensures team meets all required finance deadlines (annual budget, reforecasting and expenses) - Monitor budgetary risk

Leading Global Witness' campaign pushing for transparency and accountability in the extractives sector. Key workstreams include international rules on revenue transparency, corporate accountability, beneficial ownership transparency. Leading on team strategy and development of three year campaign plans Management over team budget Line management of senior campaigners

Leading on GW's international extractive industries advocacy and policy work, which involves building strategic relationships with multinationals, governments and international agencies such as the World Bank, Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and the G20 to promote greater transparency in corporate reporting, beneficial ownership disclosure, protection of civic space and reforms to counter illicit financial flows. Oversight of EITI: analysis of technical elements of EITI country implementation of transparency requirements and drafting technical policy documents. Part of Anti-Corruption Summit team – acting as GW spokesperson in national and international broadcast media Dotted line management over one team member and volunteers.

Working on GW's engagement with the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and beneficial ownership as well as the implementation of EU Transparency and Accounting Directives.

6 month career break to travel and fully immerse myself into South American culture. Travel across 7 countries - Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Cuba. Volunteer placement in grassroots Peruvian NGO SKIP (Supporting Kids in Peru) Intensive Spanish language courses to improve fluency and knowledge.