Research Team

Steph founded the Embedding Project and leads our research program, oversees the development of our resources and tools, and supports their implementation in our partner companies. She is a leading expert in sustainability strategy, governance, and culture and supports executive teams and boards around the world as they embed sustainability.  Steph is the VanDusen Professor of Sustainability and the Director of the Centre for Corporate Governance and Sustainability at Simon Fraser University’s Beedie School of Business. Ever the pragmatic optimist, Steph wants to believe we can transition to an inclusive and regenerative economy. Steph on LinkedIn

Jess oversees our Africa and Middle East peer network. She is also the Director of South Africa’s Sustainability Institute and a lecturer with the University of Stellenbosch. She brings a wealth of research and practice knowledge from past roles in private and public sectors, including Senior Researcher with EY and Director of Strategic Partnerships for the Network for Business Sustainability South Africa. Jess has a BSc in Ocean and Atmosphere Science and Environmental and Geographic Science, a MPhil in Sustainable Development, and a PhD in Business Administration. When not getting lost in the oceans and mountains, Jess can be found with her hands in the soil, helping things grow. Jess on LinkedIn

Ralph is Professor and Research Director at the University of Cape Town (UCT) Graduate School of Business. He researches and teaches on business sustainability, social innovation, and cross-sector collaboration. He has published in leading management and development journals, and he is an executive editor of "Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development." Ralph co-founded the Southern Africa Food Lab, for which he received UCT’s Distinguished Social Responsiveness Award. Much of his tertiary training was in environmental science at UCT, and he has a PhD on corporate responsibility in the South African mining sector from the University of East Anglia in the UK. He grew up in Africa, Asia, and Europe and has travelled widely, including a sailboat crossing of the South Atlantic (despite a propensity for sea-sickness).

Cécile is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Cape Town (UCT) Graduate School of Business and a Research Fellow at the Centre for Complex Sustainability Transitions (CST). She researches and teaches on business sustainability, sustainable finance, and change agency. Cécile brings broad experience in strategy, marketing and business development through her past roles, including as co-founder and Vice President of Strategy for Reef Software and as a Director for Mulilo Renewable Energy. She holds a Master’s degree in Economics and Finance, an MPhil in Sustainable Development and a PhD in Business Administration. Cécile grew up in Europe, and has been living with her family in South Africa for the last 20 years. Cécile on LinkedIn

A master of finding the unfindable and bringing order to chaos, Brandon oversees our Credible Goals and Positions Databases and curates our Resource Wheel and Issue Snapshots. Brandon also develops guidance and tools to help companies understand credible goal setting and take a credible public position on key issues. Brandon has a degree in History, an MBA, and is an avid angler and outdoorsperson. Brandon on LinkedIn

Sam is responsible for our Sustainability Professionals Network, and also contributes to our advisory services as an associate researcher. She works for the sustainability transition through research, authorship, advisory and learning design via multiple organisations in South Africa focussed on regenerative cultures, transformative learning and corporate sustainability. She has a postgraduate diploma in Sustainable Development from the University of Stellenbosch, and BSc in Marine Biology and Oceanography, from the University of Cape Town. She also has a background in marketing and publishing. Sam on LinkedIn

As Director, Knowledge, Rachel oversees and engages in the creation of Embedding Project resources and knowledge mobilisation and curation. Rachel is a social sustainability strategist and corporate social impact professional with extensive international work experience in natural resource, agriculture, circular economy, and cleantech industries, as well as the not-for-profit and social enterprise sectors. She has an MPhil in International Development from the University of Oxford and a passion for systems thinking, community resilience building, business strategy, and social innovation. Rachel enjoys hiking, losing herself in books, and is particularly partial to a good cup of Earl Grey tea. Rachel on LinkedIn

As a Knowledge Manager, Ariel develops resources and writes guides, with a focus on embedded strategies and rethinking value chains. He also supports our partner companies in conducting self-reflective sustainability assessments. He has a degree in Global Studies and completed his MS in Sustainability Management at the University of Toronto. Ariel’s changemaking career in the sustainability field follows on the heels of his playmaking career on the football field. Ariel on LinkedIn

Alex oversees our day-to-day operations and financial planning and administration. She has been with the Embedding Project from the beginning and has contributed to the development of the embedding framework and the practices assessment process. Alex has a BBA and a certificate in Bookkeeping for Small Business. In her off-work hours, Alex enjoys paddle boarding and board and video games. Alexandra on LinkedIn

Christie supports with graphic design and video production for the Embedding Project by interpreting abstract sustainability concepts and developing them into engaging motion graphics, infographics, and videos. She has a Bachelor of Arts from the School of Interactive Arts and Technology at Simon Fraser University. After hours, Christie enjoys crawling the city for a good coffee and can usually be found at the movies. Christie on LinkedIn

Mahroo performs a range of research and support duties including assisting with the development of guides, resources, and databases for the Embedding Project. She has a Joint Major Bachelor of Environment from the Faculty of Environment and Beedie School of Business at Simon Fraser University as well as certificates in Sustainable Community Development and Ethics. Outside of work, Mahroo can be found playing some cozy video games or working on a new crochet project. Mahroo on LinkedIn