Sharon Smith Email & Phone Number

Oakland, CA

• Provide strategic advisory services to NGOs, companies, foundations and nature finance institutions, aimed at safeguarding and restoring forest ecosystems and reducing global commodity-driven deforestation. Specialize.
• Led the deployment of a ‘rapid response’ forest monitoring and reporting system in palm oil sector, monitoring more than 21 million hectares of forest in Southeast Asia, contributing to a huge decrease in deforestation.
• Author of multiple reports and exposés on deforestation and commodity supply chains featured by global media outlets.
• Led development of and reporting against multi-million dollar public sector grants.
• Led team conducting geospatial analysis and scoping of private sector opportunities to support ARR and avoided deforestation projects in Southeast Asia, as well as deliver on SBTN and SBTi through nature-based.
• Analysis of nature-based corporate disclosure frameworks (CDP, SBTN, SBT for FLAG companies).

Bogor, West Java, ID

• Managed global teams of up to 10 consultants in matrixed organization, supporting Fortune 500 and smaller FMCG and agricultural companies in implementation of sustainable sourcing commitments.
• Advised world's largest oil palm traders (responsible for 65% of total global trade) on public reporting and transparency (including annual sustainability reports aligned with GRI guidance and UN SDGs), grievance.
• Worked with clients to drive the development of company sustainability action plans and strategy to achieve no deforestation and reduce Scope 3 emissions from land use in supply chains.
• Charted comprehensive roadmaps for change at individual company level while also shaping sector-wide transformation through industry collective action forums.
• Coordinated global stakeholder input processes and dialogues.
• Representative in international multi-stakeholder policy-oriented coalitions and working groups.

Boulder, CO, US

• Launched and lead the Next Generation Climate Board, a new Greengrants global initiative to invest in youth-driven efforts to address climate change. Directed the Next Gen Board in its first five years of grantmaking.

Cambridge, Massachusetts, US

• Led team at UCS working closely with over two dozen companies, mostly in the Fortune 500, to adopt commodity sourcing policies that protect forests and our climate.
• Ran successful global public campaign alongside allies to convince Wilmar, the world’s largest palm oil trader, to adopt a zero deforestation sourcing policy. Successfully lobbied other major agricultural commodity.

• Advised philanthropic and NGO clients on strategy design for shifting palm oil sector toward adoption and implementation of zero deforestation and sustainability commitments. Crafted a campaign strategy outlining.

• Produced annual organizational capstone awards event with 900 audience members and coordinated annual fundraiser raising $85,000 for Brower Youth Awards, North America's top prize for young green leaders.
• Managed alumni network and facilitated multi-day learning exchanges for awardees and alumni.
• Assistant produced short films on green teens, featured on PBS, The Sundance Channel, and Link TV.
• Managed program branding website redesign.
• Supported awardees in deepening communications skills, secured media hits approaching 20 million impressions, launched speakers' bureau, and secured book contract with Ten Speed Press to amplify their stories.
• Launched partnership granting $50,000 to 100+ teenage entrepreneurs.

San Francisco, California, US

Driving force in the national grassroots markets campaigns behind Boise Cascade’s commitment to stop the logging and sale of endangered forest products and Citibank’s adoption of a comprehensive environmental policy. Spokesperson, trainer, and national days of action coordinator. Expanded grassroots base in Canada and forged alliances with 30-plus partner.

Denver, Colorado, US

Managed a field staff of eight individuals, running simultaneous campaigns on voter education and forest protection. Social networking and web-based outreach as part of effort generating 1.5 million plus public comments to save 60 million acres of national forests from roadbuilding and development.

Mem, Environmental Management

Ba/Bs, Anthropology, Conservation And Resource Studies