Simone Benz Email & Phone Number

Austin, Texas, United States

Develop and lead SFC's policy portfolio at federal, state, and local level. Lead SFC's Advocacy and Community Engagement Team. Develop and execute grassroots engagement strategy with target audiences. Engage policymakers in local food system resilience and transformational change.

Austin, Texas, United States

• Develop and lead SFC's policy platform at the local, state, and federal levels.
• Co-create and drive SFC's legislative agenda.
• Lead SFC's advocacy efforts, including engaging community members in priority and action planning, developing a strategic communications campaigns, and relationship management.
• Drive SFC's strategic direction forward with an eye to strategic leadership and authentic engagement.

Austin, TX

• Led SNAP outreach strategy for SNAP Incentive Program, Double Up Food Bucks.
• Managed key organizational relationships with partner organizations, funders, and city staff.
• Managed a team of Community Health Workers who led outreach, engagement and education initiatives to increase awareness of Food Access points in Austin's food insecure communities.
• Led SFC's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Team.

Austin, Texas

• Project Manager for Sustainable Food Center's Food Access Team.
• Work with stakeholders, including community members, policy makers, public health professionals and food systems leaders to increase food access and community resilience in Austin's periphery.
• Organize and support teams of resident leaders working together to increase access to healthy, local food within their own neighborhoods
• SFC representative on Austin-Travis County Healthy Food Access Working Group

Managua, Nicaragua

• Organized promotional and fundraising events such as dinner theatres and local fairs.
• Engaged in out consumer research via email, facebook, and one-on-one interviews.
• Created tabletop consumer information about food ecology and social responsibility.
• Shot photographs of fresh produce, along with scenery and portraits, which are displayed and sold at the restaurant, at fairs, and in the store.
• Consulted the marketing team whilst at school in Switzerland.

Gland, Switzerland

• Carried out and synthesized research in both English and Spanish.
• Conducted interviews with IUCN correspondents in Spanish.
• Developed a case study focusing on resilience and food security in rural Guatemala.
• Contributed to the efforts of IUCN’s global coordination team.

Public Policy Analysis Certificate, Political Science And Government

Master'S Degree, Public Affairs, Public Leadership, Summa Cum Laude

Bachelor Of Arts, International Relations, Environmental Studies

Activities and Societies: Baobab Initiative, Sustainability Initiative, Sustainable Agriculture Club, Blueberry Piecake Club, Latin Club,