Susan Burns

About Susan Burns

Susan Burns is a Philanthropic Advisor and Skoll Awardee with decades of experience leading cutting-edge initiatives in both for-profit and non-profit sectors. Specialties include: strategy, system change approaches, fundraising, branding, marketing and communications, program design, and impact measurement.She was formerly a Senior Advisor to the Poverty Stoplight, a mobile technology that empowers families to move out of poverty by making them the architects of their own living conditions. She was also Director of Finance for Change, a project of Global Footprint Network, an initiative that integrates ecological risks into fixed income investing. As co-founder and CEO of Global Footprint Network, she built the organization into one of world\'s leading scientific organizations addressing global ecological limits. In 2007 Susan, along with Global Footprint Network co-founder Mathis Wackernagel, won the Skoll Award on Social Entrepreneurship. In 2012 John Elkington, a world authority on corporate responsibility and sustainable development, identified Susan among the “Zeronaut 50” Roll of Honor, i.e, leading pioneers who are driving the world’s most significant problems to zero. Susan and Mathis are 2014 ISSP Sustainability Hall of Fame Inductees.Susan serves on the Development Committee of the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir (OIGC) where she is a vocalist. She is also a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for foster children, a member of the Social Justice Ministry of Imani Community Church in Oakland, and a member of ICJJ (Interfaith Coalition for Justice in Our Jails).

Experience

1. Member, Audit Committee

   Imani Community Church

   Jan 2025 — Present · Oakland, CA, US

Education

• Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

  Bachelor’s Degree, Thermal and Environmental Engineering

Skills

• Environmental Policy
• Energy Policy
• Energy Efficiency
• Sustainability Consulting
• Leadership
• Project Management
• Project Finance
• Management
• Corporate Social Responsibility
• Sustainable Development
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Social Entrepreneurship
• International Development
• Environmental Impact Assessment
• Sovereign Debt
• Climate Change
• Sustainability
• Business Strategy
• Non-Profits
• Public Policy
• Environmental Awareness
• Renewable Energy
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Esg
• Public Speaking
• Research
• Fundraising
• Environmental Management Systems
• Environmental Issues
• Fixed Income Strategies
• Sustainable Business
• Policy Analysis
• Policy
• Strategic Planning
• Strategic Communications
• Nonprofits
• Strategy
• Entrepreneurship