ResponsibleSteel Secretariat

Annie has spent 30 years in sustainability. Most recently she spent nine years shaping ArcelorMittal’s sustainability agenda, leading on stakeholder engagement, reporting, and investor relations. Prior to this, she worked with global renewable energy firm RES Group in their zero emissions head office, establishing their environmental education programme and initiating their sustainability programme as the company developed large- and small-scale wind, solar and biomass projects.

Annie graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the University of Oxford. She has completed several CPD courses in renewable energy, corporate social responsibility, human rights, and steelmaking.

The opportunity to work with our members around the world, exchanging ideas and looking for synergies, is what brings me to work every day with passion. When we look back on the transformation happening right now, I firmly believe ResponsibleSteel will be seen for having played a key role in driving the industry towards a sustainable future.

Shiv is a metallurgical engineer with over 30 years of experience in steel and engineering. He has a deep understanding of the industry’s decarbonisation challenges. Shiv ensures that ResponsibleSteel delivers impact in line with our mission to drive the responsible production of net-zero steel and demonstrate the effectiveness of our Theory of Change.

Prior to joining ResponsibleSteel, he managed his own advisory engaging in energy, construction, and metallurgical engineering services in Canada, India, and the GCC region. In addition to a bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering, he also holds a master’s degree in Climate Change from the University of Waterloo, Canada.

Contributing to the global steel industry's decarbonisation is deeply rewarding as a metallurgist. It resonates with my commitment to sustainability, equity and addressing climate change, allowing me to make a positive impact on a broader scale.

Joe has over a decade of experience working in communications and membership engagement for a number of sustainability standards, most recently leading on organisational communications for Better Cotton, the world’s largest sustainability initiative for cotton. Prior to that, he spent time working on the launch of the Rainforest Alliance’s 2020 Certification Programme, and also managed Bonsucro’s communications and events work.  

He has spent several years living and working in Japan, France, Switzerland and Belgium. Joe holds a master’s degree in Diplomacy from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS – University of London) and a bachelor’s in International Relations and French from the University of Leeds.  

In his spare time, Joe is a keen photographer and enjoys getting out onto the road on his bike for long-distance rides.

Supporting the steel industry - the foundation of modern economies - to change for the better, is a great opportunity. I'm excited to play a part in engaging our diverse stakeholders and ensuring that we continue to deliver value to those who believe in a responsible future for steel.

Alli has a strong interest in the application of engineering solutions to benefit communities and ecosystems. She completed a Bachelor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Technology, Sydney, during which she received the 2017 New Colombo Plan Fellowship to study and complete internships in Vietnam for 14 months. Following this, Alli spent over 5 years with Lendlease in the construction industry as a Site Engineer, working on significant Australian transport infrastructure projects. Alli has just completed her DPhil in Engineering Science at the University of Oxford as a 2020 John Monash Scholar. Her thesis was titled, “The New Steel Map: Reconfiguring Supply Chains Around Renewable Resources.”

Steel is an indispensable material in our lives, yet deeply dependent on fossil fuels for production. Joining ResponsibleSteel is part of my commitment to support the reduction of industry’s carbon footprint. The global lens and multistakeholder approach to change is critical in enabling collective action throughout the value chain.

Haruko Horii has 9 years of experience in the sustainability sector, including work with NGOs and a social auditing consultancy firm. In her previous roles with standard-setting organisations, she has worked on various social topics such as living wage, social impact assessment, and gender equality, while ensuring the team’s compliance with standard-setting best practices. Haruko is trained in social auditing (SA8000) and social impact assessment (IAIA). She has worked as a social auditor and consultant, assisting global companies in promoting human rights by developing social responsibility policies and strategies, and establishing assurance mechanisms through capacity-building activities, social audits, and assessments.

Haruko holds a Master’s degree in International Development from Wageningen University in the Netherlands.

“We use steel everywhere in our lives, and the steel industry has a significant impact on our environment and society. Working with the steel industry means that we can contribute to a sustainable future for the industry and our life, which makes me excited and hopeful for the future!

Savannah graduated from the University of York in 2016 with an undergraduate degree in History, after which she managed her own blog and worked as a freelance writer. She then undertook a master’s degree in Conflict, Security, and Development at King’s College London, graduating in 2020. During her studies, she analysed a range of issues, most notably the roles which endemic poverty, human rights abuses, and the climate crisis can play in fuelling migration and provoking conflict. She has worked with several charities in research, communications, and fundraising capacities.

The steel industry accounts for around 10% of global energy emissions. It’s incredible to be part of a small team that has the potential to have such a monumental impact on the industry and the planet.

Julia graduated from UCL in 2018 with a degree in Environment, Politics and Society, building on her undergraduate degree in Sustainable Development. During her studies, she focused heavily on people’s relationships with the environment, as well as human rights issues, such as modern slavery.

Over the years she has volunteered for a variety of conservation and community projects for The Zoological Society of London, the London Wildlife Trust, the South East Rivers Trust and Edible London. When she is not out exploring the environment, Julia spends her time creating and crafting. Predominantly a fibre artist, she can also be found whittling, metalworking or painting.

In the short time I have been here, I have witnessed changes that have been made by our members as a direct result of wishing to become certified by ResponsibleSteel. It feels great to be able to contribute to something that has value and long-lasting impacts.

Kamila graduated from the University of Manchester in July 2023 with an undergraduate degree in Economics and Politics. She has a passion for circular economics, natural resources, and ESG issues. While at the University of Manchester, she was awarded a Stellify award for extracurricular activities, including for her role as Project Leader for the Rekindle Sustainability Project which promoted circularity and other sustainability-related topics and coordinated local events for reducing waste in the community. During her final year of study, she worked as an intern for ESGmark in London. She joined ResponsibleSteel in February 2024.

Steel is one of the most circular materials and is critical to modern society. Working for ResponsibleSteel allows me to continue to pursue my interests in sustainability and circular economics on a global scale.

After graduating with a first-class degree in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Science, Cydney embarked on her career in conservation. She started as an Assistant Ecologist and later transitioned to a role as a Community Engagement Assistant with the Conservation Volunteers. Her passion for sustainability and climate change mitigation developed during these experiences and led her to her current role with ResponsibleSteel.

“Steel is an integral material in modern society and there is a growing need for all industries to pursue a more circular economy. I am excited to work with ResponsibleSteel and contribute to moving heavy industry towards a more sustainable future.”

Matthew Wenban-Smith has worked in the area of voluntary sustainability standards and conformity assessment since 1994, when he began working with the newly established Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). In 2006, he founded the independent consultancy OneWorldStandards, providing services to established and emerging sustainability standards initiatives, and completed a variety of projects in the mining, minerals and metals sectors.

He was appointed Executive Director of ResponsibleSteel in 2017. Matthew stepped down as Executive Director as of May 2020 to take up the role of Policy & Standards Director before transitioning to become the GHG Lead. He continues to work with ResponsibleSteel as a consultant.

ResponsibleSteel is one of very few not-for-profit organisations in the steel sector that is genuinely breaking new ground, using a scalable mechanism to deliver real, global impact. It’s great to contribute to the work of a small organisation that’s making a big difference.

Marnie is an independent consultant with 20 years of experience in developing, implementing and communicating sustainability certification and verification programmes. Marnie started her journey in the field of sustainability with oekom Research AG, a rating agency specialised in sustainable and ethical investments. She then moved to the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), holding various positions including Deputy Director Europe.

Since then, Marnie has worked as a consultant on projects ranging from protected areas to infrastructure, mining and nature-based solutions. Marnie has worked with ResponsibleSteel since early 2018. She holds a master's degree in Sustainable Urban and Regional Development from the University of Trier in Germany.

Steel is literally everywhere in our daily lives. Considering the material’s importance and the impacts that come with its sourcing and production, it is critical that steel companies have a high ESG benchmark to work towards. ResponsibleSteel offers such a benchmark and I am proud to support this important initiative.

Cyrille is an independent consultant, coach, and facilitator focused on individual and organisational development, transformation, governance, systems design, and implementation. Cyrille has worked in over 30 European and Asian countries in the last 25 years, helping organisations in the finance, manufacturing, utilities, services, government, and voluntary sectors. He is currently serving on the board of several for-profit and not-for-profit organisations.

He holds an MBA from Macquarie University (Australia), Postgraduate Certificates in Sustainable Business from Cambridge University (UK), and Strategic Sustainable Development and Sustainable Engineering from Blekinge Institute of Technology (Sweden).

Working with ResponsibleSteel means that I get to do meaningful and purposeful work with a talented and committed team, and have an impact on an industry of globally significant importance.

Samanta is a freelance consultant with more than 20 years of experience in the organic sector, working as a qualified inspector and responsible for the organic scheme for an Italian certification body.  She is also has experience in social responsibility and conducting SA8000 audits.

With her extensive knowledge and experience in the sustainability sector, she has collaborated with Rainforest Alliance as part of their certification body monitoring programme and worked as an external assessor for IOAS, an international accreditation body, since 2023. Samanta studied Agricultural Science at the University of Florence, and completed a masters degree in Organic and Biodynamic Agriculture.

She has worked as a consultant for ResponsibleSteel's Assurance team since 2023.

Collaborating with ResponsibleSteel is a very good opportunity to bring my small contribution in sustainability to a new sector that has a big impact on our daily life. Starting this collaboration, I realised that steel is just all around us.