About
Independent Non-Executive Director, appointed 1 May 2023.
Location: United States of America
Career summaryÂ
Ms Nelson has a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics (Cum Laude) from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, where she was a Rhodes Scholar.
Ms Nelson has a 30-year career researching and advocating for sustainable business practices and was the founding Director of the Harvard Kennedy School’s Corporate Responsibility Initiative, where she is now a senior research fellow. She is a non-resident senior fellow in the Global Economy and Development program at Brookings and a former senior associate of Cambridge University’s Programme for Sustainability Leadership.
Ms Nelson served on ExxonMobil’s External Sustainability Advisory Panel from 2010 to 2023, the Independent Advisory Panel to the ICMM’s Resource Endowment Initiative and on advisory councils for other companies, the World Bank Group and the United Nations. She also worked for The Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum in the United Kingdom, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development in Africa, FUNDES in Latin America and as a Vice President at Citibank working in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
In December 2023, Ms Nelson was appointed a Companion of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George in the UK’s Overseas and International Honours List for services to business and to sustainability.
External appointments
Ms Nelson is a Non-Executive Director of NYSE-listed Newmont Mining Corporation (since 2011) and Chair of its Safety and Sustainability Committee.
Ms Nelson is a member of the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Future Council on Good Governance, WEF’s Climate Governance Community of Experts and WEF’s Stewardship Council for Food Systems. Ms Nelson is also a Co-Chair of the Business Commission to Tackle Inequality and an Emeritus Director of the World Environment Center.
Skills and experienceÂ
Ms Nelson’s career comprises a portfolio of roles across academia as well as international policy, business leadership groups and not-for-profit organisations. She has expertise in sustainable development including in human rights, cultural heritage and Indigenous issues and a significant understanding of climate change and biodiversity issues. Ms Nelson’s strong focus on sustainable development, together with her passion for building partnerships between business, government and civil society, is an asset to our Board given this is at the heart of our purpose and underpins the delivery of our strategy.
Personal Details
Qualifications & Experience
Other directorships (state)
(only entities turnover at least $5m p/a)
Working history
Committee/s
| Company | Committee | Role | Appointment Date | Resignation Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South32 Limited | Board | Member | 01/05/2023 |