Bennett Freeman

"Mr. Freeman leads Calvert's Sustainability Research Department and oversees its company research and analysis as well as its policy and advocacy work. From 2003 until early 2006, he led Burson-Marsteller's Global Corporate Responsibility practice advising multinationals on policy development, stakeholder engagement and communications strategies related to human rights, labor rights and sustainable development. During the Clinton Administration he served in three positions as a presidential appointee in the State Department, most recently as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor from 1999 to early 2001. In that capacity, he led the development of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, the first human rights standard forged by governments, companies and NGOs for the extractive sectors. Earlier in his career he was Manager-Corporate Affairs for General Electric and a presidential campaign aide to former Vice President Walter Mondale. Mr. Freeman serves on the Boards of Oxfam America, the Institute for Business and Human Rights, the Revenue Watch Institute, the Global Network Initiative (GNI), the Genocide Intervention Network and EG Justice. From 2006-09 he served on the Board of the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) representing Oxfam. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations as well as a frequent speaker and media commentator on sustainable investment, corporate responsibility, human rights and U.S. foreign policy. "

Bennett Freeman is Senior Vice President for Social Research and Policy for Calvert, a socially responsible mutual fund. Freeman commenced in the position in March 2006.

For three years prior to this Freeman headed Burson-Marsteller's corporate social responsibility practice group in the U.S.

Freeman joined B-M’s corporate social responsibility practice in mid-2003 and sits on the board of directors of the U.S. division of the global aid group, Oxfam America, as well as being a member of the Business and Economic Relations Group of Amnesty International USA.

At Burson-Marsteller Freeman led "firm’s client advisory work on corporate responsibility policy frameworks, risk assessments, stakeholder engagement and communications strategies addressing global issues such as human rights, labor rights, the environment and sustainable development." 

Prior to joining Burson-Marsteller, Freeman was Principal of Sustainable Investment Strategies where, according to a biographical note, he "advised multinational corporations, international institutions and NGOs on corporate responsibility, human rights and political risk issues. In 2002, he co-authored an independent Human Rights Impact Assessment of BP’s Tangguh project in Papua, Indonesia, the first such assessment conducted of a major energy project in the world."

"As U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor from 1999 to early 2001, Freeman was responsible for conducting the State Department’s bilateral human rights diplomacy around the world. He led the development of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, recognized both as the first human rights standard developed by governments, companies and NGOs for the extractive sectors and as the first standard for companies operating in conflict zones in any sector," his B-M biographical note states. 

Affiliations

 * Director, Save Darfur Coalition

Related Sourcewatch

 * Corporate social responsibility