Biography
An innovative leader and standard-setter for responsible business and investment, Bennett Freeman has co-founded multi-stakeholder initiatives and coalitions focused on the extractives, technology and apparel sectors.
As principal of Bennett Freeman Associates LLC, he advises multinational corporations, international institutions and NGOs on policy and strategy related to human rights and labour rights. He was the lead author of Shared Space Under Pressure: Business Support for Civic Freedoms and Human Rights Defenders (2018).
As senior VP for sustainability research and policy at Calvert Investments, he directed the firm’s ESG analysis, shareholder advocacy and public policy initiatives from 2006-15. He served as a Clinton presidential appointee in three positions at the US Department of State, including as deputy assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor from 1999-2001.
He was previously manager-corporate affairs at GE after beginning his career as a presidential campaign aide and speechwriter for Democratic nominee Walter Mondale. Bennett earned an MA/BA in Modern History at Balliol College, Oxford and an AB in History from the University of California at Berkeley.
Past experience
| 2015- |
Principal, Bennett Freeman Associates LLC |
| 2006-15 | Senior Vice President, Sustainability Research and Policy, Calvert Investments |
| 2003-6 | Managing Director, Global Corporate Responsibility, Burson-Marsteller |
| 2001-03 | Principal, Sustainable Investment Strategies |
| 1999-2001 | US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Democracy, Human Rights and Labor |
| 1997-99 | Senior Advisor to the US Under Secretary of State, Economic and Business Affairs |
| 1993-97 | US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Public Affairs and chief speechwriter, US Secretary of State |
| 1985-93 |
Manager-Corporate Affairs, General Electric Company (GE) |
| 1982-84 | Presidential campaign aide and speechwriter, former US Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Walter F. Mondale |
| 1981 |
MA, BA (Hons) Modern History, University of Oxford (English-Speaking Union Scholar at Balliol College) |
| 1979 | AB, History, Highest Honours and Phi Beta Kappa, University of California at Berkeley |
