Amanda Gardiner leads social responsibility strategy at Verizon, working across the company to implement responsible business practices that drive digital inclusion, climate resilience, and stakeholder well-being. Previously, Gardiner led sustainability and social innovation at Pearson. She developed Pearson’s 2020 sustainability plan, founded a company-wide incubator to innovate for ‘Tomorrow’s Markets,’ and established a partnership with Save the Children supporting Syrian refugees. She
spent three years at UNDP leading the ‘Business Call to Action,’ advancing global development goals through business model innovation. She was previously program director at the International Business Leaders Forum in London, advising on CSR in emerging markets and heading the Voluntary Principles on Security & Human Rights secretariat. Gardiner chairs the Board of Children in Conflict and also serves on the Board of The Partnering Initiative.

Biography coming soon.

Kate develops BSR’s grant-funded initiatives, focusing on women’s empowerment, human rights, and supply chain issues. She works specifically with foundations and bilateral donors in the EMEA region. 

Before joining BSR, Kate led the development team at the International Federation for Human Rights, where she successfully built partnerships with a broad array of public and private donors and led significant growth in the organization’s resources. Previously, she held development roles within an INGO with programs aiming to improve access to quality education for all in countries across the globe, with a focus on corporate partnerships.

Kate holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, and a B.A. with Honors (first class) in International Relations from Victoria University of Wellington, specializing in the politics of development. She also holds a certificate in teaching English as a second language from Cambridge University.  She speaks fluent English and French.