Who we are
OUR HISTORY
As an early pioneer we have always found disruptive and creative ways of helping change people’s mindsets and inspiring them to believe the impossible is within reach. We instinctively recognised that unlocking the power of purpose in business could be hugely beneficial to society and to businesses.
The Bridge Institute is BRIDGE’s not-for-profit arm and exists to take this work to the hardest places to solve seemingly impossible challenges.
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Declan Doogan
USA
Declan has over 30 years of industry experience in both major pharma and biotech. He was the Head of Worldwide Development at Pfizer, where many multi-billion-dollar programs were delivered (e.g., Viagra, Lipitor and Zoloft). He has held a number of executive positions in Pfizer in the US, the UK and Japan. Since leaving Pfizer in 2007 he has been engaged in executive roles in small pharma.
Declan was CMO and acting CEO of Amarin (AMRN: Nasdaq), transforming it from a failing neuroscience company to a vibrant cardiovascular company. He went on to co-found Biohaven (BHVN: NYSE) specialising in neurology and psychiatry. Declan is also an investor in emerging biotechnology and technology companies. He holds a number of board appointments, principally in pharma companies, and has also Visiting Professor at Glasgow University Medical School.
Jim Walker
USA
Jim has worked for the past 20 years with businesses, cities and states to drive solutions on water and clean energy. He is a co-founder of The Climate Group, a major network of companies and governments working to advance clean energy solutions, and was the founding CEO of the We Mean Business coalition. In 2014 he established the Climate Mobilization Fund to assist the IKEA Foundation and others in mobilizing business and civil society action on climate change. He is currently Executive Director of Thirst, a nonprofit that runs a major education and innovation program with students across China. He is an advisor to Energy Unlocked, the Purpose Climate Lab, IronOak Energy and Green Collar Foods and competed for Great Britain at the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games in rowing.
Shashikumar Velath
India
Shashikumar was formerly the Co-CEO, Amnesty International India, and has over 20 years experience as a war/conflict reporter, award winning public investigative journalist and strategist. He currently is a leader for social innovation and frame change strategy for Ashoka. He has a Masters Degree in International Relations.
Anthony Rushton
Hong Kong
Anthony is the Chairman of the Hong Kong Management Association and has over 30 years management experience of which the last 15 years have been in learning and development. He is currently the Head of Learning for HSBC Asia Pacific. Anthony has been supporting the institute for a number of years, being a profoundly critical supporter since its inception.
Jonathan Wright
USA
Jonathan is a Global Partner at IBM running the Process Re-engineering Consulting Services. He is experienced in driving change and helping large Multi National Organizations realize their potential in a rapidly changing business environment. He is a thought leader with the World Economic Forum and has presented at Davos. He has also worked for EY, spent 17 years with Accenture and 4 years at Exxon. He holds a 1st BEng Hons Degree in Engineering. He is a diversity champion and is a strong supporter of equality in the workplace and society. He has lived in London, Singapore and is now based in New York.
Alison Lucas
Ali is a proven senior leader of charitable and commercial organisations, with 30+ years of international communications, fundraising, campaigning and marketing experience, with a strong emphasis on media, campaigns, branding and messaging, public, corporate and major donor fundraising, public affairs, and special events. Key achievements include co-founding The Climate Group, founding and running a corporate and NGO communications consultancy, and rising within the WWF network to lead the Fundraising and Marketing Dept for WWF UK responsible for delivering over £300 million over five years. Ali helped establish and launch The Clean Air Fund in September 2019 and is currently leading ResponsibleSteel – the industry’s first global multi-stakeholder standard and certification programme. Ali is an extremely motivated, collaborative, versatile team leader with outstanding strategic and organisational building capabilities, coupled with a high moral code and a continued appetite to learn and to succeed.
Naina Subberwal Batra
Singapore
Naina is Chairperson and CEO of Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN), a unique funders’ network based in Singapore committed to building a vibrant and high impact social investment community across Asia. In 2019, Naina was awarded one of Asia’s Top Sustainability Superwomen. Prior to joining AVPN, Naina was a member of the senior leadership team of a purpose driven unit of The Monitor Group, a leading global strategy consulting firm, aimed at catalyzing markets for social change. Naina was also partner and Co-Founder of Group Fifty Private Ltd, curating contemporary Indian art with a view to provide a medium for upcoming and established Indian artists to showcase their work directly to a large and diverse audience. Naina has a master’s degree in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University, a bachelor degree in Economics and International Relations from Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts, USA and a General Course Diploma in economics from The London School of Economics.
The Role of the Board
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