BETSY REED
Betsy@betsy-reed.com // 44 (0)7800720127Nationalities: United Kingdom, United StatesBased in Barcelona, Spain
Experienced international social and environmental leader with international, cross-sector expertise in communications, public affairs & stakeholder engagement.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Leadership, management, sustainable teams & purpose-driven organisations.
Social & environmental trends & the future of work, activism, advocacy.
Risk & reputation management, crisis prevention, PR, political communications.
Experienced spokesperson, facilitator, published author and lecturer; host and producer of ‘The Discomfort Practice’ podcast, published weekly).
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY & KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
July 2020 Author, Communicating Social & Environmental Issues Effectively
I was asked to write a book, based on my expertise and trainings. 'Communicating Social and Environmental Issues Effectively' was published by Emerald Publishing and the UK PR Communications Association (PRCA) as part of its Practice Guide Series. Emerald Publishing calls it ‘The definitive guide to planning and delivering great communications on complex social and environmental issues’ and a useful, practical step-by-step framework for leaders and communicators in any sector.
September 2013 - present Founder / Director Betsy Reed StrategyI work with leaders and their teams in a range of sectors to inspire, challenge and support them in grappling with complex issues, to then create innovative and practical solutions. My current focus is primarily on resilience, wellbeing, equality issues and sustainable leadership. Recent clients have included Tesco (global), BT Openreach (UK), Allstream (Canada), Grupo Bimbo (global) and CHANGE Festival (UK).
November 2020 - present Head Tutor, Cambridge Institute of Sustainability Leadership (CISL) 'Communicating for Influence & Impact' short course
I was invited to work with Cambridge University’s Institute of Sustainability Leadership to mentor and support senior professionals studying to change career or integrate sustainability into their current role, through courses like ‘Communicating for Influence and Impact.’ I also lead and manage a team of tutors and assessors.
October 2020 - present Lecturer, Blanquerna - Universitat Ramon LlullI develop and deliver lectures on ‘Activism in PR,’ leadership and political communications to the undergraduate MA in Global Communications and Diplomacy programmes. I've co-developed and deliver Seminar VII on 'Leadership, Negotiation and Advocacy' to final year students in the undergraduate programme on Global Communications Management.
August 2018 – present International Business Advisory Group member, Glasgow School for Business & Society, Glasgow Caledonia University
Invited by the School’s Principal to sit on the International Advisory Group (IAG). It brings together a small group of key experts to provide perspective on the work of one of the UK’s foremost Business Schools to deliver its mission to advance the common good.
June 2015 – present Senior Associate, Kin&Co
Kin&Co is a management consultancy that works with clients to harness the power of purpose and values. Associates are carefully curated senior experts passionate about delivering game-changing projects. I am their lead on wellbeing, behaviour change and resilient leadership and have recently developed a standardised approach to help members of the Consumer Goods Forum develop an organisational roadmap to create and embed a culture of wellbeing.
December 2015 - December 2016 Campaign Director, ‘Have You Got The Bottle?’I created and oversaw the campaign’s strategy and established a still-growing, cross-sector Scottish coalition that successfully influenced the Scottish Government to introduce a deposit return system for drinks packaging. I attended regular meetings with high-profile stakeholders including Government Ministers, allies, and the opposition (aka the packaging industry). In 2017 the Scottish Government announced a deposit return system, with the Government at Westminster following suit six months later, which was the campaign’s long-term aim.
January - November 2014 Senior Public Affairs Manager for Sustainability, Nestlé UK
I led the sustainability public affairs programme for Nestlé UK, working closely with global experts on topics such as sustainable supply chains, modern slavery, climate change and women’s empowerment. I created and represented the company’s position on related public policy, arranged stakeholder events to engage key stakeholders, served as the Co-Chair of an internal Sustainability Forum, and was responsible for involving and briefing internal senior stakeholders. I co-led a supply chain project to transform the livelihoods of a nomadic group and protect Saharan forests by changing one ingredient in an iconic product.
February 2012 – August 2013 Head of Communications & Marketing, Forum for the Future
I developed and directed a new communications strategy and team at a leading UK sustainability NGO/think tank, working closely with FTSE 250 organisations as my organisation expanded into the US, India and South East Asia. I created systems, communications channels, oversaw a brand refresh and represented the organisation at events. I also worked closely with Founder/Director Jonathon Porritt on the publication of his book 'The World We Made.'
August 2010 - January 2012 Head of Campaigns, Zero Waste Scotland
I developed and managed a high-profile, world-leading Scottish Government delivery body’s Campaigns Programme from its inception, establishing and managing a team of 15 people. I developed and launched Scotland’s national recycling campaign, ‘Recycle for Scotland’ and directed the national ‘Love Food Hate Waste’ campaign. I worked closely with circular economy leaders like the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and internal supply chain experts in the whisky and packaging industries, to help them reduce their negative environmental impact.
October 2009-September 2012 Trustee, Network for International Development Organisations in Scotland
(NIDOS - now Scotland's International Development Alliance)
Elected by membership of the Scottish international development organisation umbrella body; elected by fellow Trustees as Vice Chair, October 2009 – March 2012.
Provided strategic oversight, governance accountability, fundraising, support to the Chief Executive.
August 2007-August 2010 Director, Scottish Fair Trade Forum
As the first Director, I established governance, policies, strategies and communications channels to achieve targets for Scotland to become the world’s second Fair Trade
Nation. I created and chaired high-profile events to engage and grow our network of key allies in all sectors. I served as the face of the campaign, regularly speaking and
attending meetings with Government Ministers and VIPs, created creating partnerships with a range of sectors and raised the profile of relevant issues. I travelled to fair
trade producer communities in Africa to conduct interviews and collect stories to turn into compelling narratives to connect people in Scotland to the impact of their choices as
consumers.
EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS
January 2010 Level 5 Certificate in Leadership & Management
January 2005 MSc Nationalism Studies, University of Edinburgh
May 2003 BA Magna Cum Laude (1st Class Honours) History, Lee University (USA)