Exploring the Opportunities & Challenges of CSDDD: A Multi-Stakeholder Perspective

Philippe Adriaenssens is Policy Director at the European Round Table for Industry (ERT), where he is responsible for single market, energy policy, competitiveness and reducing the reporting burden. He has been the driving force behind the publication 'Renewing the Dynamic of European Integration: Single Market Stories from business leaders' as well as ERT’s recent Technical Study and Compendium of 100+ Single Market obstacles, gathering a coalition of 25 European business associations. He is also a staunch advocate for EU Industrial Policy to focus on slashing costs for companies, such as the reduction of reporting burdens.

Philippe has 15+ years of professional experience in EU affairs. He worked previously in the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and various consulting firms. He was President of the Young European Federalists (JEF-Europe) and graduated from College of Europe in Bruges.

Barbara Baka is a Counsellor at the Permanent Representation of Poland to the EU who will present the views of the Polish Presidency. Ms Baka. As an accomplished Deputy Director with a strong background in government administration, Barbara has been at the forefront of shaping Poland’s engagement with EU policies, particularly in economic and sustainability matters. With her expertise in strategic negotiations, decision-making, and investment management, she has played a critical role in advancing Poland’s position on key issues within the European Union.

With over 15 years of experience in the luxury industry, Diana has worked with renowned brands such as LVMH, Richemont, Cartier, and Prada. With a deep understanding of the luxury sector's key value drivers, Diana has specialized in supply chain management, traceability solutions, and sustainable business models, particularly within watches and jewelry Maisons. As the founder of her consultancy firm launched in early 2023, Diana focuses on innovation for sustainable luxury, aiming to create a positive impact on the planet and society. She leads a multidisciplinary team of supply chain and sustainability experts, leveraging a robust network of partners and industry connections to help luxury key players anticipate and comply with evolving EU regulations.

Rachel joined Chevron in 2014 and headed the EU Affairs office in Brussels. In her current role she is responsible for managing European policy relating to ESG issues, engagement with Europe-based investors and the financial community, and civil society engagement. Previously, she was responsible for leading and advancing the company’s sustainability reporting, human rights policy, and emerging ESG issues. Rachel began her career in government relations with internships in Washington DC, before working as a consultant (Brussels, Jakarta), and then in EU Affairs for Norsk Hydro (now Equinor). Before joining Chevron, she was Deputy Director with the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP), the global upstream association. Rachel holds a BA in English Literature and American Studies from the University of Wales, Swansea, and an MPhil in International Relations from Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Outside of work, Rachel enjoys travel, hiking, cycling and yoga.

Philippe Ducom has been appointed President, ExxonMobil Europe since August 1, 2018. He is based in Machelen, Belgium. Philippe joined Exxon Chemical France in 1989 as an engineer at the Notre-Dame de Gravenchon Chemical plant in Seine-Maritime. Between 1989 and 2018, he held various positions in manufacturing, business analysis, planning, sales and marketing, supply chain and general management in Europe, the United States, Japan and Saudi Arabia. Philippe was born in Rueil-Malmaison in France and attended secondary school in Grenoble (Isere). He graduated from Ecole Polytechnique and Ecole des Mines de Paris. 

Gabrielle is the Senior Vice-President for European Public Affairs and serves as the High Representative of the Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies to the European Institutions. With advanced studies in engineering and sciences, she has held senior management roles in both the public sector and within French and European companies across various industries, including telecommunications and media, finance, energy, and infrastructure. She is a board member of Gecina and Gfi and is also a member of the French Academy of Technologies.

Allan Jorgensen is Head of the OECD Centre for Responsible Business Conduct and leads the work of the OECD to develop and promote global standards for responsible business through international cooperation, public policy development and global supply chains.  Allan has two decades of experience working on sustainable business and finance in both the private and public sectors. Prior to joining the OECD he was Head of Sustainable Trade at global logistics giant A.P. Moller-Maersk where he led the company's work on inclusive trade and responsible business practices. Prior to this, he served as Head of Human Rights and Business at the Danish Institute for Human Rights, working with multinationals, governments, multilateral bodies and civil society organisations to promote responsible and sustainable business. He served for a number of years on the sustainability advisory board of the Investment Fund for Developing Countries.  A Danish national, Allan Jorgensen holds degrees in Political Science from the University of Copenhagen (Denmark) and in International Conflict Analysis from the University of Kent at Canterbury (UK). 

Noëlle Lenoir focuses her practice on competition law, public business law and economic regulations, at the national and European level. She has a solid experience in data protection law, confidential business information law and on the blockage statute.She served as French Minister of European Affairs from 2002 to 2004, and beforehand she was the first woman – and youngest person ever – to have served on the French Constitutional Court (1992 to 2001).

She has been a member of the Conseil d’Etat since 1984.She chaired the EU Group of Ethics for Science & New Technology (EGE) between 1994 and 2001, as well as the International Committee on Bioethics of UNESCO, which drafted the Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights Declaration endorsed by the United Nations in 1998. She is a member of the American Law Institute and the French Academy of Technologies. Noëlle speaks French and English. She is admitted to the Paris Bar.

Andrei Marcu has vast experience in managing policy-focused organisations, creating partnerships, managing stakeholder relations and fundraising. His focus has been on sustainable development, climate change and energy. In different capacities, he has been engaged in multilateral negotiating processes and subsequent implementation action, both at the global and sectorial level. He has acted as negotiator for developing countries, coordinator for the G-77 and China, and as representative of the international business community.  He pioneered cooperation between the UN system and multinational corporations when serving as Manager of Private Sector Cooperation in the United Nations Development Programme.  

  During his career, he has performed at the highest managerial level, both in business organisations and in non-profit organisations. This includes: Sr. Vice President and Head of Regulatory and Policy Affairs at Mercuria Energy Group; CEO of Bluenext, a Paris based exchange; Managing Director for Climate & Energy at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)  in charge of Energy and Climate and as Vice Chair of the Energy and Environment Commission of the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris; Senior Associate to the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD), Senior Advisor on Climate Change and Emissions Trading at Bennett Jones LLP in Canada; Founder, President and CEO of the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA), a business association with offices in Geneva, Brussels, Washington and Toronto. He founded the organisation and made it into one of the leading global business NGOs and the voice of business in its field. He initiated his career in Ontario Hydro, where among other responsibilities, he served as Chief of Staff for the Chairman & CEO. 

François-Régis Mouton de Lostalot-Lassalle is the Managing Director of IOGP Europe. With over 30 years of experience in the energy sector, he has gained a profound understanding of the impact oil and gas—and energy in general—have had and will continue to have on the functioning and development of societies.

He recognizes the critical role energy will play in the years ahead, not only in shaping our standard of living but also in addressing climate concerns. Throughout his career, François-Régis has worked with a diverse range of organizations and institutions, broadening his perspective on the role of oil and gas in society and the importance of ensuring these resources are used responsibly to meet the challenges of today’s world.

His passion and dedication to his work have led him to his current role as Regional Director for Europe at the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP) in Brussels. He has enjoyed this opportunity for the past six years, particularly thanks to the exceptional team of talented and driven individuals he works with at IOGP.

For more than a decade at BusinessEurope, Pedro Oliveira is the Legal Director of the organisation. Beyond leading the legal department, he deals with company law and corporate governance, consumer law and access to justice. He has been a member of different European Commission expert/stakeholder/advisory groups on consumer law, dispute resolution, European contract law and insolvency law. Pedro also worked at the College of Europe in Bruges and is a fully qualified lawyer having worked in litigation and compliance in Portugal. He holds a degree in law from Universidade Nova de Lisboa, a master in bank law from Lisbon University and a master in European law from the Université libre de Bruxelles. Pedro’s mother tongue is Portuguese and he speaks fluent English, Dutch, French and Spanish. 

Monica Ospina is the Principal Advisor of Communities and Social Performance for the Americas at Rio Tinto and an ESG Sustainability advisor for ARPEL. She is a recognized expert in the Americas and the Caribbean, with extensive experience in socio-economic development and ESG strategies. Monica focuses on delivering innovative solutions that enhance operational productivity, foster community trust, and create value for stakeholders and shareholders.

Her work in local procurement and supply chains has been recognized by the IFC-World Bank, where she also contributed to the Guide for Early Stakeholder Engagement. In 2020, she was named a Distinguished Lecturer by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) and was included in the prestigious WIM100 - Women in Mining list in 2022.

In academia, Monica has led the ESG module in the Mining Industry Management program at the University of Toronto and has delivered lectures on Social Responsibility for Mining Engineering. She also serves as a Guest Lecturer on Social Risk and Stakeholder Communication at the Colorado School of Mines and Colorado State University.

Monica holds a B.A. in Business Administration from Universidad del Rosario (Colombia) and a Master’s in Diplomatic Studies from the University of Westminster (UK). She has completed advanced studies in Sustainability Management at Harvard University and International Business Strategy at the London School of Economics.

With over 14 years of experience, Gabrielle brings a unique blend of expertise in sustainability and EU policymaking, enhanced by a diverse cultural background. As a seasoned professional, she has successfully implemented HRDD (Human Rights Due Diligence) programs and collaborated with government institutions, NGOs, corporations, and international development organizations across various sectors. Her focus has been on applying social and environmental sustainability methodologies to drive positive change. In addition to her hands-on experience, she has a deep understanding of ESG principles, sustainable finance frameworks, and the complexities of EU policymaking. This knowledge, coupled with her extensive network within the industry, allows her to navigate the evolving landscape of sustainability and contribute to effective policy implementation.

Throughout her career, she has maintained a strong track record of delivering sustainability-related projects while building strong relationships with key stakeholders. She is passionate about creating a lasting impact by aligning business practices with environmental and social responsibilities.

Alexander Vandenberghe is the Head of Innovation for WindEurope, leading the association's work on innovation and sustainability. He has over 8 years of professional experience in renewable energy and research policy, sustainability, and international cooperation. For five years he managed the European Technology and Innovation Platform on Wind Energy, the European wind energy sector’s main body to identify and promote common research and innovation priorities for industry and academia.

Dr. Ivana Zuzul oversees the U.S. Chamber of Chamber’s Europe portfolio in energy and sustainability, financial services, defense, and trade. She also leads the Chamber's Ukraine Business Initiative, aimed at creating enabling conditions for the economic recovery and modernization of Ukraine.  Prior to joining the Chamber in 2022, Dr. Zuzul worked in international consulting in for over a decade, focusing on energy, defense, infrastructure, and technology projects and investments. She led Four Corners Global Consulting, a boutique strategic consultancy, and worked as a Senior Advisor for International Trade at Baker Hostetler LLP and with Monitor Group in emerging markets. Dr. Zuzul was part of a team that founded the first private University in Croatia under the auspices of UNESCO.  Dr. Zuzul attended Princeton University and the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. She holds a Ph.D. in International Law and Economics from Bocconi University.