Ceres Welcomes New Board Member and announces new President’s Council Chair

The Boston-based sustainability nonprofit Ceres has welcomed new members to its Board of Directors and President’s Council.    

Ceres welcomed Debbie Simpson, former CFO and Senior Advisor at Boston Consultant Group, to its Board of Directors in October 2023. Ceres’ Board comprises 25 leaders working to advance Ceres’ mission to build a cleaner, more just and sustainable world.  

Ceres also announced today that Loren Blackford, Senior Advisor at the Sierra Club, who has been serving on the President’s Council since 2014, has been named Chair of the President’s Council and began serving in this capacity in January 2024. And Ceres welcomed former Ceres Board member Tedd Saunders to the Ceres President’s Council. Ceres President’s Council members serve as ambassadors for Ceres and help to enhance the organization’s impact through direct support, expertise, and outreach. Ceres President’s Council is made up of 33 members.  

“Our incredible group of Board and President’s Council members bring critical investment and business leadership experience and expertise to Ceres, and I could not be more delighted to welcome these leaders in these new capacities to the Ceres’ community,” said Ceres CEO and President Mindy Lubber. “While we have much progress to celebrate, we have much work to do in 2024 and beyond to stabilize the climate, protect water, and conserve and restore our natural resources, while ensuring the accelerated transition to a stronger, more resilient economy is just and equitable. We have mobilized the right leaders to help deliver on our ambitious shared goals and achieve the future we all seek.” 

Meet our newest members:

• Debbie Simpson : Debbie Simpson’s career has been marked by her passion for embracing change and growth. Winner of Consulting Magazine’s Lifetime Achievement Award for 2018 Women Leaders in Consulting, Debbie has been recognized for her role in Boston Consulting Group’s continued excellence, as well as prior contributions to PwC. Her experience as a global finance and operations leader began first as a partner at PwC, and then as a senior partner at BCG, a $10+ billion business, where she worked for 20 years before retiring in June 2021. Debbie was a member of the BCG executive committee for 12 years, serving as CFO and as the Head of Global Functions. 

• Loren Blackford : Loren Blackford is a Senior Advisor at the Sierra Club, having previously served as President, Interim Executive Director, and Treasurer, as well as Chair of the Sierra Club Foundation Board and Investment Committee. She has worked on community development and sustainability at the local, national and international levels. This included serving as an advisor to a coalition of foundations, financial institutions and HUD (Living Cities) as they mobilized resources and support for green jobs, transportation-oriented development and healthy, sustainable affordable housing. 

•  Tedd Saunders: Tedd R. Saunders is CEO of EcoLogical Solutions Inc. and Chief Sustainability Officer of The Saunders Hotel Group. Tedd is often credited with pioneering luxury urban ecotourism worldwide. Since 1989, he’s been recognized for creating some of the most innovative sustainability models in the travel and tourism industry. In 1992 Tedd formed EcoLogical Solutions, which has advised The White House, HRH The Prince of Wales’ Business Leaders Forum, Harvard University, Taj Hotels of India, Choice Hotels International and properties around the globe. 

In joining Ceres, they said:  

“I am so proud to join a team with such a passion for change against a stiff set of challenges,” said Simpson.  “Ceres takes on this challenge by helping investors, companies, and government find effective ways to move us to a more just and sustainable world, and I look forward to contributing to such a positive mission.” 

“In my time on the President’s Council, I have seen firsthand how Ceres and its powerful networks have helped leaders anticipate what is coming and look out for their constituents, shareholders and communities.” said Blackford. “I am deeply honored to be chairing the President’s Council and joining the Board of this terrific organization!” 

“Having proudly served the Board for over 20 years, I am amazed by and deeply admire Ceres’ incredible impact year after year,” said Saunders. “I’m thrilled to continue my involvement as a President’s Council member and remain deeply dedicated to help Ceres’ mission to change the world in every way.” 

Learn more about the Ceres Board of Directors and the Ceres President’s Council. 

Ceres is a nonprofit organization working with the most influential capital market leaders to solve the world’s greatest sustainability challenges. Through our powerful networks and global collaborations of investors, companies and nonprofits, we drive action and inspire equitable market-based and policy solutions throughout the economy to build a just and sustainable future. For more information, visit ceres.org and follow @CeresNews.