Mae Cornes
Photo Courtesy of Hanna Ye
The Institute of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (ICRS) has announced its latest fellows, naming Hanna Ye among a select group of professionals recognized for their leadership in advancing corporate sustainability worldwide. Based in San Francisco, Ms. Ye brings a cross-sector perspective shaped by her experience in climate strategy, stakeholder engagement, and supply chain decarbonization among a select group of professionals recognized for their leadership in advancing corporate sustainability. This is a field that has gained critical importance as an increasing number of corporations are set to address their environmental impact beyond direct operations.
Recognizing Global Leaders in Responsible Business
The Institute of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability is a UK-based professional body for sustainability practitioners, committed to advancing responsible business through professional standards, peer support, and industry recognition. Membership to the ICRS is available to all Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability practitioners at all stages in their careers. Those looking to join may win eligibility for Associate, Member, and Fellow level membership, which is then assessed against the elements of the institute’s competency framework by an ICRS Member.
The ICRS Fellowship is its highest level of membership, awarded to experienced professionals around the world who have demonstrated sustained impact, leadership, and ethical commitment in the field. Fellows are benchmarked against ICRS’s Competency Framework and selected through a rigorous review process. In April 2025, ICRS appointed three new board members to enhance its mission and strategic initiatives: Sima Varsani, Group Head of Sustainability and Communications at Helios Towers; David Vazquez, Head of Sustainability and London Luton Airport; and Stephanie Taviner, Environmental Manager for Corporate Responsibility at IGH Hotels & Resorts. Currently, there are over 100 current ICRS fellows globally, holding the position of director, vice president, or global head of sustainability at various industries including fortune 500 companies, banks, law firms, universities, and major consulting firms located in England, Ireland, Nigeria, China, Australia, and the United States.
As topics such as supply chain sustainability continue to evolve, ICRS provides a critical platform for shared learning and credible leadership. Fellows such as Ms. Ye help bridge policy, implementation, and strategy across sectors. She joins a distinguished network of over 100 Fellows spanning across Europe, Nigeria, China, Australia, and the United States, including Directors, Vice Presidents, and Global Heads of Sustainability at Fortune 500 companies, banks, law firms, utilities, Big Four consultancies, universities, and other entities. Her recognition from ICRS underscores the growing demand for professionals who can drive sustainability from the inside out.
A Fellowship that is Well Deserved
Supply chain sustainability remains one of the most complex challenges facing modern corporations. According to a report published in 2024 by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and CDP, the largest voluntary environmental reporting platform globally, corporates’ supply chain scope 3 emissions are 26 times higher than their operational emissions. While companies continue to advance management in their direct environmental impact, addressing emissions from suppliers requires deeper engagement, cross-functional coordination, cultural sensitivity, and sustained commitment. It demands not only technical solutions but also the ability to navigate power dynamics, build trust, and align incentives across a fragmented and diverse value chain.
Hanna Ye has taken on this challenge through multiple stages of her work. She currently serves as Manager at the Clean Energy Buyers Association, where she leads education and engagement on clean energy procurement for the global supply chain. Previously, she was one of the first hires for CDP China, engaging with first-time responders on the topic of deforestation products such as palm oil, soy, beef, and timber in this supply chain-heavy region. She was also selected as an EDF Climate Corps fellow during graduate school, developing the first-ever Sustainability Roadmap for Colgate-Palmolive to achieve net-zero emissions in its transportation and distribution supply chain. Her work is mentioned in a recent blog, “A Decade of Impact: Celebrating Ten Years of Transformative Partnerships” published on the official website of the Environmental Defense Fund.
“Whether it’s working on food and agriculture commodities, transportation fuels, or clean energy, I see how every value chain holds both deep complexity and powerful potential. Driving real impact requires collaboration across actors who don’t often speak the sme language – operational, cultural, or sectoral. But it’s in building that shared vision and aligned incentives that transformation becomes possible” Ye reflects on her career progression.
Continuing the Movement for Sustainability
Ye remains deeply committed to growing the sustainability field through both thought leadership and community-building. She has curated and moderated sessions at major climate and energy conferences such as REM Asia, CEBA Summit, and Verge, bringing together diverse voices from government, private sector, and civil society to explore real-world pathways to continued decarbonization.
As an ICRS Fellow, Ye joins a global network of changemakers who are setting new standards for responsible business. Her ongoing work reflects the very spirit of the Fellowship—translating vision into practice, fostering collaboration, and raising the bar for what sustainability leadership can achieve. Together, ICRS fellows will continue to shape the profession, contributing to a more inclusive, accountable, and resilient future.