Join the Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative, Vanderbilt Law School’s Private Climate Governance Lab, and the Tippie Social Impact Community for the fourth and final program in the Private Sector and the Planet series. We are pleased to welcome Jessica Hinman, Director of Sustainability & CSR at Krause Group.
In her talk, “Beyond ESG: How Environmental Governance Actually Works Inside Companies,” Jessica will move beyond the public-facing conversation about Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks, disclosure regimes, and corporate pledges to examine what happens after commitments are made. She will explore how environmental goals are translated into operational decisions across complex organizations and global supply chains, where sustainability efforts intersect with finance, procurement, legal, risk management, and day-to-day business strategy.
Drawing on her experience working in the “gray area” where environmental ambition meets practical business realities, Jessica will discuss the governance structures, accountability mechanisms, and cross-functional dynamics that determine whether initiatives gain traction or stall. The session will also consider how private-sector environmental governance evolves alongside and, sometimes ahead of, regulation, shaped by investor expectations, supply chain pressures, and emerging risks. Students will gain a practical understanding of the internal dynamics that shape corporate environmental action and the points at which future lawyers and business leaders can exert meaningful influence.
Registration is now open. Event information will be updated here: https://heli.law.uiowa.edu/privatesectorandtheplanet . Register using the form here: https://uiowa.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3gDYPADKKRDsXps
About the Series:
The Private Sector and the Planet: Environmental Governance Across Industries is a year long speaker series exploring the critical role of private environmental governance in addressing 21st-century challenges. Hosted by the Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative at the University of Iowa College of Law in collaboration with Vanderbilt Law School’s Private Climate Governance Lab and the Tippie College of Business’ Social Impact Community, the series features corporate leaders and change makers who are driving environmental efforts across diverse industries, including agriculture, energy, healthcare, and transportation. The four speakers in this series will be hosted in person between Nashville and Iowa City, while being live-streamed simultaneously to engage students, faculty, practitioners, and community members nationwide. The full list of speakers will be updated on this webpage: https://heli.law.uiowa.edu/privatesectorandtheplanet