Hannah Cunneen

Principal Programme Manager

Background

As a Principal Project Manager in the UK team, I lead the design and implementation of systems change projects that transform systems as well as organisations, focusing particularly on agricultural commodities within the Sustainable Value Chains & Livelihoods Challenge Lab. One of my key responsibilities is steering Forum’s Cotton 2040 project, an ambitious platform that aims to accelerate progress and maximise the impact of existing sustainable cotton initiatives, bringing together leading international brands and retailers, sustainable cotton standards, and other stakeholders across the value chain.

Prior to joining Forum, I worked at an international development consultancy firm, focusing primarily on private sector and market systems development across the Pacific and Melanesia, South East and South Asia, and West Africa. As a New Zealander, I have always had a special interest in agriculture, so much of my career has been focused on building inclusive and sustainable private sector agricultural markets.

I hold a double major in International Business and Commercial Law from Victoria University of Wellington (Te Herenga Waka) and I am in the final stages of completing a Masters in International Development, focusing on women’s empowerment in small-scale agricultural value chains in emerging economies, from Massey University (Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa).

Dream project

Launching a concept-to-consumer blueprint for an entirely new, large-scale agricultural product (from research through to mass consumption) which substantiates how possible it is for businesses to foster truly resilient, sustainable and inclusive agricultural value chains and thereby becoming a “norm” for the whole sector.

What floats my boat outside work?

Travelling. Trying out foods from all corners of the world and then trying to recreate them at home. I’m always on a quest to find the best flat white in town too! As an animal fanatic and lover of the outdoors, you will usually find me either stomping around a park on the weekends, in a stable, or curled up with a book and a cat.

Latest

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Explore the insights from The Business Guide to Advancing Climate Justice, co-published by Forum for the Future and B Lab U.S. and Canada, with reflections from Ksenia Benifand, American Climate Futures’ Program Director.
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There are a multitude of decarbonisation solutions and many technically possible pathways to achieving net-zero, but there is a risk that some pathways will be incremental and others may perpetuate harm to people and the planet. We enable change actors in the energy system to navigate the evolving energy landscape that is being driven by innovation in energy technologies, business models and government policy.
Reimagine Purpose

The energy transition holds the potential to shape a more equitable world, but also to perpetuate and grow existing energy, economic and social inequities. We need to reimagine the purpose of the energy system, ensuring it reflects the needs of citizens and communities and best enables a transition to a future-fit system that delivers just and regenerative outcomes.
Scale socially just, ecologically safe and regenerative RE

Scaling renewable energy offers affordable, reliable energy and fights climate change. However, unregulated deployment may bring environmental, social, and human rights issues. We collaborate with energy change actors to co-create a vision and principles for socially equitable and environmentally responsible renewable energy.

Josh Weinberg

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Libby Lyon

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Rowan Kinchin

Network Operations Director at the School of System Change
Glen Jones-Smythe

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Duncan Williams

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Ayesha Khosla

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Aditi Khurana

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Siva Balasubramanian

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Lisa Ivanow

Administrative Assistant
Nitin Kesar

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The Five Capitals - a framework for sustainability

The Five Capitals Model provides a basis for understanding sustainability in terms of the economic concept of wealth creation or ‘capital’. Any organisation will use five types of capital to deliver its products or services. A sustainable organisation will maintain and where possible enhance these stocks of capital assets, rather than deplete or degrade them.
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We are a growing organisation and we are regularly on the look out for new recruits to join our teams around the world.
For a just and regenerative future

Forum for the Future is a leading international sustainability organisation running out of offices in the UK, US, India and Singapore.
Growing our Future US

Working together to accelerate the transition to a just and regenerative agriculture system in the United States.
Sustainability and system change

Climate change, malnutrition, inequality, poverty, ecological degradation. The global challenges we face are so urgent and tricky that we need a solution to match their scale and complexity. This is where system change comes in. We use systems thinking to understand the web of interrelations that create complex problems, anticipate unintended consequences, and identify how and where to take action to meet the SDG goals.
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We reinvent strategies for a 1.5°C world. Our Net Positive approach helps business put back more into society and environment than it takes out. Unilever’s pioneering commitment to eliminate fossil fuels from its operations and directly support the generation of more renewable energy than they consume was driven behind the scenes by Forum.
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Recently, the word transportation is being replaced with mobility. Why is this happening? What’s the difference between them? And why should we care about this change?
Become a system change agent

Learn more about upcoming system change programmes and express your interest.
6 ways Unilever has achieved success through sustainability - and how your business can too

A year ago this week, Unilever launched its Sustainable Living Plan (USLP), one of the most ambitious strategies that a global company has ever embarked on. Pioneering a bold new business model, the company pledged to double in size at the same time as halving its environmental footprint.
Transforming the Purpose of Business

More and more businesses like are setting ambitious targets for positive impact on their operations, value chains and wider operating context. For more than 25 years we have partnered with businesses to navigate this complexity and design impactful solutions that deliver the deeper change that’s needed. Why not get in touch to find out more?