Chanel Strengthens Leadership at Fondation Chanel with Emphasis on Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

Chanel has announced key leadership appointments at its independent charity, Fondation Chanel, which is dedicated to empowering women and girls globally. This initiative aligns closely with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

New Leadership Appointments

1. Annika Freyer has been appointed as President of Fondation Chanel, effective September 8. She will report directly to Leena Nair, Chanel’s Global CEO, and collaborate closely with the foundation’s board and teams.
2. Elizabeth Broderick, an existing trustee, has been named independent Chair of the Board as of July 1.

Background and Experience of New Leaders

• Annika Freyer was the inaugural CEO of the Champions of Change Coalition, focusing on accelerating gender equality. She brings over 20 years of experience in public and private sectors, including leadership roles at the United Nations Development Program, The Earth Institute at Columbia University, and various international NGOs.
• Elizabeth Broderick is a human rights lawyer and a globally recognized leader in cultural change. She has conducted over 35 independent reviews of national and global institutions and served as a UN Special Rapporteur and co-lead of the UN Global Compact’s Leadership Group on Women’s Empowerment Principles.

Transition in Leadership Roles

• Kate Wylie, currently President and Chair of Fondation Chanel as well as Chanel’s Global Chief Sustainability Officer, will focus exclusively on Chanel’s sustainability transformation from September onward while remaining on the foundation’s board.

Foundation Growth and Impact

Since its establishment in 2011, Fondation Chanel has rapidly expanded to become one of the largest organizations worldwide dedicated to promoting the safety, social, and economic autonomy of women and girls. Key achievements include:

• Supporting over 250 partners across 60 countries.
• Positively impacting more than 9 million women and girls.
• Increasing annual funding to $125 million.

Focus on Sustainable Development Goals

Fondation Chanel’s work strongly supports several SDGs, with particular emphasis on:

• SDG 5: Gender Equality – Empowering women and girls to shape their destinies and achieve social and economic autonomy.
• SDG 13: Climate Action – Supporting women-led climate resilience initiatives.
• SDG 15: Life on Land – Promoting biodiversity and ecosystem restoration through mangrove reforestation projects.

Women-Led Climate Resilience Initiatives

Under Kate Wylie’s leadership, Fondation Chanel has committed over $50 million to partners focused on women-led climate resilience. A notable project includes collaboration with the Nature Environment & Wildlife Society, which has helped women plant 16 million mangroves since 2011. These mangroves contribute to:

• Enhancing biodiversity.
• Reducing erosion and flood risks.
• Improving economic and climate resilience.

A group known as the Green Brigade has successfully restored more than 1,000 hectares of mangrove forests in the Sundarbans region of eastern India. This initiative exemplifies the integration of gender empowerment with environmental sustainability.

Statements from Leadership

“Women are at the heart of Chanel, and where women thrive, the world thrives,” said Kate Wylie, emphasizing the foundation’s commitment to gender equality and climate action.

“Women are leading this work. They are having an impact on the climate and on their communities and also creating a source of income,” Wylie added regarding the Green Brigade’s efforts.

Conclusion

Chanel’s strategic leadership appointments and expanded funding at Fondation Chanel reinforce the company’s commitment to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. By empowering women and supporting climate resilience, the foundation contributes significantly to global efforts for a more equitable and sustainable future.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • The article highlights Fondation Chanel’s focus on empowering women and girls worldwide to shape their destinies, promoting females’ safety, social and economic autonomy.
   • Leadership roles and initiatives aimed at accelerating progress on gender equality are emphasized.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Chanel’s commitment to women-led climate resilience and restoration of mangrove forests addresses climate change mitigation and adaptation.
   • Efforts to enhance biodiversity, reduce erosion and flood risks, and improve economic and climate resilience are mentioned.
3. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Restoration of mangrove forests contributes to the sustainable management of terrestrial ecosystems and biodiversity conservation.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.
   • Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making.
   • Target 5.a: Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
   • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning.
3. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Target 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services.
   • Target 15.2: Promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. SDG 5 Indicators
   • Proportion of women in leadership positions (implied by leadership roles and empowerment initiatives).
   • Number of women and girls positively impacted by Fondation Chanel’s programs (over 9 million mentioned).
   • Number of partners and countries supported (250 partners in 60 countries).
2. SDG 13 Indicators
   • Amount of funding committed to women-led climate resilience initiatives (more than $50 million).
   • Extent of climate resilience projects led by women (e.g., restoration of mangroves).
3. SDG 15 Indicators
   • Hectares of mangrove forests restored (more than 1,000 hectares).
   • Number of mangroves planted (16 million mangroves planted since 2011).
   • Improvement in biodiversity, erosion, and flood risk reduction (implied outcomes).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: wwd.com