In most industries, supply chains are incredibly complex and opaque, and rely on a vast array of suppliers, contractors, and labor pools. Lack of transparency in workplaces far-flung from corporate headquarters can expose companies, workers, and consumers to the risk of human trafficking, child labor, and dangerous, degraded conditions. This session will take a close look at partnerships between social entrepreneurs and corporate giants. We’ll see how more responsible sourcing, transparency, and governance can ensure fair and humane livelihoods for workers and better stability for companies.
Shawn MacDonald is CEO of Verité, a civil society organization that promotes workers’ rights in global supply chains through research, consulting, training, assessments, and policy advocacy. Shawn has broad international experience in labor rights, social entrepreneurship, workplace health, and multi-sector partnerships from his roles as Director of Accreditation at the Fair Labor Association; Vice President of Ashoka; Senior Advisor at Meridian Group International; and co-founder of the Development and Employment Policy Project. He also worked for a variety of civil society initiatives in Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe. He holds a Ph.D. from George Mason University’s Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution and an AB in History from Harvard University.
Vice President Product Quality and Responsible Sourcing, Target
Irene Quarshie is a vice president in Target Corporation’s global sourcing organization. She leads a global team of 300+ team members, and is responsible for product quality and responsible sourcing. Her team’s purpose is to ensure Target’s vendors and suppliers operate efficient, safe and ethical factory environments where they can produce safe, reliable, high-quality products.
Previously, Irene was Target’s Director of Government Affairs where she oversaw all government affairs activities at state and local levels nationwide. She has held other leadership positions during her tenure at Target, including Senior Group Manager of Corporate Risk and Responsibility and Group Manager of Supplier Diversity.
Prior to Target, Irene spent five years as a strategy and management consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton, and three years in the government affairs industry.
Among her many affiliations, Irene serves as on the Board of Directors of the YWCA of Minneapolis, Meet Minneapolis, The Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts, and the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Her graduate paper on juvenile justice was published in A Comparative Perspective on Major Social Problems. She holds a B.A. in political science from Adelphi University and Master’s in Public Policy from American University.
Nina Smith is an award-winning leader and founding Chief Executive Officer of GoodWeave International (GoodWeave), the leading international NGO working to stop child labor in global supply chains. At GoodWeave's helm from 1999 to 2023, Nina pioneered a market-led model that has reduced child labor at scale in select sectors by shining a light on the most vulnerable supply chain workers; stopping abuse; and addressing root causes. A Skoll and Schwab Foundation Awardee, Nina advocates for child and worker rights through her writing, public speaking and the boards she serves, including The Fair Labor Association and the Better Buying Institute. Nina is also winner of the Tufts University Alumni Award for Active Citizenship and Public Service and the Center for Nonprofit Advancement’s EXCEL Award for excellence in chief executive leadership, and is a member of Elluminate’s Women’s Leadership Collective.
As Partner in the Working Capital Fund, Dan engages and supports entrepreneurs in pursuit of innovative tools to scale improvements for marginalized workers in global supply chains. He is an award-winning social entrepreneur and leader in supply chain innovation, having led Verite for fifteen years. He began his career in China where he established two international NGOs. Dan is a graduate of Yale University, has an MA from the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs and a certificate in Chinese from Nanjing Teacher’s University.
Marika is Human Rights Director at Mars, Incorporated. She leads global human rights strategy, policy, guidance, external engagement, and governance, collaborating with groups across the Mars business and value chain to advance respect for human rights. This work focuses on human rights in Mars operations, in Mars first-tier supplier workplaces, and in extended supply chains to origin level. It includes action on priority issues such as modern slavery and child labor. Marika co-chairs the Consumer Goods Forum’s task-force on forced labor and is a member of The Aspen Institute’s Leaders Forum.
Previously, Marika spent ten years at The Coca-Cola Company where she led sustainability and public affairs partnerships, policies and programs. Prior to joining Coca-Cola, she worked for Oxfam America on economic development and human rights in Washington DC and Southeast Asia. She received her Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Marika is from Hawaii and has lived in Cambodia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. She is now based at Mars headquarters in Washington DC.
