About the Speaker:
Maxine Bédat is the founder and director of New Standard Institute, a think and do tank using data to drive accountability in industry. She is also the author of the book, UNRAVELED: The Life and Death of a Garment, which has been longlisted for the Financial Times/ McKinsey Business Book of the Year. Prior to NSI, Maxine co-founded and was the CEO of Zady, a fashion brand and lifestyle destination creating a transparent and sustainable future for the apparel industry. For its work in sustainability, Zady was named one of the world’s “Most Innovative Companies” in retail by Fast Company. Bédat has been recognized by Oprah in her Super Soul 100, for leaders elevating humanity. She has been regularly featured as an expert by Bloomberg, the Financial Times, The New York Times, Vogue, Forbes, Business of Fashion, and CNN. Bédat began her career in international law working at the Rwandan Criminal Tribunal and Allen & Overy, and received a Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School.
The Swain Climate Action Series:
The Humphrey School of Public Affairs has launched a new Climate Policy Series honoring retired government, business, community, and University of Minnesota leader Thomas H. Swain in his 100th year.
Rather than looking backward at this point in his life, Tom is looking ahead. Alarmed by the warming of our planet, he is concerned about the fate of his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and their contemporaries as they face life-threatening environmental challenges. Swain is keen to enlist his fellow citizens in efforts to reduce the climate threat.
Answering his call to action, the Humphrey School has developed Advancing Climate Solutions. Now. The Swain Climate Policy Series, in partnership with the Institute on the Environment (IonE), to engage and energize students throughout the University of Minnesota, as well as residents across the state, to become part of the solution to climate change through policy and advocacy.
About the STEP Seminar Series
The STEP Seminar Series is an interdisciplinary platform for scholars and practitioners to discuss research and policy issues in the broad domain of science, technology, and environmental policy. The seminar series provides an informal setting for feedback and engagement with ongoing research projects and policy debates.
We invite scholars from all disciplines and practitioners working in all action arenas with connections to the fields of scholarship that shape science, technology, and environmental policy. The seminar series takes place throughout the academic year at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, typically over lunchtime on Tuesdays.