The Solar Stewardship Initiative (SSI) is proud to announce the official formation of its multi-stakeholder Board, marking a new phase in its evolution as the leading global ESG and traceability assurance mechanism for the solar industry.
The new governance structure ensures equal representation between the industry and non-industry board members. The newly appointed six non-industry Board members were elected by the Stakeholder Advisory Group (SAG) and bring diverse expertise and experience across human rights, ESG due diligence, sustainable finance, and civil society engagement.
The SSI Board now consists of 12 voting members, representing industry and non-industry stakeholder groups:
Civil society, independent experts and institutional stakeholders
- Mehmet Bulut, Senior Energy Analyst at Greenpeace International
- Stephan Singer, Senior Advisor Global Energy Policy at Climate Action Network International (CAN International)
- Guido Agostinelli, Principal Risk Officer, Sustainable Supply Chain at International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank Group
- Malin Oud, International Human Rights Expert
- Haley St. Dennis, Head of Just Transitions Programme, Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB) – joining in an independent capacity
- Andrea Wainer, Project Manager Renewable Energy & Sustainability at REN21
Industry representatives
Buyers:
- Luis Gómez-Chavarría, Global Head of Renewable Supply Chain Contracting and Management at Iberdrola
- Susannah Wood, Vice President of Public Affairs and Sustainability for Europe at Statkraft
- Giulia Guidi, Head of ESG at NextEnergy Group
Manufacturers:
- Michiel Van Schalkwijk, Managing director Benelux at Solarwatt
- Michael Koebele, Director of Compliance at JA Solar
- Pia Alina Lange, Director of EU public affairs and policy, Trina Solar
Rachel Owens, CEO of the Solar Stewardship Initiative said: “The appointment of our new Board members from civil society, independent experts, and institutional stakeholders marks an important milestone for the Solar Stewardship Initiative. Their collective and diverse expertise in human rights, responsible sourcing, governance, and accountability will be instrumental in advancing our mission to support a just and transparent energy transition. Their leadership will strengthen SSI’s governance, driving accountability, bring fresh insight, and reinforce the integrity of our work. Crucially, their involvement will also enhance collaboration with a wider network of stakeholders—ensuring SSI remains an inclusive and trusted platform for driving systemic change across the solar value chain.”
Malin Oud, Human Rights Expert said: “I am thrilled to join the board of the Solar Stewardship Initiative. This opportunity allows me to leverage over 25 years of experience in human rights and development cooperation to contribute to responsible business practices within the global solar industry. To me, the SSI reflects John Ruggie’s call for ‘principled pragmatism,’ which is much needed in this era of geopolitical tension and competing interests and narratives.”
Mehmet Bulut, Senior Energy Analyst at Greenpeace International, said: “I’m honored to join the board of the Solar Stewardship Initiative on behalf of Greenpeace. As the solar sector continues to expand, it’s essential that its growth is rooted in environmental integrity, social equity, and transparency across the value chain. I look forward to contributing to SSI’s mission to ensure that solar development is both responsible and sustainable.”
Haley St. Dennis, Head of Just Transitions Programme at IHRB, said: “I’m pleased to join the SSI Board at a time when accountability and transparency in solar supply chains are more critical than ever. Ensuring that the clean energy transition is both fast and fair means placing human rights at the centre of the industry’s evolution. I look forward to supporting SSI’s efforts to ratchet up ambition on responsible sourcing and drive meaningful change across the solar sector.”
Guido Agostinelli, Principal Risk Officer, Sustainable Supply Chain at IFC, stated: “The International Finance Corporation is delighted to join the Solar Stewardship Initiative board. We commend the SSI’s push to drive collective action on sustainability, and we look forward to contributing to its development with other stakeholders”
This newly composed Board will guide the strategic direction of the Initiative, oversee the continued implementation of the SSI ESG and Traceability Standards, and ensure the integrity of the Initiative’s assurance system.
Andrea Wainer, Project Manager Renewable Energy & Sustainability at REN21, said:
‘I’m delighted to join the SSI board. Environmental social and economic sustainability need to be at the centre of renewables based energy systems, economies and societies.
Robust sustainability standards are key tools to ensure human rights are protected along value chains, and multi stakeholder governance is crucial to achieve the SSI’s robustness and build trust.”