Isabel B. Franco, PhD, MA, MBAc 
​ Sustainability Strategist
Exceptional Woman in Sustainability

BIOGRAPHY

Languages: English, Spanish and Portuguese (CELPE-BRAS - Portuguese Language Certificate for Foreigners). Currently learning French.
Full Name: Isabel (Buitrago) Franco
Preferred Name: Isabel B. Franco
Nationalities: Australian; Colombian; e-Resident of Estonia
​
"My purpose is to equip corporations, governments and international organisations to generate a measurable, sustainable impact globally"
 
I am a senior advisor in sustainable development, sustainability science, policy and practice interested in exploring the role of industry in fostering sustainable, inclusive development. I do this through the development, refinement and application of sustainability assessment, methods and techniques. I have a strong academic and senior management advisory foundation, upon which I have applied sustainability principles and solutions across multiple industries, such as extractives (mining, oil and gas), gemstones, higher education, fashion, finance and banking, public sector and international development in contexts as diverse as Australia, Angola, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Japan, Peru, Thailand and Zambia. With Postdoctoral Studies from the United Nations University – Institute for the Advanced Studies of Sustainability, my work has contributed to evidence-based decision-making at various international organisations, such as, UNDP, UN ESCAP, United Nations University - Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS) and British Council where I have also held senior advisory positions supporting strategic and operational activities on large multilingual, cross-regional, cross-sectoral projects on sustainable development and sustainability broadly.  
 
I contribute to academic, quasi-academic knowledge pieces, industry and policy reports, impact research initiatives and investments intended to improve social, economic and environmental conditions and foster inclusive, sustainable development. Recent examples include the co-development of the UN ‘Socially responsible Business: A Model for a Sustainable Future and the ‘UN Corporate Agenda of Sustainable Development’ (ultimately contributing to a corporate sustainability commitment from the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China); and recommendations to improve the corporate sustainability practices of companies adhered to the UN ESCAP Business Advisory Council. My work and global engagement initiatives have been directly presented to and actioned by the UN High Level Political Forum in New York, the United Nations University – Regional Centres of Expertise for Sustainable Development as well as multinational corporations in the resource and banking and finance sectors. I have generated +60 peer reviewed outcomes in the form of journal articles, books, book chapters, policy briefs, conference papers and video documentaries, +100 public engagements worldwide and 10 supervised/advised postgraduate students.

My ongoing impact research and practice aim to understand the role of the industry achieving transformational, sustainable change at scales (around which I hope to build a global movement on sustainable development and sustainability with a gender focus). I does this through the Women Sustainability Forum, an empowering platform aimed to connect women in sustainability across the globe to deliver sustainable outcomes that link gender and sustainable development. The Forum has taken place in Australia, Japan, Colombia, Chile and Zambia and provides stakeholders with sustainability solutions and due diligence processes to foster sustainable gender inclusion across the supply chain. The Forum operates through the ‘Exceptional Women in Sustainability Network’ (eWisely). The eWisely network has 20 networks in Latin America, 11 networks in Asia-Pacific and 8 Networks in Africa.

Awardee of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Fellowship, I have six relevant qualifications, a PhD in Governance and Sustainability and Postgraduate Studies in Governance and Public Policy from The University of Queensland, Australia. Two Master degrees, in Business Administration and Educational Management. I also hold two Bachelors in Public Administration and Foreign Languages. Currently, I hold professional affiliations to the Earth System Governance, Utrecht University (Netherlands) (Research Fellow); Sustainability Science Scientific Journal (Japan) (Editor) and Australian National Development Index (ANDI) (Director). I have held academic positions at the United Nations University – Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS) (Japan), Keio University (Japan), Australian Institute for Business and Economics (AIBE) and Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland, Australia, University of Zambia (Zambia) and Universidad Nacional de Colombia (Colombia).

I have engaged in advisory, policy and research work on sustainability with various organisations, such as:

Private Sector: Industrial and Commercial Bank of China; AngloAmerican, Chile; Mineria Texas Colombia; Mineros S.A, Colombia; Continental Gold; Seafield Resources, Canada; CATOCA Diamond Mine;  Plataforma Norte; Natixis; KPMG; Macquire Infrastructure and Real Assets and Real Assets; Credit Suisse Group, Newcrest, Orica, BHP, Embassy of Peru in Australia, South Pole, MMG.

International Organisations: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and The Pacific (UNESCAP); ESCAP Business  Advisory Council (EBAC); United Nations University - Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability; British Council; International Mining for Development Centre (IM4DC) (now MEfDA), Australia-Latin America Business Council.

Universities and Think Tanks: The University of Queensland; Griffith University; University of  New South Wales; University of Hiroshima; Waseda University; Delaware University; University of Tokyo; University of Western Sydney; University of Zambia; St Xavier University, India; New Mexico State University; Central St. Martins; Bunka Fashion Collage; Universidad Catolica del Norte, Chile; Universidad Nacional de Colombia; Hiroshima University, University of Colombo, Meji Gakuin University, Utrecht University, Central Queensland University, Dublin City University, University of Colombo.

Government organisations: Brisbane City Council; Ministry of Education of Colombia;  Ministry of Geology and Mines Angola; Ministry of Development Planning of Angola. 

Civil Society Organisations:  UN Global Compact Network, Social Innovation Japan, WIM Chile

W:drisabelfranco.com ; WomenSustainability.Forum
E: connect@drisabelfranco.com
T: @DrIsabelFranco
E: connect@drisabelfranco.com 
M: +61404512757

---

INTERESTS & EXPERTISE

• Sustainable Investing and Climate Finance 
• Climate and Science Diplomacy
• Environment, Social and Governance Indicators (ESG)
• Corporate Sustainability Reporting and Performance 
• Sustainable Resource Development and Extractives (Mining, Oil, Gas and Gemstones)
• Governance for Sustainable Development, SDGs and Agenda 2030
• Gender Aspects of Sustainable Development 
• Impact Sustainability Science, Community Capacity-building and Education for Sustainable Development
• Sustainable Livelihoods and Climate Change
• Sustainable Entrepreneurship
• Sustainability and Leadership

---

EDUCATION

• 2011- 2014

​          Ph.D ‘Governance and Sustainability’, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences; Sustainable Minerals Institute
​          (UQ International Scholarship)
          The University of Queensland, Australia 

• 2020 - 2021

          Master of Business Administration (MBAc Leadership - 2020 Multicultural Scholarship (awarded by Brisbane Lord Mayor)
           CQ University, Australia 

• 2008-2010 
  MA Educational Management, University of Barcelona, Spain
• 2017

           Small Business Management, TAFE Queensland, Australia 

• 2010 
  Postgraduate Governance and Public Policy, The University of Queensland, Australia
• 2004 – 2008
  BA (Hons) Education and Languages, National University of Colombia, Colombia
• 2000- 2006
  BA (Hons) Public Administration, School of Public Administration and Political Sciences (ESAP), Colombia

---

CAREER

• 04/2021 - present  (Utrecht, Netherlands)

​           Research Fellow
           Earth System Governance, Utrecht University (Netherlands)

• 10/2014 - present  (Estonia)

           Global Chairperson
​           Women Sustainability Forum

• 01/2022 - present  (Brisbane, Australia)

           Director
​           Australian Development Index
           Sustainability Science Journal

• 04/2021 - present  (Tokyo, Japan)

​           Scientific Editor
           Sustainability Science Journal                                                                                                                       

• 09/2019 - 2021  (Brisbane, Australia)

           Research Fellow
           Australian Institute for Business and Economics 
           The University of Queensland

• 09/2017 – 2019  (Tokyo, Japan)                                                                                                                                                                             

           Researcher
          'Project Lead: Global Stakeholder Networks for Impact Sustainability Education and Research - Funded by Postdoctoral 
           Fellowship JSPS-UNU-IAS. United Nations University, Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS)

• 10/2014 – 2017 (Thailand, Asia & Remotely)
  International Consultant & Lead Researcher 
  United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)

• 10/2015 – 04/2016 (Angola, Africa)
  International Consultant
  United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
• 05/2017 – 05/2018 (Brisbane, Australia)
  Adjunct Research Fellow
  Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland, Australia
• 12/2016 – 05/2017 (Brisbane, Australia)
  Research Scholar
  School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland
  Business School, The University of Queensland​
• 11/2010 – 10/2014 (Brisbane, Australia)
  Research Scholar
  Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland
• 08/2008- 06/2010
  Consultant (Bogota, Colombia)
  British Council – Ministry of Education of Colombia
• 06/2006 - 06/2008

            ​Lecturer (Bogota, Colombia)
​            School of Human Sciences, Universidad Nacional de Colombia 

• 11/2000 -05/2006

           Research Assistant (Bogota, Colombia)
            School of Administrative and Political Science 
​            Escuela Superior de Administración Publica Colombia

• 04/2021 - present  (Utrecht, Netherlands)

​           Research Fellow
           Earth System Governance, Utrecht University (Netherlands)

---

 PROFESSIONAL & ACADEMIC AFFILIATIONS ​

• 2020 

          Guest Lecturer (Sustainable Development)
          University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

• 2017 - 2019 

          Postdoctoral Researcher 
          Keio University, Japan

• 2018-present 

​           Contributing Author - United Nations International Resource Panel Report: Land Restoration for Achieving the SDGs Report
           United Nations International Resource Panel​

• 05/ 2017 – 05/2018 
  Adjunct Research Fellow
  Sustainable Minerals Institute, Centre for Water in the Mining Industry, The University of Queensland, Australia
• 2018
  Guest Lecturer (Education for Sustainable Mining)
  University of Zambia
• 2018
  Guest Lecturer  (Women in Global Mining and Sustainability)
  Universidad Catolica de Chile
• 2015

​          Guest Lecturer (Mining and Natural Resource Management)
          School of Mines, Universidad Nacional de Colombia

• 2013-2016
  Fellow Member
  Global Change Institute, Australia
• 2013-2016
  Guest Lecturer (Sustainable Resource Governance)
  The University of Queensland, Australia

• 10/2012 – 03/2014
  Researcher
  Minerals and Energy for Development Alliance, Australia

• 2015
  Guest Lecturer (Sustainable Resource Governance)
  Universidad Autonoma de Mexico
• 2014-2011
  Global Leader
  The University of Queensland, Australia 
• 2011
  International Ambassador
  Brisbane City Council, Australia

---

RESEARCH GRANTS 

• 2017-2019 - Project: Global Stakeholder Networks for Impactful Sustainability Research and Education

​              Status: Concluded
              Dr. Isabel B. Franco,  Principal Investigator
              Funding Body: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), Postdoctoral Fellowship for Foreign Researchers
              Funding: JPY 10,850,000
              Partners: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS); United Nations University - Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability; Keio University, School of Governance and Media

• 2017 - Project: Photo Documentary Research Grant: It is not just a Women's Issue 

               Status: Concluded
             Role: Dr. Isabel B. Franco,  Principal Investigator
               Funding body: Mineros S.A 
               Funding: US 3,000
               Partners: Mineros S.A, Exceptional Women in Sustainability (eWisely) 

• 2015 -  Project: Decentralisation, Corporate Community Development and Resource Governance: A Comparative Analysis of Two Mining Regions in Colombia

​                Status: Concluded
                Dr. Isabel B. Franco,  Principal Investigator
               Funding body: The University of Queensland, Sustainable Minerals Institute, Writing Fellowship
               Funding: AUD 5,000
               Partners: Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland

• 2012 – 2013 - Project: Artisanal Mining and Livelihoods

​                Status: Concluded 
             Role: Dr. Isabel B. Franco,  Principal Investigator
                Funding body: International Mining for Development Centre (IM4DC), Student Action Research Grant
                Funding: AUD 20,000
                Partners: International Mining for Development Centre, Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland

• 2013 - Project: The Global-local interface: Governance Dynamics for Sustainable Human Capital Capacity-building in Colombian Mining Regions

​                Status: Concluded
               Role: Dr. Isabel B. Franco, Principal Investigator 
                Funding body: The University of Queensland, Field Research Travel grant – School of Earth and Environmental Sciences​
                Funding: AUD 3,000
                Partners: The University of Queensland, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences​ (SEES)

• 2011 - Project: Community Capacity-building and a Social License to Operate in the Mining Industry

​                Status: Concluded
               Role: Dr. Isabel B. Franco, Principal Investigator 
               Funding body: The University of Queensland, International Conference Grant, Sustainable Minerals Institute
               Funding: AUD 3,000
               Partners: Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland

• 2011 - Project: Socially Responsible Business: A Model for a Sustainable Future
  Status: Concluded

               Role: Dr. Isabel B. Franco, Principal Investigator 
               Funding body: United Nations ESCAP and The University of Queensland, Travel grant – SEES

               Funding: AUD 2,000
               Partners:  United Nations ESCAP, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences​​, The University of Queensland

• 2011-2014 - Project: Enhancing Human Capital in Resource Regions - The Colombian Case

             Status: Concluded
                Role: Dr. Isabel B. Franco, Principal Investigator 
             Funding body: The University of Queensland, UQ International Scholarship (UQI)
                Funding: AUD 92,000
                Partners: The University of Queensland

• 2010-2011 - Project: Education for CSR in Mining Regions

               Status: Concluded
               Role: Dr. Isabel B. Franco, Principal Investigator 
               Funding body: The University of Queensland, Sustainable Minerals Institute - Summer Research Scholarship
                Funding: AUD 3,000
               Partners: Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland 

---

AWARDS

• 2017, 2020 
  Multicultural Scholarship, International Business, Brisbane City Council
• 2018
  Exceptional Woman of the Year (Awarded to Women Leaders in their fields)
  Women Economic Forum, India
• 2015
  TEDxUQ Talk Speaker: “Beautiful women: The Ugly Reality”, Australia
• 2014
  Best Sessional Lecturer
  Humanities and Social Science School (HASS), The University of Queensland, Australia
• 2014
  Global Leader Award
  The University of Queensland, Australia
• 2011-2012
  International Student Ambassador for Colombia
  Brisbane City Council (Appointed by Brisbane’s Lord Mayor), Australia 
• 2001 - 2005
  Honour Tuition 3rd, 5th & 10th Term (Highest GPA) 2001 and 2005
  School of Public Administration and Political Sciences (ESAP), Colombia