Bios
Jessica Grillo, Founder and CEO
Jessi serves as strategist, thought-partner, advisor, facilitator and technical expert to initiatives that are linked to regenerative and ecological production, carbon markets, and other ecosystem services markets. Her focus is on ensuring and demonstrating that quality, transparency and social equity are front and center.
Jessi's professional journey started in disaster risk analysis and food security, where she saw first-hand the devastation caused by economic inequities and associated ecosystem destruction. She has been fortunate to have brilliant mentors and teachers from all walks of life who have helped keep her on a path toward solutions that address both social and ecosystem injustices.
In 2019, Jessi created Heartwood LLC, initially to work with companies on human rights and social and economic equity in sustainable agriculture, forestry and manufacturing. In 2022 she refocused on social justice in ecosystem services markets - believing whole-heartedly that direct finance to indigenous peoples and community-led initiatives is key to addressing our most pressing global challenges.
During her 20 year professional career, Jessi has worked as a consultant and staff in a variety of sectors. She served 4 years as the Director of Livelihoods for the USAID Famine Early Warning System (FEWS NET), where she led the team responsible for modeling the impact of climate shocks on the livelihoods and resiliency of populations to inform preparedness by international relief agencies. She served 6 years as the Senior Advisor of Social Science and Human Rights for Rainforest Alliance, where she worked with regional teams and companies on social and economic strategies for landscape-scale initiatives. Jessi has consulted for companies in the voluntary carbon market, such as Wildlife Works and Everland LLC; dozens of global companies in the agriculture and manufacturing sector; government agencies and federal enterprises such as IDH, USAID and GIZ; and several non-profit organizations and standard systems such as ISEAL Alliance, Fair Trade, and Textile Exchange. She is currently a member of the Board of Directors for Living Wage for US.
Jessi holds a Master’s Degree in International Development and Social Change from Clark University. She and her family live, play and appreciate nature in Bend, Oregon.
Jessica Grillo
Anna Buxaderas, Associate Consultant
Anna is always on a quest for the ingredients of a creative, happy and sustainable life and the recipe for a fair and just world where all living creatures can exist, thrive and flourish. Willing to re-connect with nature after twenty years of corporate work and big city living, she moved with her partner to a small rural community, between the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean sea, where she now balances her consulting work with tending a vegetable orchard and some art practice. She loves the taste of freshly picked ripen tomatoes, the sound of bells and knowing her neighbours.
During her work at different positions for multinational corporations from various sectors, Anna was responsible to develop, implement, audit and certify integrated quality, environment and health and safety management systems in Europe, South Asia, and Latin America, gaining expertise on project and team management as well as awareness on the difficulties and challenges of driving change and promoting the sustainability agenda within complex organisations.
After her MBA, she established herself as an independent consultant and, for the last 10 years, she has helped scheme owners, companies and producer organisations to improve the requirements and audit process methodologies of sustainability schemes and company codes of conduct by providing benchmark, research, gap analysis and expert advice.
Anna also works in collaboration with other small consultancy firms, where she supports the development and implementation of sustainability strategies and provides training on sustainability topics such as certifications and living wages.
Anna is happy to be an associate consultant at Heartwood, where she has worked with Jessi on the IDH Roadmap on Living Wages and other related activities.