ESG in Manufacturing 2025: An Evolving Landscape

With nearly 15 years of experience, Barjouth Aguilar serves as the Senior Director and Head of the Global Sustainability Program, as well as the Flex Foundation Officer at Flex—a diversified global manufacturing partner. In her role, Barjouth leads the advancement of Flex’s sustainability strategy, working alongside multidisciplinary teams of global subject matter experts. She oversees the company’s sustainability program, ensuring robust data management, compliance with evolving disclosure standards, and strong performance across reporting frameworks and sustainability ratings and rankings.

A key aspect of her leadership involves embedding sustainability into Flex’s core business strategy to drive long-term value creation while meeting regulatory, customer, and investor expectations. Barjouth also manages governance structures across corporate, business units, and site levels, aligning global priorities with local execution. Additionally, she directs the company’s philanthropic efforts through the Flex Foundation, strengthening community engagement and nonprofit partnerships.

Since joining Flex in 2011, Barjouth Aguilar has played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s sustainability journey. She led cross-functional efforts to standardize KPI data and establish a centralized sustainability program, laying the groundwork for Flex’s broader strategy. Her leadership has driven key milestones, including alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, publication of Flex’s first sustainability report, and acceptance into the Science Based Targets initiative. Under her guidance, Flex has earned recognition from leading rating organizations such as DJSI, MSCI, CDP, and EcoVadis. Additionally, under her leadership, the Flex Foundation has benefited hundreds of non-profit organizations across the globe.

She holds a bachelor's degree in international business from the University of Guadalajara and a master's degree in marketing with a focus on strategy from Tecnológico de Monterrey. Barjouth has also completed education in innovation at IPADE Business School in Mexico, and in sustainability through programs at the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship and UC Berkeley School of Law.

Kelsey serves as Global Sustainability, Product Stewardship & Regulatory Leader for DuPont Personal Protection, where she provides strategic direction on ESG objectives, and manages a team focused on integrating sustainability throughout the product lifecycle. She has a passion for bringing together diverse groups of stakeholders to deliver innovative solutions to complex customer challenges.

Prior to joining DuPont in 2021, Kelsey managed corporate sustainability programs in the distribution and transportation sectors. She holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute. Kelsey received a BS in Environmental Science from Drexel University and a MS in Applied Geosciences from the University of Pennsylvania. She is a graduate of the Harvard University Executive Education in Sustainability Leadership Program and lives in southern Virginia.

Leading global sustainability at Albany International, Anna is managing strategic sustainability projects that benefit the business, the environment, and Albany’s stakeholders. In addition to pursuing sustainability initiatives, this includes development of a comprehensive data collection and management system as well as an efficient governance structure and strategy. Anna is also responsible for effective internal and external communication around sustainability, including sustainability disclosures and reporting.

The role builds on Anna’s previous work in both consulting and asset management which provide experience in the technical elements of sustainability and stakeholder engagement as well as the investor perspective and the importance of clear and transparent communication. As a consultant Anna worked in environmental assessment and remediation and environmental and social impact assessment throughout Asia Pacific and the U.S. At Impax Asset Management, Anna worked in business development and product management, supporting clients through communication of Impax’s investment and ESG/sustainability approach as well as its equity, diversity and inclusion work.

As an attorney, Lynn offers her expertise in law, risk management, ethics & compliance, strategic planning, and board management for the CFO and Legal & Compliance Communities at Manufacturers Alliance.

Lynn comes to the Manufacturers Alliance with almost a decade of association education experience. She worked as the Vice President of Education and Events at ARMA International and as the Associate Director of Education at the American Association for Justice. She earned her law degree at New England Law | Boston and her Bachelors at Mount St Mary's University. Lynn volunteers her time as a board member of her local Meals on Wheels chapter and is happiest with her partner and their son in picturesque Ithaca, New York.

Based in Washington, D.C., Karishma Shah Page is a member of the firm's Public Policy and Law practice. Karishma concentrates her practice on federal legislative and regulatory policy, focusing on tax, financial services, healthcare, employee benefits, and workforce issues.

Karishma develops and implements a variety of advocacy strategies to advance client objectives, both from a Congressional and administrative perspective. In particular, she leads complex, multifaceted policy campaigns incorporating lobbying, coalitions and third-party advocates, grassroots and grasstops strategies, and traditional and new media. Additionally, she has experience building, managing, and working with coalitions.

Karishma counsels clients with respect to the key legislative and regulatory developments that impact their operations. In addition to Karishma’s work advocating for clients’ policy objectives, she advises clients on mitigating policy and political risk. Her clients include Fortune 500 companies, trade and member associations, and tax-exempt entities.

Julie Rizzo is a partner in the firm's Capital Markets practice group. Julie has substantial experience representing companies in a variety of capital markets and corporate governance matters. She focuses her practice on advising clients on SEC reporting and disclosure issues; stock exchange compliance; and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) matters. She also regularly assists clients on a variety of capital market transactions.

Julie’s prior professional experience brings a unique perspective to clients. By spending over six years in an in-house role at a large, New York Stock Exchange listed technology company, Julie has an understanding of the inner workings of corporate legal departments and the need for in-house legal teams to be able to provide business-focused legal advice. Additionally, Julie has gained a deep understanding of the regulatory process after spending five years in the Division of Corporation Finance at the US Securities and Exchange Commission, which allows her to advise clients on disclosure and compliance matters through a sharper, regulatory focused lens.

Jack Sheldon, a senior consultant with Antea Group, has over 43 years of experience in environmental consulting. He specializes in bioremediation and chemical oxidation technologies with personal involvement in 29 first-type remediation projects in their respective states. He has completed remediation projects in all 50 states and dozens of locations abroad.  

Jack is the Site Assessment & Remediation service line leader for the firm but also is a subject matter expert in Antea Group’s PFAS service line. In that role, he supports client updates and training on evolving PFAS information, develops sampling programs, and consults on strategies related to PFAS risk identification and mitigation. He is especially versed in conventional and innovative technologies for PFAS remediation and treatment.  

As a former paint and coatings microbiologist, Jack has unique expertise in formulation and polymer chemistry and leaching studies, which are important in understanding PFAS sources and risk of release to the environment.

Nicole Mueller is a partner in the firm's Commercial Disputes practice. Nicole is an experienced litigator, regularly appearing before federal and state courts across the United States and before arbitration panels at home and abroad. She propels positive resolutions to complex legal issues and has a proven success rate in achieving case dismissals, advantageous settlements, and favorable judgments.

Nicole’s practice is focused on class action defense against claims brought under consumer protection statutes. Nicole has successfully represented manufacturers and sellers of consumer products in putative class actions brought under more than 30 state consumer protection statutes. She represents financial service companies and their management in direct and derivative litigation brought under the federal and state securities laws.

Nicole also represents clients in a wide array of business tort litigation and complex commercial litigation, including all manner of breaches of commercial contract, and the enforcement of noncompetition and nonsolicitation agreements.

Nicole is passionate about environmental issues and regularly counsels clients on ESG and Sustainability Litigation issues. She works with clients in the energy, consumer products, healthcare, and manufacturing industries, both advising on risk mitigation in this evolving area of law and defending clients when litigation occurs. 

Loly Tor's practice focuses on complex civil litigation, arbitration, and appellate practice throughout the United States, primarily in three areas: consumer and building products-related litigation, construction disputes, and commercial disputes.

Loly has significant experience defending consumer class actions, mass actions, and individual suits based on allegations of deceptive marketing practices, false advertising, consumer fraud, regulatory compliance issues, breach of warranty, product defects, and allegedly deceptive product labels. She defends clients in novel and emerging matters, including greenwashing and PFAS-related suits, and clients include online and brick-and-mortar retailers, distributors, and manufacturers who make, market, and sell consumer and building products. Loly also counsels clients on best practices for avoiding litigation relating to their products, drafting warranties and product manuals, and protecting themselves through risk transfer.

Loly’s construction practice involves representing property owners, real estate developers, general contractors, construction managers, subcontractors, and material and equipment suppliers in disputes related to construction and design defects, construction delays, warranty claims, mechanic’s liens, and other construction-related disputes. She has defended lawsuits brought by condominium and homeowners’ associations post-transition asserting construction and design defects as well as financial and budgetary claims. Loly also handles personal injury suits based on workplace injuries and allegations of exposure to chemicals, mold, and contaminants.

Loly represents national and international corporations in disputes involving contracts of all kinds, including sales and purchase agreements, service contracts, joint venture agreements, distribution agreements, licensing agreements, and more.  This practice includes UCC Article 2 disputes. She works with clients to find solutions that work for their business, from early resolutions to taking cases to trial.  Clients span various industries, with a focus on the manufacturing industry.

Jill Westra is the leader of Sustainability at The Boston Beer Company, home to iconic brands including Samuel Adams, Dogfish Head, Truly, Twisted Tea, Sun Cruiser, and Angry Orchard. With a 20-year career spanning environmental consulting and corporate sustainability, Jill brings deep expertise in environmental science and strategic ESG leadership. Based in the Kansas City metro area, she also serves on the board of her local water utility,  as well as the boards of two non-profit organizations: Missouri River Relief, and Climate + Energy Project. Jill is an active member of the Manufacturers Alliance Sustainability Council, where she collaborates with peers to advance sustainable manufacturing by exchanging ideas, navigating regulatory changes, and innovating ways to embed sustainability into company culture and operations.

Sarah Barnett is a Council Director at Manufacturers Alliance, serving the operations community by leading the EHS, Supply Chain, Logistics, and Risk Management Council as well as the Indirect Procurement Circle. She is a corporate ESG professional, having previously served in both corporate and consulting roles to help companies advance their sustainability programs and achieve their ESG and business goals.

Prior to joining the Alliance, Sarah led the global sustainability program for 4 years at Axalta, a global coatings manufacturer, last serving as the Director of ESG. She frequently engaged with colleagues across the company as well as customers, suppliers, investors, and the Board of Directors to advance the company’s sustainability efforts and launch ambitious 2030 ESG goals. Throughout her time at Axalta, Sarah was an active member of the Manufacturers Alliance Sustainability Council. Before joining Axalta, Sarah was a sustainability consultant at ERM, a global sustainability consultancy, supporting corporate clients across industries to meet their sustainability challenges. Sarah holds both a BS in Chemical Engineering and an MS in Sustainable Engineering from Villanova University.

Amanda Hoster is Northrop Grumman’s ESG Reporting Manager, where she manages voluntary and regulatory ESG-related reporting and disclosure. Since joining Northrop Grumman in 2021, Amanda has evolved the company’s ESG reporting strategy to meet the rapidly changing sustainability landscape, whether it’s improving performance on ESG raters and rankers or shifting priorities to prepare the company for regulatory disclosures. She’s an expert at navigating stakeholder engagement and leveraging cross-functional teams to drive the company’s ESG disclosure and performance. Before joining Northrop Grumman, Amanda worked as a sustainability consultant and has over ten years of experience in corporate sustainability and sustainable development. Amanda has a Master’s in Environmental Management from Duke University, and is based in Northern Virginia.

Sarah Barnett is a Council Director at Manufacturers Alliance, serving the operations community by leading the EHS, Supply Chain, Logistics, and Risk Management Council as well as the Indirect Procurement Circle. She is a corporate ESG professional, having previously served in both corporate and consulting roles to help companies advance their sustainability programs and achieve their ESG and business goals.

Prior to joining the Alliance, Sarah led the global sustainability program for 4 years at Axalta, a global coatings manufacturer, last serving as the Director of ESG. She frequently engaged with colleagues across the company as well as customers, suppliers, investors, and the Board of Directors to advance the company’s sustainability efforts and launch ambitious 2030 ESG goals. Throughout her time at Axalta, Sarah was an active member of the Manufacturers Alliance Sustainability Council. Before joining Axalta, Sarah was a sustainability consultant at ERM, a global sustainability consultancy, supporting corporate clients across industries to meet their sustainability challenges. Sarah holds both a BS in Chemical Engineering and an MS in Sustainable Engineering from Villanova University.

As the Director of Procurement, James has worldwide responsibility for all aspects of Procurement and Supply Chain Management at Videojet Technologies, a Veralto company. His focus is on execution of the function and enhancement of organizational structure, including direct, indirect, supply chain processes and logistics activities.

Jaimee Farrin is the Global Sustainability Senior Director at Cabot Corporation, where she has been in the role since 2023. Jaimee is responsible for providing strategic direction for sustainability programs and overseeing the execution and advancement of Cabot’s long-term sustainability agenda. She leads the corporate sustainability team that is responsible for all ESG and sustainability disclosures, data reporting as well as product sustainability and life cycle assessments. Jaimee joined Cabot in early 2022 in the role of Global Environmental Director coming from General Electric Company. She has 25 years of experience leading environmental and sustainability programs in the manufacturing, energy production and government sectors. Jaimee received an M.S. in Environmental Studies from Green Mountain College and lives in southern Maine.  

Victoria Lopez Whitley, CPA, is the Director of Sustainability at Arcosa, Inc. where she drives the company’s sustainability program through strategy deployment, climate-related regulatory compliance, internal and external reporting, training activities, and business practical ESG initiatives. She transitioned into this role in 2020 after 15 years with the company in finance and accounting leadership roles, including business unit controllership and accounting department management, acquisition integrations, and business strategy development.

As an attorney, Lynn offers her expertise in law, risk management, ethics & compliance, strategic planning, and board management for the CFO and Legal & Compliance Communities at Manufacturers Alliance.

Lynn comes to the Manufacturers Alliance with almost a decade of association education experience. She worked as the Vice President of Education and Events at ARMA International and as the Associate Director of Education at the American Association for Justice. She earned her law degree at New England Law | Boston and her Bachelors at Mount St Mary's University. Lynn volunteers her time as a board member of her local Meals on Wheels chapter and is happiest with her partner and their son in picturesque Ithaca, New York.