Hi, I’m Rick Petersen, Principal, Blu Advisory.
For a long time, I have been advising some of the world’s biggest brands - and many early stage entrepreneurs - on how to create economic value by leveraging personal values.
I look forward to working with you to build YOUR sustainable business and brand.
One that increases sales, lowers costs, improves access to investors, and attracts top talent.
And, like me, realize your goal of doing meaningful work.
Let’s talk soon!
RICK
In 2011, I convened a very diverse group of sustainability thought leaders and practitioners and asked: “how big are the challenges and what can we do about it? The book, Voices for Sustainability (also featuring works from some of the world’s top photographers), pointed us in a very clear direction. Sign up a free strategy session to receive a complimentary copy.
Competing (and I use the term generously) in Ironman reinforced in me the value of setting stretch goals, being at the starting line regardless of the outcome, and doing the small stuff needed to get there. All of which I try (sometimes successfully) to apply to the rest of my life and my client work.
I’ve been called a sustainability pioneer because, for more than three decades now, I have worked with leading organisations around the world to create economic value in alignment with personal values. A lot of that time was spent swimming upstream, I admit, but a lot of progress was made too.
Described (flatteringly) in Marketing magazine as “one of the world’s leading experts in corporate responsibility” and named among “Top 10 Green Leaders” by Les Affaires, I founded the annual Tremblant Forum on Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability, a leading international conference and have penned articles in Corporate Governance Quarterly, Marketing, and the book, Sustainable Development & Communications. My own book, Voices for Sustainability, was released in 2011.
Prior to founding Blu Advisory in 2011, I was Executive Vice-President, Corporate Citizenship at Gildan, one of the world’s largest apparel companies, where I was responsible for global environmental performance and social compliance at 16 factories in North America, Central America and Asia, NGO relations, engagement among 42,000 employees, community investment, as well as all internal and corporate communications. Whew!
Prior to that I was a Partner at NATIONAL Public Relations – the fifth largest such firm in the world, and founded the pan-Canadian Corporate Responsibility unit, a practice that was ranked in the Top 10 in the World by Corporate Responsibility Officer magazine. Prior to that I was VP, Corporate Communications and Senior Consultant, Investor Relations.
I have also served on the Advisory Boards for the Carbon Disclosure Project (the world’s largest network of institutional investors) and the Network for Business Sustainability (Canada’s leading sustainable business think tank), and was the author of the landmark Capital Markets and Sustainability report for the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy.
I continue to be an active speaker internationally at conferences on investor relations, branding, labour rights, ethical marketing, human resources, and corporate positioning. I also enjoy working with students as a guest lecturer at several universities in both Masters level business and communications programmes. Working for 10 years as a pro bono mentor for the Cycle Momentum Accelerator programme supporting new ventures in the cleantech sector brought real satisfaction.
A serial entrepreneur, in 2016 I co-founded Naked Sports Innovations, (www.NakedSportsInnovations.com), based in Seattle. Since sold, the company is the leading manufacturer of hydration accessories for endurance athletes trail in over 75 countries.
I have advised clients on most sectorial and cross-sector international standards for governance, operations and disclosure (e.g., TCFD, SBTi, CDP, FSC, FLA, IFC, AA1000, UNPRI, ISO, etc.), I also authored the World Lottery Association’s Responsible Gaming Framework, now the norm at 135 government regulated operators around the world.
Active in the community and gaining valuable governance experience, I’ve been a member of numerous charitable Boards of Directors, including the McGill University Health Centre Foundation, Fondation Dr Julien, Oxfam, PR Without Borders (working with NGOs in Ivory Coast, Benin, Buriko Faso and Mali), and others. A bilingual (English/French) and busy father of four "children" from 11 to 38 (!), I am also an avid age group triathlete having completed (not competed) 15 races, including 4 full IMs.
With a Bachelors in Cultural Anthropology, a Certificate in Indigenous Relations and long personal and team experience in stakeholder engagement in North and Central America, Africa and Asia, I’ve learned not just how to listen but to hear.
One of my main goals in life is to contribute to the vision laid out by Jeffrey Hollender, CEO, Hollender Sustainable Brands and Founder, Seventh Generation, in my book: “The problem will be solved by a symphony with everyone playing a different instrument. Hopefully we’ll all be playing the same song."