Claire Maxwell appointed Chair of the GRLI

Claire Maxwell, who hails from the United Kingdom and serves as Associate Director of the Oasis School of Human Relations, takes over the baton from Dennis Hanno, the President of Wheaton College who continues to serve on the GRLI Executive Committee as immediate past chair of the board.

Claire is widely regarded as a specialist in Whole Person learning and change processes, corporate culture, workplace leadership, whole organisation interventions, relationships and well-being. In her work with Oasis, she applies many of these skills, designing, developing and delivering leadership programmes, strategic visioning processes and other learning and development processes for organisations of all sizes.

Claire holds degrees in the arts, education and social policy. She started her career in theatre before working as a publicist in London and then chose to work in more challenging social environments, leading to an extensive public service career at senior level in the UK, her Associate Directorship at the Oasis School of Human Relations and her work with the GRLI.

Says Dennis Hanno: “The GRLI has never been better positioned to influence the global dialogue on responsible management and leadership, and Claire Maxwell is the right person to lead the organisation forward as it tackles the important issues we face. Claire’s leadership role within The Oasis School of Human Relations has provided her with deep insight into both organisational and individual development. She has already used her expertise in these areas in her role as the Chair of the Council of Partners of the GRLI to help create path-breaking initiatives on corporate and individual responsibility.”

“We are delighted that Claire has agreed to take up the position as chair of this vibrant movement for globally responsible leadership,” says John North, executive director of the GRLI. “Before her appointment, Claire served as chair of our much cherished Guardian group, and she represented the Guardians on our board. This makes her uniquely qualified to guard the GRLI’s global mandate and guide our future actions.”

Says Claire: “In my role as the chair of the GRLI, I will be encouraging and promoting collaboration in the landscape of global responsibility and working to create closer connections and synergies with all those who wish to promote global responsibility. I will protect and promote the principles of ‘I, we, all us’, and ‘being the best for the world, not in the world’.”

As Chair of the GRLI, Claire will oversee both the work of the Board of Trustees and the Guardian Group. She was the founding chair of the Guardians from its inception to date and hands that responsibility — of chair of the Guardian Group — to Arnold Smit from the University of Stellenbosch.

“I trust that Arnold and the Guardians will continue to nurture and protect the ethos of this wonderful movement, and I look forward to working closely with him,” says Claire.

Liliana Petrella, senior advisor for governance to the GRLI, explains the two-structure model: “As a global movement that advocates responsible leadership and that incubates initiatives to further this cause, the GRLI is guided by two distinct groups. The Board of Trustees fulfils all of the legal responsibilities related to the management of a Foundation, while the Guardian Group represents the interests of the GRLI community and guards the intentions and ethics of the GRLI as a social movement.”

With Dennis handing over to Claire it also heralds the end-of-term for vice-chairs Pierre Tapie and Uwe Steinwender. Pierre is the past President of ESSEC Business School, France and Uwe is the Senior Manager of the Daimler Corporate Academy, Germany. Both Pierre and Uwe served the GRLI Board with distinction and will remain actively involved in the GRLI on various board-appointed task groups.

The GRLI is also pleased to announce the appointment of the next Guardian group.