Driven by a love for nature and an understanding of business’ complex impact and dependency on natural resources and ecosystem services, Shell works across sectors and geographies to catalyze the transition towards a net-zero, nature-positive, and equitable economy.
As a Corporate Campaigner at Canopy, Shell collaborates with brands, producers, and innovators to transform the Man-made Cellulose Fibre (MMCF) supply chain and scale up low-impact, alternative fibres (e.g., made from agricultural residue), accelerating a circular fashion industry.
Before joining Canopy, Shell worked at the global coalition Business for Nature, where she collaborated with 1500+ companies and 80+ NGOs to advocate for an ambitious Global Biodiversity Framework at the UN CBD, helping secure groundbreaking targets to reform environmentally harmful subsidies and mandate nature-related disclosure from business and finance.
As a youth leader in the Changemakers for Nature program, she has also influenced major US retailers on commodity-driven deforestation — especially in the palm oil, soy and beef supply chains — through research, corporate engagement, consumer education, and youth activism. Her work was recognized by RSPO’s Global Youth Impact Project Award and Wildbound’s Amazon Rainforest Award.
In addition to expertise in corporate sustainability and nature/biodiversity, Shell brings a knack for connecting people and telling impactful stories. She holds a B.A. in English and Music from Mount Holyoke College and has a professional background in journalism, communications, and marketing.
More about me
When I’m not working, find me experimenting with food recipes, exploring new landscapes and trails, and volunteering with local conservation organizations — National Park Service, Mass Audubon, Trustees of Reservation — in the nature sanctuaries, organic farms, and harbour islands surrounding Boston.
Why forests are important to me
Forests are far more than the sum of their trees. They are complex living ecosystems that provide invaluable services to humans, from climate regulation, to water filtration, to air purification. They are habitats for most of the world’s terrestrial species, ancestral homes to many Indigenous and local communities, and livelihoods for millions of people.
But to me, forests have another layer of spiritual value. From the New England woods to the Pacific rainforests, hiking in nature revitalizes my body and soul. Being among ancient, giant, deep-rooted trees recovers a sense of safety, peace, and joy in me. It reconnects me with a wise and omnipresent spirit in nature, which I call home.
Why Canopy
Canopy brings together tree-huggers who are called to make sustainable shifts in the global economy. Everyone I’ve met here carries a down-to-earth personality, sharp intelligence, and a relentless determination to make changes happen. Our work is solutions-driven and future-oriented, aiming not only to change corporate practices, but also to carve out new circular markets. The science-based strategy, entrepreneurial approach, diverse team, and fun culture are what makes me proud to call myself a Canopal.
Ask me about
Sustainable lifestyle — zero-waste, healthy cooking, composting, gardening, house plants, hiking … everything about how an individual can do their part to protect and regenerate nature.
What ruffles my feathers
It concerns me to see the heavy investment pouring into spatial exploration and discussions around colonizing remote, barren planets when there has been a consistent lack of funding to safeguard the climate, biodiversity, and people on our Mother Earth. While a firm supporter of scientific discovery, I believe we should be putting our living planet first.
Like a butterfly, I enjoy exploring diverse cultures and ecosystems, bridging connections and seeding ideas. As a life-long learner, I seek and celebrate the metamorphoses that transform me personally and professionally. I endeavor to offer critical service to the world - mirroring pollination’s importance to agriculture - but maintain a minimalist lifestyle to live in harmony with mother nature.
