October 1939 – June 2012
Deni Greene grew up on the East Coast of the US and held a senior position in the California EPA immediately prior to coming to Australia in the 1980’s to join the Victorian EPA . Deni later went on to run her own consulting business. I first met Deni around 1995, when she was nominated by CFA to the Standards Australia committee on environmental labelling. In that role, she demonstrated a rare ability to take complex scientific concepts and draw out the practical implications for the average consumer.
Deni went on to play a significant part in international standardisation, initially in the ISO committee on Environmental Management; and then as leading figure in the development of ISO 26000 on Social Responsibility. Deni was also a respected expert on ethical investment and developed the handbook, A Capital Idea – Realising value from environmental and social performance, published by Standards Australia in 2001.
Deni will be remembered as a forceful advocate for both sustainability and ethical conduct on a global stage. Not just a theoretician, Deni put those principles into practice in her own life. She could also be extremely thoughtful, taking time to recognise those whom others took for granted.
Deni leaves this world a better place for her actions. I am proud to have known her as a colleague and a friend.
– by John Henry
Consumers International Tribute to Deni
As John notes, one area of Deni’s work was on ISO 26000 where she worked closely with many international consumer representatives coordinated by Consumers International. CI have published a note on their web site with a photo of Deni at an international event and opened an online guest book linked fromt that page.
Award to honour Deni’s work
For details of a proposed award in Deni’s name see here.