TNS attends Rio Tinto Alcan Sustainability Award Celebrations in Montreal

The Natural Step was recently short-listed for the prestigious Rio Tinto Alcan Sustainability Prize. The US $1 million prize recognizes NGOs for their demonstration of a comprehensive approach to addressing, achieving and further advancing the goals of economic, environmental and social sustainability. Kelly Baxter, executive director of TNS Canada and Vice-Chair of TNS International, said she was delighted to represent TNS at the award celebrations.

“I was so proud to have the opportunity to represent The Natural Step because this recognition is for all of us,” Kelly said. “It is for the combined total of all the initiatives, outcomes and changes we have caused to happen in our various corners of the world in various different ways, united by a common language and framework.”

The winner of this year’s award is the Utthan Centre for Sustainable Development and Poverty Alleviation. The ten NGOs that were short-listed for the award were repeatedly described as being "the best of the best in implementing sustainable development,” according to Rio Tinto Alcan’s CEO, Dick Evans, and Adrian Hodges, Program Manager for the International Business Leaders Forum, which manages the prize.

“It was a huge honour to meet the other finalists who mostly represent organizations working in developing countries addressing fundamental human needs issues and natural resource management,” Kelly said.