Ramkissoon, an immigrant and social entreprenuer, has advanced the work of small businesses from underrepresented communities across Latin America, Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East.

After an open position, Sustainable Business Network has announced its new Executive Director.

The Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia (SBN) announced that its Board of Directors has hired its new Executive Director, Devi Ramkissoon.

Ramkissoon has over fifteen years of experience in international development, working with sustainable businesses for economic growth and poverty reduction. As an immigrant and social entrepreneur, she worked with small businesses from underrepresented communities across Latin America, Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East. She spent almost a decade at USAID leading multimillion-dollar food security, environment, and private sector development projects worldwide.

“Throughout my career, I have seen firsthand the impact that sustainable businesses can have on poverty reduction, food security, and environmental preservation. SBN puts this principle into action so that local independent businesses in the region can achieve the maximum impact not only for their own profit but also for the communities in which they operate and the well-being of the planet. I’m thrilled to lead an organization that is on the cusp of true and lasting social, economic, and environmental change,” said Ramkissoon in a press release.

She has an MS in Foreign Service at Georgetown University and Bachelor’s degree from Swarthmore College, according to LinkedIn.

Cover photo: pre-pandemic SBN event in January 2019. Picture from Facebook

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Julie Hancher is the co-founder and Executive Director of Green Philly, an independent media organization making sustainability accessible, affordable and actionable. Since launching Green Philly in 2008, she has grown it from a passion project into a leading voice for local climate storytelling, pairing impactful journalism with community events and experiences. Julie is a frequent speaker on climate, media innovation and the future of local journalism, and is the creator of SustainPHL and EcoFair. Outside of Green Philly, you can find her hiking, biking, traveling, or exploring Philadelphia. View all posts by Julie Hancher