Christina Downend

Christina Downend is a corporate sustainability leader, currently Head of Responsible Sourcing & Quality at Dunelm. She specializes in climate change strategy and embedding sustainability into business operations, having previously led Tesco to become the first company to set a 1. 5°C-aligned science-based carbon reduction target. She is a graduate of the University of Oxfords leadership programme.

Outside of her direct roles, Christina is a vocal advocate for corporate ESG, sharing insights on the challenges and opportunities in the sector. She follows sustainability leaders like Unilever and Nestlé, and is passionate about driving long-term business resilience and creating a circular economy. People who have worked with her describe her as focused and hardworking.

Unique fact: Christina headed the project that saw Tesco become the first British company to have its carbon reduction targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).