Alison Colwell

Alison Colwell is the Senior Director of Sustainability & Responsible Technology for Okta. She has been at Okta 5+ years. As the first Head of Sustainability, Alison built the team and programs on climate, human rights, responsible AI, reporting and disclosures, and customer engagement. She also serves on Okta’s AI Governance Team and is the strategy lead for Okta’s partnership with the World Economic Forum (WEF). She is very passionate about the interconnections of human rights, racial justice, and climate change.

Alison has worked 20 years on sustainability, ESG, human rights, and responsible tech, including building the program at LVMH brand, Sephora, as a consultant with BSR (Business for Social Responsibility), and with a start-up, Novi Connect, using machine learning to make more sustainable products. She holds an MA in Public Policy and Administration from Carleton University, with a Bachelor of Commerce, and a Bachelor of Arts in Global Development Studies from Queen’s University, Canada. Alison volunteers as a Fellow at Stanford’s Center for Human Rights and International Justice, guest lecturing, mentoring students, as well as learning from them, and serves as a Strategic Board member for Business Council on Climate Change (BC3). Alison loves being an “auntie,” surfing, hiking, reading, birdwatching, and dancing.