The SCI Mond Health & Safety Award
Dr Stephanie Burns
Stephanie Burns leads Dow Corning Corporation as chief executive officer, president and chairman of the board. The major producer and innovator of silicon-related materials and technology, Dow Corning employs approximately 9,000 people worldwide, has a turnover close to $4bn and serves more than
20,000 customers globally.
Stephanie's leadership of Dow Corning Corporation is part of her broader leadership towards a better, cleaner and safer world.
A passion for innovation, invention, a talent for recognising global opportunities, and a vision for combining the scientific and social benefits of chemistry, have led Stephanie from the laboratory to the boardroom.
From research work in the mid 1980s, Stephanie became Dow Corning's director of women's health in 1994, and later in the decade became science and technology director for Europe and the director for Dow Corning's life sciences and electronics sectors.
In December 2000, Stephanie was elected executive vice president of the company, responsible for global operations.
Stephanie holds a Ph.D. in organic chemistry with an organosilicon specialty, from Iowa State University, and has completed post-doctoral studies in Europe.
She is a member of the American Chemical Society and sits on the executive committee of SCI's America Section, in addition to several other business and leadership boards.
Stephanie's leadership has earned many accolades for both herself and Dow Corning. Further recognition of her vision and global influence is demonstrated by inclusion Forbes list of 'Most Powerful Women' for the past three years.
Leadership in Environmental Health and Safety
It is in the context of health and safety and environmental protection that Stephanie is being awarded the SCI Mond Health & Safety Award.
A commitment to sustainability and responsible custodianship of our planet sets the backdrop for Stephanie's leadership in this field. She is also an international champion for increasing interest in science and math education among young students.
In Dow Corning's '2005 Sustainability Report', Stephanie leads the charge with her inspiring vision: 'When I picture Dow Corning in the future, our commitment to a better world remains clearly in focus - as we plan our innovations and solutions for tomorrow, I picture sustainability defining the way we work and the way we live'.
Translated into actions, Stephanie's leadership of Dow Corning ensures:
- A commitment throughout the company, towards personal health and safety and care of the environment.
- The establishment of internal (and external) Boards and Committees responsible for environmental health and safety.
- Open dialogue to ensure the transmission of care and best practice through the company's external reports, leadership with the Global Silicones Council and its regional Councils. Dow Corning has been working for many years with the China Petroleum Council and Chemical Industry Association to encouraging partnership and re-education on environment health and safety in China.
Stephanie Burns and Dow Corning have been honoured with many awards in recent years, recognising their contributions to employee safety and health and, likewise, society in general. Two such honours show the breadth of commitment:
- 'The Sixth Governor's Safety and Health Awards from the Kentucky Department of Labor in 2006' - which recognised one million hours worked without lost-time injury. The five awards for this manufacturing site represent more than nine-million hours worked without lost time injury.
- 'The Commissioners of Fire and Disaster Management Agency Award' presented to Dow Corning's operations in Fukui, Japan for safety excellence. This site was chosen amongst thousands of companies and public sector bodies.
Stephanie Burns connects her passions for people and the environment through true corporate and global leadership, through sustainability of manufacturing and corporate social responsibility.
| Biographical
details: Dr Stephanie Burns |
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| Employment and Activities |
| 2006 |
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Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Dow Corning Corporation |
| 2004 |
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Chief executive officer |
| 2003 |
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Elected president and chief operating officer |
| 2000 |
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Returned to the United States to become executive vice president of the company, responsible for global operations. At that time, she was also elected to Dow Corning’s Board of Directors and served on the Board’s Audit and Corporate Responsibility committees. |
| 1999 |
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Industry Director for Life Sciences in Europe, and later added the same role for the European Electronics Industry. |
| 1997 |
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Relocated to Brussels and into the position of Science and Technology director for Europe
1994 Director of Women’s Health |
| 1987 |
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Product development manager for the Electronics Industry, led advances in UV curable coatings and materials for device protection and electronics adhesives. |
| 1983 |
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Joined Dow Corning as a researcher working on water-based and high temperature elastomers. |
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| Qualifications |
| 1982 |
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Ph.D. in organic chemistry, with an organosilicon specialty, from Iowa State University |
| 1983 |
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Post-doctoral studies at the Université Montpellier, Sciences et Techniques du Languedoc, France |
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| Additional information |
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A passion for innovation, a talent for recognising global opportunities, and a vision for combining the scientific and social benefits of chemistry, have led Stephanie Burns from the laboratory to the boardroom at Dow Corning Corporation, Midland, Michigan, a global leader in silicon-based technology with 25,000 customers worldwide and 2005 sales of $3.88billion.
She is a member of the American Chemical Society and sits on the executive committee of the Society of Chemical Industry. She serves on the Board of Directors for Manpower, Inc., and of the Michigan Molecular Institute. Burns is also a board member of the American Chemistry Council, and The Conference Board. |
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| Awards |
| 2006 |
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Vanguard award from the Chemical Education Foundation. |
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Michigan Woman Executive of the Year |
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Named to Forbes.com’s list of Most Powerful Women. |
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Under her leadership, Dow Corning has earned honours as: 2005 Specialty Chemicals Company of the Year by leading global growth consultancy Frost & Sullivan, and one of Working Mother magazine’s 100 Best Companies of 2005 & 2006. |
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