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Kevin Boyle recognized for helping the Sociotechnical Systems Roundtable achieve international growth and creating humane work environments
During the 30th annual meeting of the Sociotechnical Systems Roundtable in San Francisco in September, Kevin Boyle, director of business development and training for The Equitable Food Initiative, was awarded an Outstanding Lifetime Contribution Award for his role in the growth and sustainability of the roundtable and in creating humane and innovative organizations.
In presenting the award, Sociotechnical Systems Roundtable board member Pierre van Amelsvoort compared Boyle to a sequoia tree for his perseverance in creating better workplaces, his ability to see far and wide to expand the roundtable globally, and for creating deep roots in organizations to support the creation of humane work environments. Van Amelsvoort noted that it was Boyle who first reached out to communities around the world to be involved with the roundtable and to focus on the co-creation of humane workplaces.
“Kevin Boyle has been instrumental to the growth and success of the Roundtable,” said van Amelsvoort, “and in ensuring that the worker’s voice was brought to the learning community of the Global Roundtable.”
“I have benefited greatly from working with the brightest minds in socio-technical theory through the Roundtable to learn the principles of designing effective and human-focused organizations,” said Boyle. “Those principles became the basis for developing the Equitable Food Initiative’s mission, and it is an honor to work with growers, retailers, unions and interested NGOs to define a shared approach to transform agriculture in the global context.”
For more information on The Equitable Food Initiative, visit www.equitablefood.org.
About Sociotechnical Systems Roundtable Inc.
Founded in 1986, Sociotechnical Systems Roundtable is a global not-for-profit network of business leaders, researchers, trade unionists, academics, managers, consultants and students who share the values, theory and practice of sociotechnical systems design, with a common interest in developing more humane and effective organizations. The Roundtable provides an open environment to share research, knowledge and practice to support community learning.
About the Equitable Food Initiative
The Equitable Food Initiative brings together workers, growers and retailers to provide “Responsibly Grown. Farmworker Assured.™” fruits and vegetables. As produce farms comply with EFI Standards — for improved working conditions, pest management and food safety — the entire food system sees benefits, from farmworkers to businesses to agricultural communities and consumers.
EFI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that receives funding support from The Atlantic Philanthropies, Broad Reach Fund, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Rosenberg Foundation, Cedar Tree Foundation, Oxfam America and The Walt Disney Company.
Members of Equitable Food Initiative’s multi-stakeholder board, instrumental in the development of the EFI Standards, include:
- Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce
- Bon Appétit Management Company
- Center for Science in the Public Interest
- Consumer Federation of America
- Costco Wholesale
- Farm Labor Organizing Committee
- Farmworker Justice
- NatureSweet Tomatoes
- Oxfam America
- Pesticide Action Network North America
- Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste
- United Farm Workers
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