Cara Chacon 

Cara has worked in the corporate responsibility industry as an executive, consultant, trainer and auditor for the past 24 years. She launched her own consultancy firm in November 2021 called Intentum Corporate Responsibility Consulting. Prior to that, Cara had an 11-year run as Patagonia’s VP of Social and Environmental Responsibility where she led a global team of professionals that set strategy and implemented the company’s human rights and environmental sustainability initiatives. Cara led many of Patagonia’s pioneering sustainability programs including their regenerative organic cotton program, the largest apparel Fair Trade certification program, their first climate and living wages strategies, B-Corp certification and all their robust animal welfare and materials traceability programs and certifications. Cara was also the founder and co-chair of Patagonia's C-suite sustainability decision making body called the “Footprint Council.” She also served on the Board of Directors of Textile Exchange (2017-21), Organic Cotton Accelerator (2020-21), Fair Labor Association (elected by industry peers 2012-16) and various Advisory Boards. In her past role at STR Responsible Sourcing, she led a global team dedicated to the development and execution of CSR/sustainability trainings and capacity building engagements for brands, suppliers and auditors. In her career, Cara has conducted over 1,000 supplier social and environmental compliance assessments and capacity building engagements in over 35 countries across 25 different industries. She has a Master’s degree in International Affairs and a Bachelor’s degree in Government from California State University, Sacramento.