Shannon O’Shea

Shannon O’Shea is the Senior Vice President of Environmental Sustainability in the United States, where she advises clients on strategies, communications and advocacy related to their environmental goals, activities and performance. She specializes in helping stakeholders contribute to a greener future and highlights the connections between sustainability and fields such as food, art, technology and fashion. 

Before joining WE Communications, Shannon spent nearly 21 years at the United Nations (UN). A highlight of her tenure was leading the consultation and negotiation processes at the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) that contributed to the creation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015. This historic global consultation effort brought the voices and views of millions of people into the formal UN negotiations, ensuring their priorities were reflected in the final goals. During this period, she also established the Group of Friends of Children and the Sustainable Development Goals, a coalition of seventy Member States advocating for children’s rights in the negotiations, which continues to operate today.

In her final role at UNICEF, Shannon served as Senior Advisor and Global Team Leader for Public Partner Advocacy and the Sustainable Development Goals. She supported Member States in elevating child rights and youth perspectives within intergovernmental processes and advised the organization’s 192 country offices on national strategies for SDG implementation and public engagement.

Shannon holds a master’s degree in international affairs and a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from Syracuse University.