Direct Impact: Ombuds and Corporate Social Responsibility

Course Description

An organizational ombuds office (OOO) complements and supports the organization’s corporate social responsibility objectives when considering the needs and expectations of one of their most important stakeholder groups –employees. The organizations investment in their employees demonstrates that they care about their wellbeing. The existence and use of the Ombuds Office assures the organization’s values of integrity and ethical conduct are not merely philosophical, but an integral part of how they work.

The establishment, current structure and operation of the Baker Hughes OOO will be shared in addition to the range of benefits it brings to employees, the Company and the broader community as a key component for corporate social responsibility strategy. Additionally, practices from other ombuds offices and how they’ve aligned with their organizations’ CSR programs will be shared. These specific concepts have been proven useful in advancing the establishment of organizational ombuds offices in other entities, both in the oil and gas industry and beyond.

Biographies

Bonnie Bonnivier is an ombuds in the organizational ombuds office (the o3) for Baker Hughes, joining the office when established in 2012. Prior to this she was completely unaware of the existence and nature of organizational ombuds. Upon learning of the profession, she had the desire to both be of service to the employees of the company in which she spent her entire career, and to help ground the office and staff in the culture and history of Baker Hughes. It has been a joy and blessing beyond her wildest expectations.

Bonnie started with Baker Hughes in 1977 as an analytical chemist in the research and development group of its chemical division. She has held a variety of roles, including operations, product management, technology and health, safety and environment, all within the chemicals arena of Baker Hughes. The majority of her tenure was in California in various operations and manufacturing locations. In 2008, Bonnie moved to Houston as HSE director of chemicals operations. Subsequently she held several HSE leadership roles, leading to senior director of HSE and regulatory affairs for the Global Products & Services segment. She played an instrumental part in the implementation of Baker Hughes process safety programs, chemical security program development, and the harmonization of their HSE management system.

Bonnie has presented at IOA conferences, and has numerous scientific and HSE related publications. She is a certified organizational ombuds practitioner, and is currently serving on an IOA task force. She is a member of IOA, Society of Petroleum Engineers, and American Chemical Society. Bonnie graduated from Butler University with a BS in chemistry, with high honors. Bonnie and her husband, Mike Meyer (another Baker Hughes alumnus), are the proud parents of two West Point graduates who are currently serving as active Army officers.