Deb Heed
Global Sustainability Specialist
Ford Motor Company
Deb Heed is Ford Motor Company’s Purchasing Manager leading Human Rights and Environment policies, strategies, and initiatives for the Supply Chain Sustainability team. Deb launched Ford’s first Supplier Code of Conduct this year and its incorporation into the Purchasing Global Terms & Conditions. The Environment team supports Ford’s aspiration to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and leads our Partnership for A Cleaner Environment (PACE) initiative, providing suppliers with Ford’s best practices to reduce water and GHG emissions in the manufacturing process. The Human Rights team works with suppliers to build their capacity utilizing 3rd-party social responsibility audits, verified self-assessment questionnaires, and corrective action plans utilizing face-to-face and online training. Deb also leads the annual publication of Ford’s Global Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Transparency Statement.
Prior to this position, Deb worked on Ford’s Global Sustainability team focusing on the company’s human rights strategy, policies, and reporting. Deb also spent two years with Ford’s electrification policy team developing a charging infrastructure strategy to support the 2021 launch of our all-electric Mustang Mach-E. She started her career at Ford on the Supply Chain Sustainability team developing the company’s Conflict Minerals due diligence process, working with nearly one thousand suppliers to track all vehicle parts containing tin, tantalum, tungsten, or gold (3TG) through the tiers up to the smelter level. She led the development of automotive industry standards for conflict minerals reporting.