Michael Shtender-Auerbach is Vice President and National Practice Leader for Social Risk Consulting and is responsible for the management and strategic direction of Control Risks’ Social Risks practice. This practice provides a range of advisory services for clients in the private, public and nongovernmental sectors to assist them in implementing internal and external reporting and monitoring of their social environment and footprint. His tailored solutions help clients increase value through effective risk management, including proactive stakeholder engagement. Michael’s expertise in social and human rights and environmental risks helps our clients maximize opportunities and avoid costly problems by managing the risk exposures inherent in the complex social and environmental settings in which they work. Michael is an expert in the following international standards, among others:

Equator Principles
Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights
IFC Performance Standards
Principles on Responsible Investment
Global Reporting Initiative
Human Rights impact guidance published by the International Business Leaders Forum
Global Network Initiative
Danish Institute for Human Rights best practices
United Nations Global Compact and other governing frameworks for multinational enterprises

Prior to joining Control Risks, Michael was Chief Executive of Social Risks LLC and developed a proprietary social risk methodology which allowed him to provide holistic human rights and social risk assessments, mitigation advice and monitoring. It was this unique approach that led Control Risks in 2009 to acquire Social Risks LLC.

Michael has also worked for a number of blue chip new media companies including Time Warner, CBS, Viacom, and Cable&Wireless. From there Michael founded, and raised significant venture capital for, a technology incubator, Panopticon, Inc.

Michael recently held senior positions at the Center for American Progress in Washington, D.C. and The Century Foundation in New York, where he concentrated on issues of security and peace, and consulted widely on Middle East policy, national security and US foreign policy. His work has been published in the International Herald Tribune, World Policy Journal, the Financial Times, Mother Jones, The Jewish Daily Forward, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Los Angeles Times, and the Huffington Post.

Michael holds a master’s degree in International Relations from Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree in Critical Theory and Post-Colonial Studies from the New School for Social Research. Michael also holds degrees in Conflict Resolution from Cyprus College and Middle East History from the Hebrew University.

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