2026 Impact Awards Champion: Marina Petrušić, Mondelēz International

As senior director, sustainability and HSE at Mondelēz International, Marina Petrušić is recognized for her individual contributions to redefining the intersection of operational excellence and environmental stewardship. 

She is a driving force behind initiatives that bolster operational resilience while advancing long-term growth and sustainability targets.

Petrušić believes that responsible business practices and operational excellence must go hand in hand. This philosophy drives her work, which is celebrated for fostering more sustainable manufacturing and supply chain operations that benefit employees, consumers and communities alike. 

By advancing energy optimization, carbon reduction and sustainable packaging solutions, she has simultaneously improved efficiency, scalability and environmental performance across production environments. Furthermore, her leadership supports a transition toward circular business practices aligned with Canadian regulations and future sustainability commitments.

Beyond technical implementation, Petrušić has been instrumental in building a proactive culture of sustainability. By creating cross-functional partnerships across engineering, operations, HR and supply chain teams, she has ensured that safety and well-being are integrated into core business processes and strategic planning. 

By empowering employees through increased training, awareness campaigns, leadership visibility and participation in safety and sustainability initiatives, she helps create more proactive, engaged teams that understand the direct impact of their actions on workplace safety, operational efficiency and environmental outcomes. 

In addition, she is honoured as a mentor for the next generation of leaders in sustainability and beyond.  

Her work is recognized for helping strengthen trust with consumers, by demonstrating a commitment to sustainability that extends beyond products and into the broader operational footprint of the business. 

With more than 11 years of leadership experience in this space, Petrušić’s is a truly innovative sustainability champion whose valuable contributions elevate standards across the industry by demonstrating that sustainability, safety, employee wellbeing and business performance are not competing priorities—but essential components of long-term success.