Profiles

Kirk Penner is the Head of Social Compliance for Kossan Industries Berhad, a Malaysian based glove manufacturer. He has been a longtime part of the medical and non-medical PPE rubber glove industry, working for both buyers and producers since 1997 in capacities ranging from product management, quality assurance and regulatory affairs with a focus on EU Directives and US FDA cGMP compliance. In 2014 Kirk joined Kossan and was tasked with establishing a groupwide social management system by leveraging his regulatory and compliance skillset. Since then, Kirk and his team have overseen all social compliance aspects including SEDEX SMETA, Elevate ERSA and WRAP Certification audits. He has taken a keen interest is improving worker’s access to remedy and has overseen the successful launch and administration of Elevate Limited’s Suara Kami Helpline in 2021.

Kirk further collaborated with Elevate Limited in the conceptualization and formation of Project Safeguard, a collaboration between rubber glove buyers and manufacturers to form an effective self-regulated initiative that was credible, independent, transparent and accountable. Project Safeguard was successfully transferred to the oversight of the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) and in 2022 the initiative was launched as the Responsible Glove Alliance (RGA). The RGA has been well received by stakeholders and Kirk continues to help develop the initiative as a member of the RGA’s Steering Committee.

Given the ongoing interest in the social compliance status of the rubber glove sector, Kirk is in frequent communication with numerous stakeholders including governmental organizations, diplomatic missions NGO’s, non-profits and other concerned parties.

In addition to his social compliance activities, Kirk is active in developing rubber industry standards with ASTM International, as the previous Task Group Leader for D11.40.03 on Commercial Gloves and it the current Leader of the ASTM D11.27.03 Subcommittee on Biodegradation. He is also an SA8000 Certified auditor.

Kirk attended the University of Nevada.