Sustainable business expert to join University of Exeter Business School

Professor Whiteman is currently the Rubin Chair in Sustainability in Business and director of the Pentland Centre for Sustainability in Business at Lancaster University Management School. 

Her arrival is a major boost for the Exeter Business School, and she will play a key role in its work on environmental management.

“I’m thrilled to join Exeter Business School,” said Professor Whiteman.

“Systemic challenges like climate change, loss of biodiversity, and the health threats from pandemics like COVID-19 pose catastrophic risks to society and the global economy.

“Multinational companies are key players in the radical transformation of our world in order to enhance our collective resilience to such threats.

“It is clear that transdisciplinary science – including management theory – has an essential role to play in understanding risks and identifying leverage points for action.

“The University of Exeter has a world-class community of scholars that contribute to this area.

“This is a community that I am proud to join.” 

Professor Whiteman is the Professor-in-Residence at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and was actively involved in building science-based targets including those for a future low-carbon economy.

Along with Dr Jeremy Wilkinson, she created Arctic Basecamp, a science solutions communication platform with a mission to “speak science to power” to encourage bold climate action.

This unique project has hosted four high-level events at the World Economic Forum in Davos (2017-20).

“We are thrilled that someone of Professor Whiteman’s experience is joining us,” said Professor David Bruce Allen, Pro-Vice Chancellor and Executive Dean of the University of Exeter Business School.

“She is someone who has worked on global challenges and made a real difference.

“Professor Whiteman will be an integral part of our efforts to build our standing in environmental management and sustainability as we drive forward our evidence-based research and teaching in this area.”

Professor Whiteman, whose research is intended to help organisations deal more effectively with sustainability challenges, has won major EU grants in the past for work related to climate change.

She is also active in innovative business sustainability training and education.