Gail Whiteman

Professor Gail Whiteman is a leading authority on sustainability and global environmental risks, currently serving as Hoffmann Impact Professor for Accelerating Action on Nature & Climate at the University of Exeter Business School. She is a social scientist with key expertise in making global environmental changes relevant for the corporate boardroom.

She is the Founder & Executive Director of Arctic Basecamp, a science communication not-for-profit focused on raising awareness of the critical global risks and impacts of climate change from the polar region. Additionally, together with US actor Rainn Wilson and comedy writer, Chuck Tatham (e.g., Modern Family), she is a Co-Founding Director of Climate Basecamp, an initiative with a mission to speak “science to culture”. Her research explores how various stakeholders, including businesses, policymakers, and communities, perceive and respond to ecological risks, with an emphasis on building resilience in the face of environmental and social pressures.

In her role as Professor-in-Residence at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development since 2012, Professor Whiteman has been instrumental in promoting science-based targets for sustainable business practices.

She has also actively engaged with the World Economic Forum, participating as a speaker and high-level moderator in key discussions on climate-related challenges, including notable sessions at Davos. She is a member of a number of WEF working groups and communities such as Earth Decides. Her contributions have been pivotal in bridging the gap between scientific research and practical leadership on climate change.

Throughout her academic career, Professor Whiteman has published extensively in leading journals such as Nature and the Academy of Management Journal, focusing on sustainability and organisational responses to environmental changes.  

Her academic journey includes a PhD from Queen’s University, with significant fieldwork conducted in the Canadian subarctic. As both the Executive Director of Arctic Basecamp and the Co-Founding Director of Climate Basecamp, she continues to play a vital role in advancing global climate action and shaping the dialogue around sustainability and resilience.

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In addition to the types of speaking engagements listed below, Professor Whiteman is also an expert in moderating high-level discussions.