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Dr. Kate White is a globally recognised expert in sustainable behaviour change, consumer behaviour, and behavioural economics. She is a Professor of Marketing and Behavioural Science at the Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia, where she also holds the prestigious Watkinson Chair in Sustainability. Dr. White has built a remarkable career focused on understanding and influencing consumer behaviour to promote sustainability, equity, and responsible business practices. Her innovative SHIFT Framework has revolutionised how organisations approach sustainability, making her a sought-after keynote speaker in this critical area.
Dr. White’s academic journey began with a BA in Psychology from Simon Fraser University, followed by an MA from the University of Waterloo, and a PhD from the University of British Columbia. Her deep understanding of psychology and consumer behaviour led her to an illustrious career in academia, where she has been a faculty member at the Sauder School of Business since 2004. In her current role as Senior Associate Dean of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Sustainability, she has been instrumental in shaping the school’s approach to these crucial areas, influencing both the curriculum and the broader academic environment.
Over the years, Dr. White’s contributions to sustainability have been recognised through numerous awards and honours. In 2024, she received the Sheth/Journal of Marketing Best Article Award for her pioneering work on the SHIFT Framework, which remains a cornerstone in the field of sustainable consumer behaviour. Her recognition as one of the top five marketing researchers worldwide by the American Marketing Association further underscores her influence and impact. Additionally, Dr. White’s thought leadership in sustainability has earned her the Canada Clean 50 Award, and her article ‘The Elusive Green Consumer’, published in the Harvard Business Review, continues to be a pivotal resource for understanding the gap between consumer intentions and actions regarding sustainability.
As a keynote speaker, Dr. White’s expertise extends beyond academia, providing practical insights that organisations can implement to foster sustainable change. Her talks cover a range of topics, including how to shift consumers toward sustainable choices, the behavioural science of change, and strategies for promoting equity and inclusion within organisations. Dr. White’s ability to translate complex research into actionable strategies makes her an invaluable speaker for events focused on sustainability, offering audiences both inspiration and practical tools to drive positive change.
Dr. Kate White is regularly booked to engage audiences at events, read their latest feedback below:
Dr. Kate White delivered a science talk on sustainable consumption and how to close the intention-action gap for the lululemon Futures Innovation team in October 2023. Her talk struck a perfect balance between scientific knowledge and experiments, and relevant real-world data and examples. Dr. White’s passion for her work is contagious, and her expertise on the topic was evident throughout the talk and subsequent discussion. Since the talk, we have continued to collaborate with Dr. White in an advisory capacity on a project around sustainability, and her contributions to our work have been invaluable. I wholeheartedly recommend her as a speaker.
In our third annual Unreasonable conference in the Fall of 2023, we continued to raise the bar on our quality of speakers, including Kate White, who was a perfect addition to the group. Because our attendees are mid-level to senior marketing professionals, we wanted research presentations that demonstrated a depth of thinking at an accessible level for non-academics. Kate was a terrific speaker, effectively threading this needle, by being engaging and thoughtful. She‘s definitely someone I’d have back for a future event.
Dr. Kate White has served as a guest speaker and led workshops for innovators from the private, public and nonprofit sectors to learn and apply tactics and tools for eco-conscious behaviour change based on the SHIFT Framework. Her knowledge of how to foster behaviour change and applied examples have proven invaluable. I highly recommend Kate as a guest speaker!
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