Dr. Leen Gorissen

Dr. Leen Gorissen is a globally recognised sustainability keynote speaker and expert in bio-inspired innovation. With a Ph.D. in Biology, her expertise spans ecology, transition science, and regenerative design. Her career is dedicated to helping organisations and businesses leverage nature’s intelligence to foster innovation, resilience, and sustainability. Through her work, Leen demonstrates how adopting nature-inspired solutions can lead to more sustainable and impactful practices, benefiting both business and the planet.

Leen’s career began at the Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO Belgium), where she served as Transition Research Coordinator for nearly a decade. During her tenure, she led transformative projects focusing on the circular economy, urban sustainability transitions, and sustainable forest management. In 2017, she founded Studio Transitio, a consultancy later rebranded as Centre for Natural Intelligence (Centre4NI). Centre4NI is a pioneering initiative that helps organisations incorporate Natural Intelligence (NI) into their innovation strategies, enabling them to design systems and processes that align with nature’s time-tested principles.

As the author of Building the Future of Innovation on Millions of Years of Natural Intelligence, Leen has redefined how businesses approach sustainability and innovation. Her book draws from nature’s principles to offer actionable insights for businesses seeking regenerative solutions. Beyond her writing, she has collaborated with prominent organisations, including Philips, Triodos Bank, and the European Environment Agency, providing strategic advice and facilitating bio-inspired innovation workshops worldwide.

A sought-after keynote speaker, Dr. Leen Gorissen inspires audiences with her expertise in sustainability, regenerative design, and natural intelligence. She has delivered sessions in major cities, including San Francisco, Lisbon, and Stockholm, and is a frequent evaluator of innovation projects for the European Commission. Her compelling TEDx talk, Discovering the Way Life Works, exemplifies her ability to translate complex ideas into accessible, actionable strategies for organisations and individuals. Leen’s passion for aligning human innovation with nature’s blueprint makes her a powerful voice in the sustainability space.