Pia Heidenmark Cook

Pia Heidenmark Cook is a leading authority in corporate sustainability and a trusted guide for organisations that want to turn climate ambition into real business results. Over a career spanning more than 30 years, she has proved that sustainability can drive growth, strengthen brands and build resilience. Best known for her role as Chief Sustainability Officer at Ingka/IKEA Group, Pia helped transform one of the world’s most recognisable retailers into a benchmark for sustainable business, showing that it is possible to grow revenue while shrinking emissions.

Pia began her career in environmental management after completing advanced studies in environmental management and policy, working as an Environmental Consultant at Tellus Miljömanagement on ISO 14001 and EMAS projects. She soon stepped into international leadership, becoming Global Vice President Responsible Business at The Rezidor Hotel Group, where she built and implemented CSR programmes across hundreds of hotels. At the same time, Pia shaped sustainability at sector level through roles such as Chairman of the International Tourism Partnership and Co Chair of the Retailers’ Environmental Action Programme, helping major brands engage with issues like climate, resource use and circularity long before they became mainstream boardroom topics.

Her most high profile work came during 13 years at IKEA, where she progressed from Head of Communication at The IKEA Foundation to Global Head of Sustainability, IKEA Retail & Expansion, and ultimately Group Chief Sustainability Officer. Pia led the creation and roll out of the People and Planet Positive strategy, integrating sustainability into investment decisions, product development and retail operations across more than 30 markets. Under her leadership, IKEA decoupled business growth from its climate footprint, achieved 14% growth while reducing emissions by 14%, sourced 98% of its wood from FSC certified or recycled sources and 100% of cotton from more sustainable sources, expanded clean energy to over 400 wind turbines, and accelerated circular offers such as take back, repair services and second hand stores.

Today, Pia combines board and advisory positions with a busy speaking calendar. She has served as Non Executive Director at Bupa, Origin Materials, MAX Burgers and Decathlon, Board Advisor at Achilles, Senior Advisor to Eurazeo’s Planetary Boundaries Impact Fund and Teneo, and Chair of the Advisory Board at The DO Group. She is co author of the influential book ‘Embedding Sustainability’, which distils practical lessons from decades of transformation work. As a keynote speaker, Pia shares clear, actionable guidance on climate strategy, circular business models and making sustainability everyone’s job, drawing on experiences that range from boardroom decision making to front line innovation in some of the world’s most complex organisations.