Dr Sally Uren OBE is a globally recognised thought leader in sustainability and systems change. As a keynote speaker, she brings clarity, passion and decades of experience to her audiences, challenging organisations to rethink their role in building a just and regenerative future. One of her most significant achievement to date is serving eleven years (2013–2024) as Chief Executive of Forum for the Future, where she helped transform the organisation into a global force for sustainable development.
Sally began her career following the completion of a PhD in Environmental Sciences, driven by an early passion for environmental responsibility - sparked by helping clean the Manchester Ship Canal. She went on to found the sustainability division at Casella Stanger (now part of Bureau Veritas), where she served for over a decade. These early experiences were instrumental in shaping her systems-based approach to sustainability, honing her belief in the power of cross-sector collaboration and strategic influence to drive change.
Throughout her impressive career, Sally has held numerous prestigious positions, including Chief Executive of Forum for the Future and now Executive Director and Chief Acceleration Officer at the same organisation, where she leads on accelerating the transition of our global food and energy systems. She continues to spearhead flagship projects such as Growing our Future, The Business Transformation Compass, and the Climate and Health Coalition. She is an Advisory Board Member for Bentley Motors and EcoVadis, a Trustee of the Galapagos Conservation Trust, and a Non-Executive Director for Travalyst, the sustainable travel initiative led by the Duke of Sussex. In recognition of her contributions, she was awarded an OBE in 2017 for services to sustainability in business.
Sally is an engaging and insightful speaker whose expertise spans critical industries, including food, fashion, transport, and energy. Regularly appearing at major events such as Trellis (formerly GreenBiz), Sustainable Brands, and Economist Impact, she delivers keynotes on systemic change, just and regenerative business, corporate sustainability, and climate resilience. With a unique ability to demystify complexity and spark meaningful action, Sally is the ideal choice for organisations seeking to lead in a rapidly changing world. Her work empowers businesses and individuals alike to become true agents of transformation at a time when action on sustainability has never been more urgent.
We recently sat down in an exclusive interview with Dr Sally Uren OBE - hear her insight into corporate sustainability and more!
When booked for corporate events, Sally is known to cover the following topics:
- System Change
- Mainstreaming Sustainability in Business
- Sustainable Business Models
- Sustainable Retail
- Sustainable Brands
- Sustainable Food and Agriculture
Official Feedback from In-Person & Virtual Events
Feedback from In-Person Events:
"Sally's talk was really fantastic - she was very thoughtful in how she structured her presentation, bringing in examples that were relevant to our sector and our people. She didn't shy away from the hard-hitting facts, which is exactly what we wanted, but she also brought in the message around the action. There has been a really nice impact following her talk - numerous people have reached out to me, wanting to watch the talk again, asking for more information, wanting further tips on how they can actively make changes in their own lives, and commenting on how Sally's talk has made them take a deeper look at their impact on the environment. Of course, from a business perspective, it was galvanising for our senior leaders and was a clear demonstration of the direction and commitment that we are taking as an organisation" - Clare, Boston Scientific
Sally was incredible. We have had phenomenal feedback on her speech. Everyone was impressed with her knowledge and personality. Not only was she inspiring but holding a room in the level of heat we had that day was incredible. - Chloe, giffgaff
- 2025 – Co-facilitated the workshop “CSRD – A Definitive How to?” at Economist Impact 10th Annual Sustainability Week
- 2025 – Provided leadership on sustainability-centric governance with guidance on achieving sustained excellence at Sustainable Brands, San Diego
- 2025 – Delivered the opening keynote “Accelerating the shift to a more sustainable and resilient food system” at Future Food Systems, London
- 2024 – Delivered the closing keynote “Beyond compliance: Embracing the future of regulated reporting for maximum business transformation” at Reuters Responsible Business Europe
- 2024 – Contributed to “Advancing Innovative Strategic Partnerships for Climate Action” and addressed “The Conflict Between Growth and Sustainability” at Climate Week, New York
- 2024 – Moderated panel with partners on “Investing in a Sustainable Food System” at the UNGC UK Food Sector Exchange, London
- 2020 - Named as one of the 100 UK Leading Environmentalists by Forbes
- 2013 - Chief Executive of Forum for the Future
- 2002 - Deputy Chief Executive of Forum for the Future
- 1992 - Director of Environmental Management & Sustainability for Casella Stanger
- Advisory Board Member for Kimberly Clark, Kingfisher and Burberry
- Judge for the Queen's Award for Sustainable Development
- Appointed OBE for Services to Sustainability
How to hire Dr. Sally Uren
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Dr. Sally Uren for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at agent@championsukplc.com for more information.
** We do NOT accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
