Dr Lesley Stone is a highly experienced and internationally certified sustainability practitioner with a strong track record in organisational learning and change.

She has worked as a sustainability advocate, researcher, teacher, practitioner, consultant and advisor. Her engagement with international, regional, central and local government agencies, businesses, NGOs and communities has spanned Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia, the UK, the US, Europe, SE Asia and the South Pacific.

Most recently she circumnavigated New Zealand’s North Island in an Aussie-designed and built catamaran. Before that she spent 15 years facilitating implementation of the University of Auckland’s sustainability commitments, reporting jointly to the Vice-Chancellor and to the Director of Property Services. Her team and the many partners they worked with were instrumental in the University twice being placed first in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings. These rankings measure impact in pursuit of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

Lesley currently practices as an independent sustainability consultant while also writing a book on the passion, learning and leadership that contribute to sustainability best-practice. She is certain that the book, based on over 150 interviews, will add value to sustainability practitioners as well as those who educate, employ and empower them. Lesley is also certain that by working collectively to regenerate and thrive, we will also make progress towards a just transition to a sustainable future.