Dr Jem Bendell is a Professor of Sustainability Leadership and Founder of the Institute for Leadership and Sustainability (IFLAS) at the University of Cumbria (UK).
He focuses on leadership and communications for social change, as well as approaches that may help humanity face climate-induced disruption. Prof. Bendell originated the concept of Deep Adaptation to near term societal collapse due to climate chaos. For the previous 20 years he was a researcher, educator, advisor, & entrepreneur in sustainable development. Clients included business, UN agencies, charities & political parties. He helped create the Marine Stewardship Council and The Finance Innovation Lab. He advised the leadership of the Labour Party during the 2017 UK general election, including speech writing. Bendell launched MAs on sustainability & leadership. With over 100 publications on sustainability, his work on currency innovation drew much media attention. In 2012 he was recognised by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader. In response to the latest climate science, he now focuses on Deep Adaptation.
A graduate of the University of Cambridge, he had twenty years of experience in sustainable business and finance, as a researcher, educator, facilitator, advisor, & entrepreneur, having lived & worked in six countries. Clients for his strategy development included international corporations, UN agencies and international NGOs. The World Economic Forum (WEF) recognised Professor Bendell as a Young Global Leader for his work on sustainable business alliances. With over 100 publications, including four books and five UN reports, he regularly appeared in international media on topics of sustainable business and finance, as well as currency innovation. His TEDx talk is the most watched online speech on complementary currencies. In 2012 Professor Bendell co-authored the WEF report on the Sharing Economy. Previously he helped create innovative alliances, including the Marine Stewardship Council, to endorse sustainable fisheries and The Finance Innovation Lab, to promote sustainable finance. In 2007 he wrote a report for WWF on the responsibility of luxury brands, which appeared in over 50 newspapers and magazines worldwide, and inspired a number of entrepreneurs to create businesses in the luxury sector.