Weslynne Ashton is a Professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology, where she holds a joint appointment at the Stuart School of Business and the Institute of Design, and co-directs the Food Systems Action Lab. A sustainable systems scientist, she has spent more than 25 years exploring how industries, communities,... Read more
Weslynne Ashton is a Professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology, where she holds a joint appointment at the Stuart School of Business and the Institute of Design, and co-directs the Food Systems Action Lab. A sustainable systems scientist, she has spent more than 25 years exploring how industries, communities, and ecosystems can thrive together through principles of industrial ecology, circular economy, and design-led innovation.
Her research and practice focus on helping organisations transition from a circular economy to a circular society – one that is not only resource-efficient but also just, inclusive, and regenerative. Weslynne’s recent work emphasises equity and justice within sustainability, particularly through the lens of urban food systems. Based in Chicago, she studies how design, collaboration, and targeted capital investment can build resilient and equitable food networks that reduce waste, improve access, and strengthen community well-being.
At the intersection of design, strategy, and futures thinking, Weslynne helps organisations envision and act toward pluralistic, “pluriversal” futures – multiple, coexisting pathways that draw from diverse cultural, geographic, and indigenous perspectives. She calls this approach “stewarding circular futures”, blending stewardship, circularity, and design as tools for shaping inclusive transitions.
Named to the Thinkers50 Radar List (2024) as one of the emerging management thinkers set to shape the future of business, Weslynne brings a unique perspective rooted in both academic excellence and practical innovation. She offers actionable insights for companies, policymakers, and designers on how to create systems where people, organisations, and nature can flourish together.
Weslynne holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and master’s and doctoral degrees in Environmental Science from Yale University.
Tackling the climate challenge through food systems – from emissions and waste to equitable access and community resilience.
Moving beyond financial metrics to measure financial, natural, and social capitals – creating more holistic and actionable sustainability strategies.
How design, stewardship, and indigenous knowledge can guide bold, pluralistic action toward sustainable futures.
How businesses and communities can build systems that are not only sustainable but just and inclusive.
Closing the loop in food systems – addressing waste, equity, and innovation across the supply chain.