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
Dr. Weslynne Ashton on industrial ecology and connecting people, Associate Professor at IIT
Weslynne Ashton
Weslynne Ashton: Profit is Not the Only Value | The Provocateurs: Episode 31
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.
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.
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You can book Weslynne Ashton through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Weslynne's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
Weslynne Ashton's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Weslynne tailored to your event.
Weslynne Ashton speaks on Cities & Environment, Climate, Sustainability. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Weslynne to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book Weslynne Ashton for events worldwide, subject to Weslynne's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Weslynne Ashton is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Weslynne can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief Weslynne Ashton on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Weslynne can offer.
Weslynne Ashton delivers keynotes in English. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
Weslynne Ashton's areas of expertise include Cities & Environment, Climate, Sustainability. To get a clear sense of Weslynne's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
Weslynne Ashton can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in Cities & Environment, Climate, Sustainability is relevant. Details of Weslynne's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Weslynne Ashton is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Weslynne Ashton, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Weslynne's current availability for your dates.