Tsedal Neeley
Naylor Fitzhugh Professor & MBA Chair, Harvard Business School | Founding Chair, HBS AI Academy | Thinkers50 #10 | Author, 3 Books
Katharine Wilkinson
Climate Author & Strategist | Co-editor of Drawdown & All We Can Save | Co-founder, The All We Can Save Project | TED Speaker
Katharine Wilkinson is one of the most influential voices in the global climate movement, a writer, editor, and strategist who has helped define how the world understands climate solutions. As co-editor of Drawdown and All We Can Save, and co-founder of The All We Can Save Project, she brings both intellectual rigor and moral clarity to audiences navigating the urgency of our climate moment.
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Katharine Wilkinson biography
Katharine Wilkinson is a writer, editor, and climate strategist recognized internationally as one of the most compelling voices on climate solutions and the power of collective action. Her work sits at the intersection of science, storytelling, and social change, helping audiences and organizations understand not just the scale of the climate challenge, but the depth of the opportunity to respond.
Sustainability speaker Katharine Wilkinson first gained global recognition as co-editor of Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming (2017), a landmark volume led by Paul Hawken that mapped and ranked the 100 most effective solutions to climate change. The book became an essential resource for policymakers, business leaders, and educators, translating decades of scientific research into actionable, accessible frameworks. Wilkinson served as vice president of communication and engagement at Project Drawdown, the organization behind the research, helping bring its evidence-based approach to audiences across every sector.
All We Can Save and the Climate Leadership Movement
In 2020, Wilkinson co-edited All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis with Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, an anthology bringing together more than 60 women writing, leading, and creating at the forefront of the climate movement. The book became a New York Times bestseller and sparked a broader cultural conversation about the voices, values, and forms of leadership the climate transition requires. Wilkinson and Johnson also co-founded The All We Can Save Project, a nonprofit building community and connection among climate leaders through reading circles, education programs, and ongoing dialogue.
Wilkinson holds a doctorate from the University of Edinburgh and an undergraduate degree from Sewanee: The University of the South. Her academic background spans the environmental sciences and the humanities, a combination that informs her capacity to engage across disciplines and reach audiences who may not consider themselves climate insiders. She has been a writer-in-residence at Middlebury College and is ordained in the Episcopal Church, bringing a rare perspective on the moral and spiritual dimensions of the climate crisis.
As a speaker, Katharine Wilkinson brings extraordinary clarity and warmth to one of the defining challenges of our time. Her keynotes translate the complexity of climate science and systems into language that resonates with senior executives, civic leaders, and general audiences alike. Attendees leave with a stronger understanding of where real solutions are emerging, why equity and inclusion are inseparable from effective climate action, and how every sector, from finance to culture to technology, has a role to play. Her TED talk on climate solutions has been viewed by millions, and her on-stage presence reflects a rare ability to hold urgency and hope together.
Katharine Wilkinson Speaking Videos
Katharine Wilkinson - How empowering women and girls can help stop global warming
Project Drawdown's Katharine Wilkinson on seizing the climate moment
Katharine Wilkinson Keynote Topics
The most daunting aspect of climate change is not the science — it is the gap between what we know and what we do. Drawing on the research behind Drawdown, Wilkinson maps the most effective, scalable solutions already in motion across energy, land use, food systems, and cities. She helps organizations and leaders cut through paralysis and identify where they can have the greatest impact, grounding ambition in evidence and offering a clear-eyed picture of what genuine progress looks like.
Informed by her work curating more than 60 voices at the forefront of the climate movement, Wilkinson explores what kinds of leadership the transition ahead actually demands. She examines why diversity, care, and moral courage are strategic assets, not add-ons, and how organizations that embrace a broader vision of who gets to lead are also those best positioned to navigate complex, high-stakes change. This is a talk about culture, capacity, and what it takes to rise to a moment.
The shift away from fossil fuels is the largest economic transition in human history, and it is already underway. Wilkinson helps business audiences understand where the most significant opportunities lie, which sectors are being reshaped fastest, and why companies that align strategy with climate reality will outcompete those that don't. The keynote blends big-picture systems thinking with concrete examples of innovation across industries.
Despair and denial are two sides of the same coin, and neither leads to action. In this more intimate, values-driven talk, Wilkinson explores what it means to lead with honesty about the scale of the climate challenge while refusing to surrender to hopelessness. Drawing on science, literature, and her own experience at the intersection of faith and environmentalism, she offers frameworks for resilience, purpose, and engaged action that resonate with audiences in any sector.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Katharine Wilkinson
Why Katharine Wilkinson?
Booking Katharine Wilkinson for your event means bringing one of the most authoritative and genuinely inspiring voices on climate solutions to your stage. She is not a doom-and-gloom messenger or a distant academic: she is a storyteller and strategist who makes the climate crisis feel navigable, urgent, and full of possibility. Her work with Project Drawdown and The All We Can Save Project gives her a depth of knowledge that few speakers can match, while her gift for communication ensures that complex ideas land with clarity and emotional resonance. Whether your audience is a boardroom of executives, a gathering of civic leaders, or a large public forum, Wilkinson meets them where they are and leaves them better equipped to act. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to check her availability and booking details.
What books has Katharine Wilkinson written or edited?
Wilkinson is co-editor of two landmark climate books. The first, Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming (2017), edited with Paul Hawken, ranked and analyzed the 100 most effective solutions to climate change and became a foundational reference for climate strategy globally. The second, All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis (2020), co-edited with marine biologist Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, gathered essays and poems from more than 60 women at the forefront of the climate movement and became a New York Times bestseller. Both books are widely used in academic, corporate, and policy settings.
What is The All We Can Save Project?
The All We Can Save Project is a nonprofit co-founded by Katharine Wilkinson and Ayana Elizabeth Johnson in connection with the release of their anthology. The organization runs a global network of reading and discussion circles, bringing people together around the book's themes of climate action, equity, and leadership. It supports educators, community groups, and organizations in creating ongoing learning communities, and has connected tens of thousands of participants across dozens of countries. The project reflects Wilkinson's broader belief that culture and community are as essential to the climate transition as policy and technology.
What topics does sustainability speaker Katharine Wilkinson cover in her keynotes?
Wilkinson speaks across a range of interconnected themes: the science and strategy of climate solutions, the role of inclusion and diverse leadership in the energy transition, the business opportunities created by decarbonization, and the personal and organizational psychology of acting meaningfully in a moment of crisis. Her keynotes can be tailored for corporate strategy conferences, sustainability summits, leadership development programs, and public-facing events. She is equally at home delivering data-rich analysis and more values-driven conversations about purpose and responsibility. To discuss which keynote fits your audience, reach out to Aurum Speakers Bureau.
How to book Katharine Wilkinson as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Katharine Wilkinson as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Katharine Wilkinson's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Katharine Wilkinson or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Katharine Wilkinson speaking fee?
Katharine Wilkinson speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Katharine Wilkinson to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Katharine Wilkinson.
How can I contact Katharine Wilkinson?
We only work with Katharine Wilkinson on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Katharine Wilkinson and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Katharine Wilkinson speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Katharine Wilkinson for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Katharine Wilkinson for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Katharine Wilkinson is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Katharine Wilkinson for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
