Wendy Purcell PhD FRSA is Research Scholar with Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University where she leads research on global leadership and governance for sustainable transformation in higher education and in various business sectors, including Travel & Tourism and the Auto industries; she directs the Sustainable Development Solutions Group. Wendy is Emeritus Professor and was President Vice-Chancellor of a UK university (2007-2015), taking it to the top 1% of world universities and 1st ‘green’ UK university. She is a Council Member of the United Nations University, Member of the Association of American Universities and Colleges, and Expert Adviser to the UK Government and a range of global Boards and charities advancing internationalization and sustainability leadership.
Wendy’s purpose lies in transforming lives through education and research in pursuit of social equity, the knowledge economy and sustainable development. She has authored over 100 academic publications, as well as book chapters, books and patent filings. She is currently editor of the lead journal Sustainability for a special issue on ‘Sustainable Higher Education and Leadership’ and lead author of a textbook entitled ‘Handbook on Sustainability in Higher Education: an Agenda for Transformational Change’.