Solitaire Townsend | Keynote Speaker

Solitaire Townsend: A Sustainability Visionary

Solitaire Townsend is a renowned sustainability expert known for her optimistic, practical approach to solving climate change. With decades of experience in sustainability leadership, her work has influenced businesses, governments, education, media and environmental organisations around the world.

At the heart of her work is the idea of being a solutionist: someone who focuses on what can be done, who needs to be involved and how change can be made to feel achievable. For event hosts looking for a Solitaire Townsend speaker, she brings a rare mix of strategic insight, warmth and energy. Her keynotes help audiences move away from a gloomy world of climate headlines and towards collective action, optimism and solutions that feel within reach.

Co-founder and Chief Solutionist at Futerra

As co-founder and Chief Solutionist at Futerra, Solitaire has helped shape one of the best-known sustainability consultancies in the world. Futerra works with major companies, charities and institutions to build sustainability strategies, campaigns and communications that support social justice and environmental protection.

Her work at Futerra is built around solutions storytelling. Rather than relying on fear or guilt, Solitaire shows organisations how to create positive and optimistic change through better communication, stronger leadership and practical climate action.

This approach is especially useful for business audiences. Many organisations know they need to act on climate, energy, transparency and sustainability, but struggle to turn ambition into momentum. Solitaire helps leaders understand how to make sustainability feel relevant, motivating and commercially sensible.

Recognised as a Global Sustainability Leader

Solitaire Townsend’s leadership has earned her recognition across the sustainability world. In 2023, she was named Leader of the Year at Adweek’s Sustainability Awards and was recognised as the United Nations Global Compact SDG Pioneer for the UK. Vogue Business also included her in its 2023 list of sustainability innovators and thought leaders.

Her previous accolades include being named Ethical Entrepreneur of the Year, chair of the UK Green Energy Scheme, trustee of Ashden and a founder member of the United Nations Sustainable Lifestyles Taskforce. She has also been recognised as a London Leader for Sustainability and is Chair of The Solutions Union charity.

Solitaire also sits on the United Nations Climate Change committee for Entertainment and Culture for Climate Action, where she helps connect film, television and climate storytelling. Her role on the board of the Hollywood Climate Summit further reflects her belief that culture has a huge part to play in solving climate change.

Academic Contributions and Leadership

Solitaire holds master’s degrees in sustainability and Shakespeare, a combination that says a lot about her work. She understands the science and strategy behind climate action, but she also knows the power of language, emotion and storytelling.

She has lectured at Imperial College and the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership at the University of Cambridge, helping future business leaders and sustainability professionals think more clearly about their role in the future.

Her academic work and public speaking are grounded in a simple idea: climate action needs better stories if it is going to reach more people. Facts matter, but people also need hope, confidence and a reason to act.

Impact on Global Thought Leadership

Solitaire Townsend’s influence reaches well beyond consultancy. She has a popular TED talk, a Forbes column and an award-winning book, The Solutionists: How Businesses Can Fix the Future. She is also the author of The Happy Hero, which explores how people can feel good by doing good and find purpose through positive change.

Her writing, speaking and advisory work all share the same thread: sustainability should not feel like punishment. It should feel like a chance to build a better future, improve business and give people a stronger sense of agency.

Through her work with the Solutions Union charity, the United Nations Sustainable Lifestyles Taskforce, Ashden and other influential organisations, Solitaire has helped make climate action more practical, more human and easier to talk about. She brings together business, culture, education and policy to show how collective action can create real progress.

Inspiring Optimism in Corporate Sustainability

In a time when climate headlines can feel heavy, Solitaire Townsend brings a desperately needed sense of optimism. Her talks do not ignore the seriousness of climate change. Instead, they help audiences understand where their influence lies and how they can use it.

For corporate events, this makes her an especially strong keynote speaker. She helps business leaders move past confusion, fear or fatigue and focus on what they can do next. Her presentations explore how companies can build better sustainability strategies, communicate with honesty, avoid greenwash and make climate action part of everyday decision-making.

Solitaire’s style is friendly, professional and energising. She makes complex sustainability challenges feel clear without oversimplifying them. Audiences leave with practical ideas, renewed confidence and a more hopeful view of the future.

Book Solitaire Townsend to Speak at Your Next Event

Book Solitaire Townsend as your keynote speaker if you want your audience to feel informed, challenged and genuinely motivated to act.

Her work at Futerra, her leadership through The Solutions Union charity and her experience with global climate initiatives make her a powerful voice on sustainability, business, education, energy, climate and the future. She brings clarity to difficult subjects and helps organisations see how optimism, leadership and practical solutions can work together.

Whether your event is focused on climate change, sustainability leadership, corporate responsibility, storytelling, transparency or business transformation, Solitaire Townsend delivers a keynote that feels timely, useful and human.

Contact us today to learn more about booking Solitaire Townsend for your next event.