Wayne Visser

Dr. Wayne Visser is a globally recognized academic and practitioner (pracademician) in sustainability. He holds a Professorship in Integrated Value at Antwerp Management School, where he leads the world's first academic chair in Sustainable Transformation, supported by BASF, the Port of Antwerp, and Randstad. He is also a Senior Lecturer and Fellow at the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership. His roles include director of Kaleidoscope Futures (a think tank and media company) and founder of CSR International.

• Education: Holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge, emphasizing practical academic work (pracademic).
• Previous Positions: Director of Sustainability Services at KPMG and Strategy Analyst at Capgemini in South Africa.

His research focuses on applying systems thinking to achieve regeneration in nature, society, and the economy. Key themes include integrated value frameworks, sustainable strategy evolution, and critiquing ESG standards. His documentary Closing the Loop (world’s first circular economy feature film) and seven published poetry volumes highlight his diverse contributions.

Recent articles critique ESG’s limitations, advocate for systems-based strategies, and explore workforce sustainability challenges linked to the UN SDGs. His work emphasizes actionable solutions over theoretical frameworks.

• Awards:
  • World’s Top 10 Influential Social Media Thinker in Responsible Business (University of Bath)
  • Top 100 Thought Leader in Trustworthy Business (Excellence and Trust across America)

Advising and grants: Advises global corporations on sustainable transformation strategies. His chair is funded by industry partners, reflecting his bridge-building role between academia and practice. Collaborates with organizations like the Global Advisory Board of BCorp IMPACTO (Asia).

Labs/Teams: Leads Kaleidoscope Futures, focusing on future trends and media, and oversees Antwerp Management School’s Sustainable Transformation initiatives.