Oliver Dudok van Heel
CISL, University of Cambridge
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Oliver Dudok van Heel has built a career advising corporations on how to become more sustainable. It took him a quarter of a century to realise this is not possible within our current economic system. He now devotes his time to researching the societal narratives that have driven us to act in ways that are destructive to ourselves, to others and to the planet.
He is a Fellow of the University of Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) and a tutor on CISL’s Executive Programmes and Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainable Business.
Previously he was Global Sustainability Directors with Strategy Consultants Kearney and Head of Client Sustainability and Environment with law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer where he created and led the New York Circular City Initiative. Before that he was Director of The Aldersgate Group, an alliance of leaders from business, government and society that is seeking to develop sustainable policy change. It is during his time at Aldersgate that he started working with CUSP, while researching and writing ‘An Economy That Works’ a report that sought to identify the core characteristics of a sustainable economy. He has worked as a strategy consultant with Arthur D. Little, Monitor, SustainAbility, Radley Yeldar and Enviros.
He is passionate about helping create a more sustainable economic paradigm both at national and local level. He was an active member of Transition Town Lewes and helped launch a local currency, the Lewes Pound to support the local community and reduce its carbon footprint.
His other passion is music which he lives through Hilltop Sessions, a small music promotion CIC and as a member of festival busking troupe The Magnificent Kevens.
Oliver speaks English, French, Dutch, German, Spanish and Portuguese and holds a Master’s of Law and an Insead MBA. He has three wonderful grown-up children and lives in the Scottish Highlands with his wife, Maia.
Work w/ CUSP
With CUSP Oliver explores the negative narrative that shapes our understanding of the world we live in and influences our belief that sustainable prosperity is possible. Our sense of self as individuals and as a society and the stories we tell—and believe—about who we are strongly influence what future we can imagine. If we believe we are selfish and greedy, then we will create an image of ourselves and our society where selfishness and greed dominate. On the other hand, if we believe we are collaborative and altruistic, then we can start imagining a society where those qualities thrive. This self-image permeates all aspects of our lives, including popular culture, the media and our workplaces where micro-management rules and competition is deemed to be the only way to succeed.
Oliver will start a conversation on the role the negative narrative plays in holding back real change and identify ways to develop an authentic positive narrative which will help deliver genuine sustainable prosperity.