Alice Schmidt

Hello, I absolutely love providing keynotes and touching audiences with insights and stories about sustainability, circularity and a livable future for all. I‘m an experienced speaker (100+ talks) who really enjoys sharing her rich and varied experience gained over 25+ years in the sustainability field collaborating with 100+ organizations in 30 countries on 4 continents. I also draw on my books "The Sustainability Puzzle" and "Fast Forward", as well as a wealth of anecdotes. I'm a bigger picture person myself and love creating lightbulb moments for people listening to and engaging with my talks. Eventually, a talk is successful when I can infect others with my passion for the topic and help them make new links which they can then apply in the work and personal lives. I would love to hear from you!

SUMMARY

Internationally recognized leader on sustainability at the intersection of ecology, economy and society; 25+ years of hands-on experience in sustainable futures and international development with 70+ public and private organizations in 30+ countries on 4 continents; currently based in Vienna, Austria. Independent consultant and team leader with excellent systemic overview of risk and stakeholder engagement across sectors; passionate writer, lecturer and published author on sustainability, circularity and social transformation, including in the context of digitalisation.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Since 2008:
Founder and CEO • AS Consulting (Vienna and London)
• Studies, evaluations and reports for NGOs and international organizations at the interface of social and ecological sustainability, particularly global health and climate action (MSF, Plan, UNFPA, UNIDO, WaterAid, World Bank, WHO).
• Strategy development, leadership training and consultation for companies of all sizes, including Vienna Insurance Group, CEOs4Future, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Human Rights, Julius Meinl, Etimex Technical Components, Link Mobility.
• Climate action and simulation workshops for 25+ organizations, e.g. Berlin Climate Summit and Climate Reality Project (Al Gore)
• Sustainabiity reporting, incl. social and environmental impact measurement, e.g. Extinction Rebellion, Climate 2025, heri solar energy, The Week.
• Evaluation of 100+ grant applications for the 2022 and 2023 New European Bauhaus Prize (DG REGIO) on sustainable architecture.
• Keynote speeches on urban futures, digital humanism, a sustainable transformation, greenwashing risks, management for tomorrow and related topics at various fora, incl. the 2023 EMEA region new partner’s meeting of PWC.

2018 - 2022:
Senior Expert • European Commission (Vienna and Brussels)
• Advising the Directorate General for International Partnerships (DG DEVCO/INTPA) on global health, social protection and multisectoral engagement, including urban health, via studies, concepts and guidance in stakeholder engagement processes.
• Curation, management and moderation of annual global thematic seminars for delegates from INTPA and NEAR regions, and other events for knowledge exchange and transfer.

2016-2019
Director • endeva UG (Vienna and Berlin)
• Design, management and execution of social impact assessment and reporting projects with Ferrero, Generali, Argidius Foundation, Boehringer Ingelheim and other institutions.
• Business development, budget planning and human resource management in (digital) health, sustainable supply chains and social impact measurement.
• Development of a strategy for good governance and ethical partnerships.

2006-2008
Senior Advisor • Save the Children (London)
• Designing and leading the implementation of a global advocacy strategy for global health.
• Developing strategic partnerships on health financing in the UK and internationally.
• Building and leading stakeholder coalitions in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

2004 - 2005
Policy Specialist • UNDP (Hanoi)
• Development of a 4M USD project in the area of political leadership and collaboration for health and HIV
• Design and delivery of HIV in the workplace trainings

2001-2004
Regional Programme Officer • UNESCO (Bangkok)
• Organization and implementation of trainings and stakeholder consultations in Indonesia, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
• Development of a management system for project grants.
• Development of websites, brochures and other communication materials, including photography and copywriting.

1999-2001
Journalist • pressetext.austria (Vienna and Sydney)
• Publication of texts on a range of topics in technology, social inclusion, business and ecological sustainability.
• Management of an EU project for start-ups.

2000
Production assistant • ARD/ZDF Olympics (Sydney)
• Organizational management and supervision of moderators and editors.

2000
Consultant Associate • Roland Berger Strategieberatung (Vienna)
• Concept development for Graz as a cultural capital; consulting for start-ups in the development of business plans.

1998 - 1999
Marketing Assistant • The Coca-Cola Company; Henkel (Vienna)
• Content implementation of marketing campaigns in Eastern Europe.

EDUCATION

Climate Ambassador Certificate (MIT, 2020)
UN University of Peace (CSR Certificate, 2008) SOAS/University of London (MSc/Violence, Conflict & Development, 2006)
Vienna University of Economics and Business and University for Technology, Sydney (Mag. rer. soc.oec International Business and Economics, 2002)
Vienna University of Economics and Business (International Business Administration, BA level, 1998)

UNIVERSITY TEACHING

Since 2023: ‘Managing for Tomorrow: Solving the Sustainability Puzzle’, WU Wien & University of Illinois Sustainability Programme
2022: ‘Systems Thinking’, in Certificate for Sustainability Change Agents, FH Wien
Since 2020: ‘Sustainability & Ethics‘, in Certificate for Sustainable Finance, FH Wien
Since 2021: ‘Climate & systems thinking for sustainable development’ and ‘Business & Society’, Professional Master on Sustainability, Entrepreneurship and Technology; Executive Academy, WU Wien & Tomorrow’s University
Since 2018: ‘Cross-sector business partnerships and social innovation in Africa’, in ‘Doing Business in Africa’ at WU Wien
Since 2012: ‘Sustainable Business - Managing for Tomorrow’; three international BA und MBA courses per year, WU Wien
2011: ‘Povery & Violence in Asia and Africa‘; Alpe-Adria Universität
2009: ‘CSR and Business Ethics; interdisciplinary course, Universität Augsburg & Universität Erlangen

COUNTRY EXPERIENCE

Austria, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Cambodia, China, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Germany, Ghana, Indonesia, Italy, Kazakhstan, Lao PDR, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Nepal, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Zambia.

BOARD MEMBERSHIPS

Chair of the board, endeva e.V.
Science and Society Council, Digital Humanism for Business
International Board, Circular Economy Forum Austria
Advisory Board, Protect Our Winters
Member of Scientific Advisory Council, Institute for European Research on Happiness
Jury, New European Bauhaus Prize
Jury, Green Marketing Award (ÖBB, horizont)
Jury, Vitalpin Klimainvest

LANGUAGES

German (Native)
English (Native level)
French (Advanced)
Italian and Dutch (Conversational)

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Dobbelaere, J., Schmidt, A., Schütz, F., Winkler, C. (2023). Fast Forward: How to Harness the Power of AI for Societal Progress and a Sustainable Future.
Borgermann, N., Schmidt, A. and Dobbelaere, J. (2022). Preaching water while drinking wine: Why universities must boost climate action now. One Earth Commentary I Volume 5, ISSUE 1, P18-21, 22 January 2022
Schmidt, A. and Winkler, C. (2021). Piecing together The Sustainability Puzzle: How an ambitious book was born. One Earth Backstory | Volume 4, ISSUE 10, P1339-1347, 22 October 2021;
Schmidt, A. and Winkler, C. (2021). The Sustainability Puzzle: How Systems Thinking, Circularity, Climate Action and Social Transformation Can Improve Health, Wealth and Wellbeing for All.
Schmidt A. (2021) Health and the City: How Cities Impact on Health, Happiness, and Well-Being. In: Brears R. (eds) The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Urban and Regional Futures. Palgrave Macmillan.
Foreword in Weenk, E. and Henzen, R. (2021). Mastering the Circular Economy. "Hands-on Guidance for Future-Proofing your Business".
Schmidt, A. (2021). Creating Win-Wins by Taking Drastic Action on Sustainability. The Defence Horizon Journal, online.
Schmidt, A. (2010). “Corporate Social Responsibility in Austria”; Chapter in the ‘World Guide to Corporate Social Responsibility’, edited by W. Visser and N. Tolhurst (2010).

For complete publications list see www.aliceschmidt.at/publications.html