Kate Brandt is at the forefront of the sustainability movement, having worked as Google's Sustainability Officer since 2018. Specialising in the business' operations and products, she has revolutionised Google's processes to be more in line with new, environmentally-friendly regulations. As a sustainability speaker, Kate expands upon her day-to-day work to inspire other companies, motivating others to embrace a more sustainable future. Knowledgeable and experienced, her infectious passion for our planet makes her a truly inspiring speaker.
As a prominent TEDtalk presenter, this environmental trailblazer is no stranger to the stage. Initially educated at Brown University and the University of Cambridge, Kate left education in 2008 to then work for the Obama Administration, Florida Campaign for Change. While working for the American government, she was on the Obama-Biden National Security Agency Review Team until 2009, when she became Special Advisor for Energy to the Secretary of the Navy. While working with the Navy, Kate was awarded the Public Service Award - the highest award that the Navy can give to a civilian. Going from strength to strength, she was the first US Federal Chief of Sustainability Officer, a role in which she promoted sustainability across thousands of federal buildings, vehicles and billions of dollars work of services.
Between 2013 to 2015, Kate rose through the ranks of the US government; from Director of Energy and Environment to Senior Advisor of the US Department of Energy. Branching out from federal roles, she spent just under a year as the Adjunct Professor in the Change Leadership for Sustainability Program at Stanford University, before moving to Google. Kate started working as their Lead for Sustainability in 2015, before being promoted to Google Sustainability Officer in 2016. She has also worked as a Policy Analyst in the Office of Energy and Climate Change at the White House and was a part of the Women for Obama campaign during the Obama-Biden Presidential elections. In 2023, Kate was invited to attend the 2023 World Economic Forum in Davos, at which she was involved in discussions on the WEF 2023 theme of Cooperation in a Fragmented World.
In her motivational speeches, Kate can offer advice to companies wishing to "go green". Inspired by her experiences at Google and the U.S. Government, she is pioneering a sustainable future through her speeches, as she believes that all corporations have a responsibility to the environment. With access to Google's emerging technologies, Kate can promote the importance of the environment through her presentations.
