suzanne whitby: bio

I am driven by a single question: in the face of today’s many challenges, what can I do to help people co-create hopeful, sustainable futures?

I am a modern-day Pollyanna and a pragmatic optimist who believes that co-creating hopeful futures is possible, and that the most important factor in co-creating hopeful futures is people.

I’d love to say that I was very mindful, Zen-like person who has all the answers, but I am not and I don’t.  The only thing that I do know is that everyone has a part to play in creating a better world and that’s where I invest my knowledge and experience. When it’s possible, I bring people together through a variety of events that I organise, because the world doesn’t need one hero: we need many hero*ines working together.

Through communication campaigns, workshops, writing and speaking, I harness the power of stories, the senses, emotion and values to engage and involve people in today’s sustainability challenges, challenge thinking, change attitudes, and shift behaviours.

I describe myself as a professional storyteller, communication specialist, sustainability catalyst, climate communicator and researcher, although this constellation changes from time to time. You can learn more about my work here.

I am interested in making urban spaces sustainable places to live and work, and I design and organise many walking events in Innsbruck and beyond. I have a BA in English & Philosophy, an MA in Classics with a focus on sensory experiences, and my current PhD research explores the senses, stories and space as a way to shift thinking around sustainability.

I am often invited to speak, write, train, design workshops, craft performances, facilitate, consult, mentor, and lecture on my areas of expertise.

I love what I do. Every day, I am excited and empowered by the projects that I am involved in, and the inspired people I meet. I’m incredibly lucky, and I never (well, almost never!) forget it!

If you think we have something in common and you’d like to chat, get in touch. I am always happy to meet new and interesting people, on Zoom or in person for a cup of tea.

In my free time, I am avid reader, writer, fish hugger, star gazer, sailer, classicist, aspiring mindful person, and idea-generator. I am a traditional, oral storyteller. I seem to come up with 100 ideas a day, some of which turn into projects. I am proudly South African, and a long term resident of beautiful Innsbruck where I live in the foothills of the Nordkette with my endlessly tolerant (and rather marvellous) husband and thousands of books, most of which I’ve read.

 

Suzanne Whitby

Published work & media

A local’s guide to Innsbruck, Austria: from Christmas markets to clubbing and cable car rides by Suzanne Whitby

Published in The Guardian, 7th November 2022
A short, fun piece about Innsbruck – for people who want more than snow and hiking.

 

Say cheese: press photos

Every now and again (seldom, admittedly!), people ask for photos and headshots for interviews and events. Here you go!

Suzanne Whitby Press Photos
Suzanne Whitby Press Photos
Suzanne Whitby Press Photos
Suzanne Whitby Press Photos