William McDonough Keynote Speaker

World renowned architect and designer
Co-author, "Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things" (2002)
Time magazine's "Hero for the Planet" (1999)

William McDonough's Biography

Co-author of the seminal work “Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things” (2002), William McDonough is at the forefront of the American sustainability movement.

A renowned business strategist, William is the co-founder of the non-profit Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, which evaluates companies’ policies in areas like toxicity, renewable energy, water stewardship and sustainability – and awards corporations Cradle to Cradle Certification if they make the changes necessary to protecting the environment.

A founding principal of MBDC, a product and systems design consulting firm that assists some of the world’s largest companies to innovate new products and services using Cradle to Cradle design principles, William helps audiences understand the imperative behind creating a Cradle to Cradle economy that embraces doing good by both business and the environment.

William ’s leadership in sustainable development is recognised widely and he is the recipient of numerous awards including the Presidential Award for Sustainable Development (the nation’s highest environmental honour) and the National Design Award for exemplary achievement in the field of environmental design.

He has shaped modern circular economy thinking as co-author of Cradle to Cradle, giving leaders a clear framework for redesigning products and systems for long-term value.
He co-founded the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, helping organisations translate sustainability ambitions into measurable standards across materials, energy and water stewardship.
He advises major companies through MBDC on innovation that reduces toxicity and waste while strengthening competitiveness, resilience and brand trust.
His work equips executives to move beyond compliance toward regenerative design, aligning profitable growth with environmental and social outcomes.