Shirley-Ann Behravesh

Shirley-Ann Behravesh is an assistant professor of global sustainable enterprise at Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University. Behravesh holds a doctorate in sustainability science from Arizona State University, a Master of Philosophy in manufacturing engineering from the University of Cambridge, and a Bachelor of Science in management with finance from the University of the West Indies. She also serves as a senior global futures scientist with Arizona State University's Global Institute of Sustainability and Innovation and as program lead for corporate engagement in biodiversity conservation at the Center for Biodiversity Outcomes.

Behravesh's research centers on strategies to advance sustainability and innovation practices within organizations and communities. She teaches and conducts research on sustainable business practices, the circular economy, global futures, sustainable cities, biomimicry, and sustainable supply chains. Her work spans both private and public sectors, and she has published peer-reviewed articles in journals such as Journal of Cleaner Production and International Review of Public Administration. Her paper "Uncovering Sustainable Business Practice Bundles," co-authored with colleagues and presented at the Decision Sciences Annual Meeting, received a Best Theoretical Paper Award. She has also contributed a chapter to the Springer Nature volume "Sustainable Economic Development: Fostering the United Nations Goals."

Before her academic career, Behravesh gained experience in sustainability as a project manager with Cambridgeshire County Council in the United Kingdom, collaborating with European partners on projects in sustainable transportation, construction, food systems, and renewable energy technologies. She has served as a program consultant with the Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council and as a research fellow with the American Sustainable Business Council, where she produced the report "The Power of Sustainable Purchasing." Behravesh sits on the Climate Action Advisory Council for the City of Tucson, connecting academic research with civic initiatives.

Behravesh is a keynote speaker who has delivered presentations in the United States and internationally on topics including sustainability innovation, diversity and inclusion, and grassroots changemaking. Her speaking engagements have included the GreenBiz Conference, the UN Global Compact, the GRI Reporters Summit, Environmental Defense Fund, and Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Drawing on her Caribbean background, Behravesh offers perspectives on resilience and equity, emphasizing the role of grassroots innovations in small-island states and the developing world in advancing global sustainability. With more than 15 years of experience in the field, Behravesh contributes to the development of sustainability leaders through teaching, research, and public engagement.