Professor Emerita Cynthia Mitchell

Cynthia Mitchell is respected globally as a thought and practice leader concerning how we transform ourselves, our systems, and our institutions towards regenerative futures.

Cynthia’s story is unusual in academic terms – instead of narrowing, she has steadily expanded her focus, starting with biotechnology and engineering and opening to encompass sustainability, learning and change, economics, systems, and leadership. Over 20 years, she helped grow the Institute for Sustainable Futures at UTS from a fledgling into a world class entity, whilst she delivered more than a hundred collaborative research projects that enabled her industry and government partners to make practical sustainability improvements.

Along the way, she received many accolades and awards here and abroad, including an honorary doctorate from Sweden and being in the Australian Financial Review’s 100 Women of Influence in 2015. She proudly serves on the national Community Directors Council, providing governance oversight to the not-for-profit sector.

In 2021, Cynthia started her first business, ‘the good ancestor’, through which she helps her clients take actions that demonstrate love and care for the generations who will follow us.