Kate Gibson
UWC Atlantic 1992 - 1994
Empowering Change: My UWC Atlantic Journey and Career in Sustainability
I’m Kate, a UWC Atlantic alumna from the class of 1994. Looking back, my time at AC was a truly transformative experience. Growing up in Toronto, I had never been to Europe before and suddenly found myself living in a tower of a castle in Wales, surrounded by students from all over the world. UWC Atlantic expanded my horizons in ways I never expected, giving me a global perspective and teaching me the importance of curiosity, resilience and the drive to make change in all aspects of my life.
One of the biggest lessons I took away was that if you identify an issue, don’t wait for permission to change it - just act. This became the foundation for everything I have done since my UWC experience. When I arrived at AC, I was surprised to find there was no recycling on campus. Rather than waiting for someone else to take the lead, I set up the first environmental society and introduced recycling and composting to the school and organised the first sustainability conference at the college. This proactive approach, instilled in me by the college, has defined how I’ve approached every challenge in my career.
After I graduated, I explored adventure travel and guided biking and hiking trips around the world. My customers were senior business leaders from a wide variety of industries, and spending time with them helped me to realise that despite their high-profile positions, they were ordinary people who had worries and vulnerabilities, and passions beyond just making money. They were concerned about environmental and social issues and could be motivated to use their influence to help make things better. This perspective shift led me to consider a business career which, for me, started with strategy consulting and then a variety of roles in industry where I had the opportunity to move into corporate sustainability, a field that was just starting to take root. I took the initiative, pushing for focus on sustainability within companies and eventually led global sustainability and social impact teams at major corporations.
Today, I’m focused on accelerating action to address the climate crisis, biodiversity loss and social inequality. I decided to leave my corporate role to start my own consultancy, making use of my knowledge, experience (and many battle scars!) from leading global sustainability teams over the past 10+ years to work with companies committed to turning their sustainability promises into accelerated action. The next five years are critical globally and I’m determined to help businesses make meaningful progress when it matters most.
I also give my time back to AC through AC’s United Women for Change programme. This initiative is incredibly close to my heart because I’ve seen first-hand the ripple effect that empowering women can have on themselves, their families and their communities. By providing mentorship, I hope to help the next generation of leaders navigate their careers and lives with confidence, just as I’ve learned to do over the years.
UWC Atlantic has always been at the core of my journey. The values of global citizenship, resilience, and taking initiative have guided my career path. I’ve seen the power of the UWC network in action - whether it’s through working with other alumni or collaborating with like-minded individuals who share the same vision for change. Together, I believe we can play an important role in tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
For me, the AC experience was the foundation for everything that followed. It taught me to be purpose-driven in my work and to always connect my passions to my career. It showed me that making a difference isn’t just possible, it’s essential. And now, as I work to create sustainable change, I’m proud to carry forward the lessons AC gave me and to encourage and support others along the way.