Erin Fitzgerald is a visionary leader and sustainability advocate committed to creating business-driven solutions for the world's most pressing environmental and social challenges. With over 20 years of experience, Erin has been at the forefront of sustainability, climate-smart agriculture, and renewable energy, driving innovation across industries. As the founder of Fitzgerald Consulting, Erin partners with startups, investors, and organizations to develop scalable, sustainable business models that benefit both people and the planet.Throughout her career, Erin has championed agriculture as a key solution to environmental challenges, advocating for climate-smart agriculture based on science and practical business models. She has collaborated with global leaders and stakeholders—from farm-to-fork to finance—on initiatives like “2030: The Decade of Agriculture,” which seeks to shape sustainable food systems for the 21st century. Erin believes that business innovation and sustainability are not mutually exclusive; they are critical to long-term growth.As former CEO of USFRA, Erin revitalized the organization, positioning it as a leader in sustainable food systems and climate change solutions. She led the creation of the first-ever ESG report for agriculture and earned recognition at global events like the World Economic Forum, COP27-28, and the UN Race to Zero. Under her leadership, USFRA advanced climate-smart practices and sustainable business models in agriculture.Driven by tangible results, Erin defines “Sustain-ABILITY” as creating business models that are not only economically viable but also environmentally responsible. She is committed to helping organizations embed sustainability into their core strategies, unlocking value through nature-based solutions like soil health and climate change mitigation. Erin believes agriculture and farmers are key to achieving the UN’s SDGs and a net-zero economy, advocating for impactful, measurable change over superficial fixes. As a frequent speaker at global events like the UN Food Systems Summit and COP, Erin is passionate about inspiring the next generation of sustainability leaders.Erin’s contributions to her industry have earned wide recognition, including: - White House Champion of Change Award for promoting sustainable agricultural practices - Named an Aspen Institute First Movers Fellow - Honored as a Crain’s Chicago 40 Under 40 recipientErin holds a BA from the University of Notre Dame, where she serves on the Advisory Board for the Deloitte Center for Ethical Business.