Author Details
Dr. Vermeer is a leading scholar and consultant on business and environmental sustainability and has spent the last three decades working on some of the world’s “grand challenges” – e.g. water security, climate change, and ocean sustainability. He is an Associate Professor at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, where he leads the Center for Energy, Development, and the Global Environment (EDGE). His latest research is on climate change in MBA education and innovation in the blue (ocean) economy. Working with colleagues across Duke, Vermeer launched a new Oceans@Duke initiative in 2020, bringing together diverse experts to develop innovative solutions to the world’s ocean sustainability challenges. Working with his EDGE colleagues, he also leads a national initiative called ClimateCAP, which is focused on integrating climate change into the curriculum of the nation’s business schools.
Vermeer joined Duke from The Coca-Cola Company, where he led the Global Water Initiative, an industry-leading effort to protect the company’s primary ingredient. At Coca-Cola, he designed a new risk management methodology, and founded the company’s Community Water Partnerships program, resulting inover 500 public-private partnerships in 90+ countries.
Vermeer’s academic background is diverse and includes a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Hope College, a Master’s degree in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Virginia, and a Ph.D. in Learning Sciences from Northwestern University. He plays a leading public role in advocating for sustainable development through speaking, research, and institution-building. He has published numerous articles and reports on topics related to sustainability and business, appearing in leading academic journals such as Science Advances and One Earth.
Beyond his academic work, Vermeer is actively engaged in the wider sustainability community. He serves on the board of Conservation X Labs, and on advisory boards for Trane Technologies and SeaAhead. He is also the founder of the Global Water Challenge and co-author of the CEO Water Mandate.
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