Keynote and TEDx speaker on climate, ESG and sustainability
Lorraine Jenks makes complicated things simple, and serious things engaging. Decades of real environmental work, delivered with stories and humour.
Talks and workshops
What is changing? Why does it matter to them? What can they do about it?
Keynotes, conference sessions, panels, workshops and facilitated conversations, each shaped around what your people need to understand, feel and do differently.
Climate change and resilience
Explore the disruptions affecting your business, supply chain, destination and home. See where you are exposed, what you can prepare for and where adaptation creates opportunity. Leave with practical checklists to prepare, and hope.
Book this talkESG
Turn environmental, social and governance language into better questions about risk, resources, people and long-term value. Connect the principles to decisions you already make.
Book this talkEthical and sustainable food
Food connects climate, water, soil, biodiversity, health, livelihoods, waste and pleasure. Understand those links and ask better questions about what you buy, serve and eat.
Book this talkConscious procurement
Look past the label to sourcing, environmental claims, product lifecycles and what happens after use. A buyer’s view of making responsible choices work with real budgets and suppliers.
Book this talkHospitality and tourism
Connect energy, water, waste, food, procurement, guest experience and climate preparedness. Practical ways to make operations and destinations more resilient.
Book this talkGreen interiors
Sustainable materials, furniture, fittings and appliances. Smart lighting and energy, water and thermal efficiency. Biophilic spaces for health and wellbeing.
Book this talkNow I understand what this means for me.
What Lorraine wants every audience to leave saying. Every talk is tailored to your sector, from banking and mining to food, tourism and design.
TEDx talk
Lorraine on the TEDxLytteltonWomen stage. Watch how she takes a serious subject and gets a room to listen.
How she works
Every talk answers three questions: what is happening, why it matters, and how to act.
The science and 50 years of practice mean the sceptics stop arguing.
Pictures and real products to touch, see and taste, in place of graphs.
Humour keeps a room listening to hard news.
Every talk ends with choices they can make that week.
What organisers say
“She left the room stunned by the projections yet enthused at the opportunity to make a change and a difference. Hence a standing ovation.”
“Your presentation at the ABSA launch was a highlight of the Real Estate Industry Summit. The depth of insight and expertise you shared enriched the experience of our 1,500 attendees and significantly contributed to the success of the summit. Your thoughts around the fact that ‘our children are watching us’ were particularly thought-provoking and sparked ongoing discussion. And a lot of people were also wondering where they could buy the special male G-strings you showed at the ABSA launch!”
“You get the audience in the palm of your hand because they wonder what you’re going to say next. I have heard you four times this year and I want to hear you speak again.”
“Lorraine’s presentation was one of the most popular of the entire regional conference programme. They say that dynamite comes in small packages and they are right.”
“Many delegates rated your presentation amongst the highest regarding new insights and useful information.”
“Thank you so much for adding colour, warmth, passion, laughter and most importantly insight. You are truly an asset to the event industry.”
“The case studies presented the information in a very digestible and relatable fashion and really brought the message home for our delegates.”
“Lorraine’s delivery was so engaging that I lost all track of time. A memorable, life changing presentation.”
Where she has spoken
She has spoken across South Africa and in:
Invited back
Organisations she has worked with
From principle to practice
Full-scale exhibition hotels, homes and guest suites brought suppliers, designers and buyers together around real products.
From the complete eco hotel at Hostex and green lifestyle homes at Decorex to the Inspire eco guest suite and furnished rooms at Hotel Show Africa, the work made better choices something people could walk into. Take the Inspire suite tour.
Now she brings that know-how to your teams. Lorraine turns decades of sourcing, building and testing better options into practical sessions on what to buy, what to ask suppliers and where the easy wins are, so your people can start doing things differently tomorrow.
It works. Venues she has trained and advised, including the Vineyard Hotel, Fancourt, Hotel Verde, InterContinental Sandton and Palazzo Montecasino, have gone on to win international sustainability awards. She also served two years as Chief Judge of the Imvelo Responsible Tourism Awards.
Experience
Lorraine Jenks is a Johannesburg-based keynote and TEDx speaker on climate, ESG and sustainability. She spent 15 years running procurement for Southern Sun’s 82 hotels, founded the Hotelstuff and Greenstuff supplier directories, and trained as a Climate Reality Leader with Al Gore.
That hands-on work is where her stories, examples and humour come from.
Recognition
Book Lorraine
Tell her a little about your event. She reads every enquiry herself.
“A highlight of the summit for our 1,500 attendees.”Theo Mseka, CEO, Private Property
For event organisers
Bios to copy, an introduction for your MC, photos, her logo and her technical needs, all in one document. No forms, no waiting.