Katie Denning

Brainstormer, Business adviser, Connector, Idea generator, Investor, Parent, Philanthropist

I graduated from Edinburgh University in the early 90’s and went on to work in Equity sales for Goldman Sachs and Salomon Brothers for almost 2 decades through the stock market boom years and globalization. Initially based in New York and then London, I retired fortuitously a year before the banking bubble burst in 2008, and subsequently discovered Leaders Quest, traveling with them to Israel/Palestine, India, London and Bradford UK ,amongst other places, on life changing “Quests”. These were lightbulb moments. I’m so proud to be an Ambassador for this incredible organization and to try to support, promote and connect for them in any way I can as I go through life. Marrying the world of finance/investing with different perspectives was exceptionally enlightening and made me look at the world in a completely new way. In those early years the impact of the consumer and consumption on the world was my obsession. Despite being no fashionista, I was interested in the fashion industry and how to decrease its negative impact. At the time this was getting little press in stark contrast to today. Among other things, I joined the board of the Sustainable Angle, organizer of Future Fabric Expos (showcase/educator to the fashion industry on sustainable and innovative textiles), helped fund a book for Safia Minney, founder of People Tree, on Slavery and fashion. Additionally, I invested in a few social enterprises, and LQ’s Count Me In initiative, aimed at shifting consumer choices, as well as advising some smaller start-up sustainable fashion brands. I then began to move between the UK and the Bahamas more frequently for personal reasons and became interested in education and the different approaches around the world. Following a Leaders Quest trip to Israel/Palestine, I started to support an Israeli IB school focused on conflict resolution. I have served on the board of an international IB school in the Bahamas, and am a patron to the Prince’s Teaching Institute. I’m especially interested in the power of experiential learning. LQ had a huge impact on me far too late in life, and I know there is power in bringing down the age range for others. I moved to the Bahamas as the pandemic hit in March 2020, after which I became more involved with the LQ/TED collaboration COUNTDOWN attending the first in person post pandemic conference in October 2021. I am now engaged in projects around sustainability in the Bahamas, specifically waste disposal and water related issues, as well as a new project aimed at accelerating decarbonization in the Bahamas. I am really interested in finding workable solutions and innovations that can help resolve existing problems and agitating for change.

Innovations and ideas that tackle the worlds climate and environmental problems

How to create a circular economy

Singing!