Dr. Robèrt MD, PhD, one of Sweden’s foremost cancer scientists is the founder of The Natural Step (TNS), an international NGO that promotes a scientific consensus approach for social, ecological and economic sustainability.

In 1979 he earned a PhD degree in medicine from Karolinska Institute, and subsequently served on the faculties of many of Sweden’s most prestigious hospitals and universities, including Huddinge University Hospital, Karolinska Institute, the Chalmers Institute of Technology, and Blekinge Institute of Technology.  Prof. Robèrt is Fellow of the World Business Academy, Advisory Board Member at Georgia Institute of Technology, Doctor of Public Service—Honorus Causa at the University of Portland, Oregon, U.S.A.

Founded in 1989, the TNS network of scientists have developed a scientifically-based framework for strategic planning towards sustainability, and applied it to coach a growing number of role models among organisations and key decision makers, and provides forums and tools to share best practices.  The TNS framework has been used with great success by a variety of organisations, including Home Depot, Nike, Interface, Mitsubishi Electric USA, IKEA and McDonald’s, as well as universities and governmental organizations throughout the world.

Prof. Robèrt has published a number of books and articles on the subject of environment and sustainability.  He was Swedish delegate in the one year EU roundtable on “A Sustainable Project for European Society” convened by former European Commission President Romano Prodi.  In 1999 Prof. Robèrt won the Green Cross Award for International Leadership, and in 2000 he won the Blue Planet Prize, the ‘Nobel Prize’ for ecological sustainability, sponsored by the Asahi Glass Foundation.  In 2005 Prof. Robèrt was awarded The Social Responsibility Laureate Medal award by the Global Center for Leadership & Business Ethics.  In 2006 Prof. Robèrt was elected Chairman of the Advisory Committee of Fortis Bank’s Sustainability Investment Group.