Dr Madeline Orr

Dr Madeleine Orr is researcher, educator, and advocate working at the intersection of sport and climate change. After earning her PhD in kinesiology from the University of Minnesota and completing a postdoctorate in strategy at the University of British Columbia, Maddy joined the Institute for Sport Business at Loughborough University London, where she developed the world's first MSc in Sustainable Sport Business. 

Maddy is the founder and co-director of The Sport Ecology Group, an international consortium of academics who drive climate action in the sport sector through research and public education initiatives. Her research in sport ecology examines the impacts of climate change on the sport sector, with a focus on resilience and adaptation. Her work has been covered by the BBC, Time Magazine, ESPN, Sky Sports, The Guardian, The Globe and Mail, and more, and she recently signed a book deal with Bloomsbury Publishing for her forthcoming pop science book ‘Heat Check: How Climate Change is Changing Sports’ (expected release in 2024). 

In collaboration with partners across North America and Europe, Maddy led the launch of Green Sports Day Canada in 2021, co-founded the Rock Your Cause workshop series, and serves on the boards of EcoAthletes and ThinkOcean. Her work driving positive change in sport has been recognized by the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2021, Corporate Knights Magazine 30 Under 30, and NAAEE 30 Under 30. She is the 2022 recipient of the Rising Alumni Award from the University of Minnesota.