Kit McDonnell

Trained as a systems and molecular biologist, I operate at the intersection of tech, design, and sustainability. I recently joined LanzaTech as Director of Communications!As Director of Corporate Affairs at Enko, I worked to improve public perception of agrochemicals and pesticides. I formerly led Special Projects at Ginkgo Bioworks, and my work heavily influenced the global synthetic biology agenda and popularized GMOs for good. I created and produced the annual Ferment Conference and Ferment TV, its virtual extension. From April-October 2020, I was a nominated contributor to the World Economic Forum’s COVID-19 Health & Healthcare Industry Action Group for the medium and long term pandemic response, and I chaired a session on pandemic preparedness featuring Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand and Co-Chair of the WHO’s Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response.I regularly give talks and lead workshops on the subjects of sustainability, biodesign, material innovation, and consumer biotech, including at Harvard, MIT Media Lab & Sloan School of Management, Broad Institute, Carnegie Council, Japanese Business Federation Keidanren, RISD, Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, House of Beautiful Business, and Bank of America’s 2019 Consumer & Retail Technology Conference, among other places. I enjoy curating and collaborating with artists and designers, and contributed to the award winning art piece Resurrecting the Sublime.Expertise- Consumer biotech, agtech, and biodesign- Communications and brand strategy - Stakeholder management & stakeholder capitalism- Futures-driven business development www.kitmcdonnell.com