Hans J. Bender

Dr. Hans Bender is a reputed professor at SUMAS, teaching Sustainable Innovation: Energy, Water & Material as well as Green Economy. After his Ph.D. in chemistry, Hans dedicated his entire professional life to a highly successful career at Procter & Gamble, where he worked 22 years in Research & Development and 10 years in External Relations. His work as a researcher in Germany, United Kingdom, United States, Belgium and Switzerland on a range of consumer products was rewarded with steep career progress. In his most recent role as R&D Director he led innovation strategy and in market delivery for a large business unit in Europe. After his transition to External Relations, Hans established himself as a highly respected representative of P&G on the Board of several trade associations and with key external audiences, including key NGO’s and the European Commission. In almost all of these interactions “sustainability” was a critical element if not the dominant topic. In recognition of his leadership in these activities, Hans was appointed P&G Vice President for External Relations. As of Oct 2012 Hans has retired from P&G and pursues his passion for sustainability through a range of external engagements. He acts at SUMAS as Corporate Sustainability Advisor.