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About us

Our mission

The Institute for Sustainable Practices in Research and Enterprise (INSPIRE) is dedicated to advancing sustainability through the power of human insight and organizational innovation. We focus on understanding and influencing behaviour—whether of consumers, employees, businesses or governments—to create a more sustainable and equitable future. Our work bridges rigorous academic research with real-world application.

Close up of leaves in front of a solar panel and office buildings

What we do

At INSPIRE, we tackle the behavioural side of sustainability. We investigate how people make decisions about the environment, consumption, health and social responsibility—and how those decisions are shaped by culture, values, marketing and institutional structures. Our research supports the development of:

  • Responsible business practices
  • Sustainable consumption habits
  • Inclusive and ethical public policy
  • Equitable transitions to low-carbon economies
Building models with trees on a table with papers on top

How we work

INSPIRE brings together interdisciplinary scholars from marketing, behavioral science, public policy, sustainability studies and beyond. We collaborate with:

  • Government agencies working to shape sustainable policies
  • Private sector partners interested in responsible innovation and ethical branding
  • Nonprofits and community groups that serve as changemakers in local contexts

We co-develop research, pilot interventions and share insights through workshops, publications and policy engagement.

INSPIRE

Our focus areas

Consumer Behaviour and Sustainability

Responsible Branding and Marketing

Behavioural Interventions for Climate Action

Organizational Change and Employee Engagement

Sustainable Economic Systems and Equity

Our people

Dr. Sui Sui

Director, INSPIRE

Professor, Global Management Studies, Ted Rogers School of Management

Sui Sui is an expert in international business, entrepreneurship and sustainability. Her research focuses on how firms—both small and medium enterprises and large corporations—engage in sustainable practices across global markets. She has published extensively on topics such as Corporate Social Responsibility, international expansion and sustainable entrepreneurship, with particular attention to how immigrant, female and Indigenous leadership shape firm performance, internationalization and environmental responsibility.

At INSPIRE, Sui serves as Director and leads partnerships with government and industry, using data-driven insights to inform sustainable business strategy and inclusive economic development. She has collaborated with international institutions and government agencies on policy-relevant research.

  LinkedIn profile (external link, opens in new window) 

Dr. Vik Singh

Co-Director, INSPIRE

Associate Professor, Global Management Studies, Ted Rogers School of Management

Dr. Vik Singh holds the position of Associate Professor within the Global Management Studies program at the Ted Rogers School of Management. His research focuses on exploring the profound influence of culture on global connections, with a particular emphasis on understanding the complexities countries encounter in managing geopolitical risk amidst a rapidly globalizing world. Additionally, Dr. Singh explores the intricate relationship between ethnicity and housing purchasing behaviours while investigating the impact of board diversity and tenure on environmental performance within a global context. He earned his Ph.D. in Business from Griffith University, complemented by an MBA from the Schulich School of Business at York University and an MA in Economics from the University of Regina.

  Google Scholar profile (external link) 

Join us!

We welcome new partnership opportunities with industry, government or nonprofit organizations looking to collaborate.