Marilu Hastings is the Chief Innovation Officer for the Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation in Austin, Texas. Hastings originated and leads the foundation’s grantmaking program that moves knowledge to action for sustainability. Prior to moving to the foundation, Hastings held leadership positions at the Houston Advanced Research Center, a nonprofit research organisation founded by George P. Mitchell. During her career she has specialised in the interaction of science, public policy, and philanthropic investment. She is a trustee of the Regional Endowment for Sustainability Science, an appointed member of the National Petroleum Council, the Chair of the Energy Institute Advisory Board at the University of Texas, and a member of the Advisory Board of the Bureau of Economic Geology at the University of Texas. Hastings earned a B.A. in economics and political science from Duke University and an M.B.A. and an M.P.A. from The University of Texas at Austin.