Petra Esser was born in 1959 in Rijswijk (Z-H). She holds a MA from the University of Leyden in Environmental Biology (1984) and from Nyenrode Business University in Business Administration (2002). She was involved in environmental wood research at TNO Delft (1987-2001). She advised on CSR for small businesses (2001-2002).

In 2004 she joined NHL University of Applied Sciences as a lecturer in research at Thorbecke Academy and member of the Watermanagement research group of NHL (2005-2011). In 2007 she also became coördinator of the NHL Stenden minor Global Sustainability, now minor Going Green. Her focus is on the Cradle-2 Cradle concept and circular economies. Within the minor Going Green she coached research projects on local sustainability issues.