diff --git a/openpype/lib/local_settings.py b/openpype/lib/local_settings.py
index 56bdd047c9..67845c77cf 100644
--- a/openpype/lib/local_settings.py
+++ b/openpype/lib/local_settings.py
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 """Package to deal with saving and retrieving user specific settings."""
 import os
+import json
+import getpass
+import platform
 from datetime import datetime
 from abc import ABCMeta, abstractmethod
-import json
 
 # TODO Use pype igniter logic instead of using duplicated code
 # disable lru cache in Python 2
@@ -24,11 +26,11 @@ try:
 except ImportError:
     import ConfigParser as configparser
 
-import platform
-
 import six
 import appdirs
 
+from openpype.settings import get_local_settings
+
 from .import validate_mongo_connection
 
 _PLACEHOLDER = object()
@@ -538,3 +540,25 @@ def change_openpype_mongo_url(new_mongo_url):
     if existing_value is not None:
         registry.delete_item(key)
     registry.set_item(key, new_mongo_url)
+
+
+def get_openpype_username():
+    """OpenPype username used for templates and publishing.
+
+    May be different than machine's username.
+
+    Always returns "OPENPYPE_USERNAME" environment if is set then tries local
+    settings and last option is to use `getpass.getuser()` which returns
+    machine username.
+    """
+    username = os.environ.get("OPENPYPE_USERNAME")
+    if not username:
+        local_settings = get_local_settings()
+        username = (
+            local_settings
+            .get("general", {})
+            .get("username")
+        )
+        if not username:
+            username = getpass.getuser()
+    return username