Overview

Sustainability leader and biologist with experience leading organisations, research, policy work and teaching in global corporations, international NGOs and academia.

Joined Exeter University Business School in Feb 2022 following 7+ years at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development in Geneva, working with 200 of the world’s largest and most forward thinking companies. As WBCSD Vice/President and Chief Operating Office and finally as Ambassador for Biodiversity and UN CBD COP15, responsible for all of the WBCSD work programs in Climate and Energy, Food, Land and Water, Cities, People, and Circular Economy, Redefining Value, and sector projects in Chemicals, Forestry, Cement and Tires. As Ambassador for Biodiversity, helped create Business for Nature as the voice of leading companies on Nature and Biodiversity.

Previously, led the sustainability approach for the world’s largest consumer goods company as Director for Global Sustainability, creating the company’s long-term vision and sustainability goals. As part of this, was part of the SETAC working group developing the science of Lifecycle Assessment (LCA), creating and publishing the company’s first LCA tools for packaging. Author of book “Integrated Solid Waste Management: a Lifecycle Inventory” (1995) and many other publications applying LCA methodology to waste management, and Chair of both USEPA and UK Environment Agency review panels on the use of LCA for waste management planning.

Earlier career in academia as Lecturer in Zoology, Oxford University, working on chemical ecology and insect pheromones, including discovering and identifying the sex pheromone for woodworm (common furniture beetle).

Qualifications

M.A. (oxon), M.Sc. (lond), D.Phil. (oxon), F. (Hon) CIWM

Links

• Linked In

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Research

Research interests

•   Business and biodiversity - identifying and overcoming hurdles to incorporating the value of Nature into decision-making
•    Application of conservation science and biodiversity tools to help companies become nature-positive
•  Definition and development of nature-based solutions

Research projects

Exeter University RENEW project – Renewing Biodiversity through a People-in-Nature approach, with a focus on Finance and Business

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External Engagement and Impact

Awards and Honours

Honorary Fellow, Chartered Institution of Wastes Management   F.(hon)CIWM

External positions

•   Vice Chair, the Gold Standard Foundation, Geneva.

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