Ms Nicky Cunningham

About me:

Nicky is a Senior Lecturer on our executive education programmes. She works closely with our business clients to develop new programmes and teaches sustainability-focussed modules, particularly those relating to water management.

Nicky’s background is in water and environmental management. Before joining the university she worked at the Environment Agency in both operational and policy roles, most recently as Deputy Director for Waste Regulation. In these roles she worked with government, industry and NGOs to develop and implement new approaches to environmental protection, cementing her belief that cross-sector collaboration is vital if we are to tackle the challenges posed by climate change. During this time she started her teaching career at the University of Bristol, as a Senior Associate Teacher on the Water and Environmental Management MSc programme.

Nicky joined the University of Exeter in 2018 as Programme Manager for the new Centre for Resilience in Environment, Water and Waste (CREWW), securing funding for this new research centre and establishing a new, strategic research partnership between the university and South West Water. She has established multiple, transdisciplinary research partnerships with local authorities and water companies across the country, looking at innovative, whole-system ways to manage water resources.

Nicky is a Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management.