Nicky Cunningham

About me:

Nicky Cunningham is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Exeter Business School. She works closely with business clients including Arup, Lloyds Banking Group and the MOD to develop bespoke executive education programmes on sustainability, systems thinking and leadership. She is Senior DIrector for Business Engagement and Innovation for the  Environment, Science and Economy faculty, and is responsible for the development of new open executive education programmes. With a background in environmental management, Nicky also teaches sustainability-focussed modules, particularly relating to water resilience and systems thinking. 

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 £30 million private and publice sector 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 both the Advance HE and the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management. She is currently studying for a PhD in water governance.