Meet the team | University of Essex

We are Sustainability

We have a dedicated team, in a broad range of roles, contributing to sustainable development across our campuses. We are committed to the promotion of sustainability to a variety of stakeholders, to conserve the local environment for our students, staff, the wider community and our resident wildlife.

In addition to our team, our representation and advocacy spans the whole University community – see more about our Climate and Ecological Emergency Advisory Group.

For all members of the University Steering Group (USG), acting as champions for, and providing leadership on, our ambitions for addressing our environmental impacts is included in their strategic priorities.

Senior staff

Chris Oldham

Area of sustainability: Deputy Registrar (Infrastructure and Environments)

Deputy Registrar (Infrastructure and Environments), Office of the Vice- Chancellor

Chris Oldham is part of the University's senior management team, as Deputy Registrar (Infrastructure and Environments), based within the Office of the Vice-Chancellor. Chris plays an important part in championing carbon reduction, energy efficiency and sustainability both to other members of the senior management and to his teams to drive forward work to develop sustainable campuses and our environmentally-conscious community. He is responsible for oversight not only of the Sustainability Section, but also Estates, Campus Services, Facilities Services and Digital Innovation and Technology Services.

Rob Davey

Area of sustainability: Director of Sustainability

Director of Sustainability, Sustainability Section

Rob is the Director of Sustainability and leads the University in meeting its obligation of the Climate Change Act 2008 and delivering on its declaration of a Climate and Ecological Emergency.

Sustainability team

The University's Sustainability team looks after environmental performance at the University of Essex. We cover carbon management, energy, waste, water, sustainable procurement, transport and biodiversity.

Daisy Malt

Area of sustainability: Student and staff engagement

Sustainability (Environment and Recycling) Manager, Sustainability Section

Daisy manages the Engagement function of the Sustainability team, as well as wider strategic projects, including the management of the Sustainability Sub-Strategy and policies linked to improving waste reduction and recycling on our three campuses. Working with stakeholders and colleagues, her work contributes to embedding sustainable practices across the University community. She has worked at the University of Essex since 2016.

Michel Mason

Area of sustainability: Student and staff engagement

Sustainability Engagement Manager, Sustainability Section

Michel leads on the University’s sustainability engagement and behavioural change work, assisting the University’s community to contribute and play a fundamental part in delivering the Sustainability Sub Strategy and reducing the University’s environmental impact. She also develops and leads on the delivery of the Sustainability Engagement Plan and create meaningful ways to engage and achieve behavioural change with staff and students on all aspects of sustainability.

Rebecca Rudd

Area of sustainability: Student and staff engagement

Sustainability Engagement Officer, Sustainability Section

Rebecca is responsible for managing the Sustainable Essex and #LittleChoicesBigChanges engagement programmes, as well as working with departments across the University to help develop and promote their sustainable practices. She organises events and activities aimed at boosting sustainable behaviour both on and off campus, around themes including travel and transport, energy use, waste and recycling and resource efficiency.

Saskia Dahl-Meadows

Area of sustainability: Student and staff engagement

Sustainability Engagement Assistant, Sustainability Section

Saskia assists with the engagement aspects of the University’s sustainability and energy reduction work, growing the awareness and involvement of students and staff across our community. She helps plan and organise events to support our engagement programme. She also works on maintaining the Sustainability team’s digital presence across our social media, website and Moodle pages.

Circular Economy Team

The University’s Circular Economy team lead on the reduction of waste and increase in recycling. The team delivers projects in line with the University’s Sustainability Sub-Strategy that helps to improve waste management, reuse of materials and other duties.

David Bradbury

Area of sustainability: Recycling and waste reduction

Circular Economy Manager, Sustainability Section

David leads the University's reduction in waste and increase in recycling and delivers projects that contribute to the delivery of the University's Sustainability Sub Strategy. David will produce a single use plastics plan, introduce food waste collections and a furniture reuse scheme, amongst other duties.

Data and Funding

Our Sustainability Analyst (Data and Funding) contributes to a range of areas within the Sustainability Section, through the collation and analysis of multiple data streams from the University’s activities and through supporting funding bids to internal and external funding bodies.

Rishab Godara

Area of sustainability: Energy and data analysis

Sustainability Analyst (data and funding), Sustainability Section

Rishab contributes to a range of areas in the Sustainability team, through the collation and analysis of multiple data streams from across the University’s activities, drawing meaningful conclusions and producing detailed reports. He also supports funding bids to internal and external funding bodies, contributing to the delivery of the University’s Sustainability Sub-Strategy and declaration of a Climate Emergency.

Energy and Carbon Reduction

Our Energy and Carbon Reduction team play a critical role in delivering the University’s Sustainability Sub-Strategy, leading the development and implementation of the University’s energy and carbon reduction policies and strategies. The team's work additionally focuses on achieving net zero scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 2035.

Nimish Shah

Area of sustainability: Head of Energy and Carbon Reduction

Head of Energy and Carbon Reduction, Sustainability Section

Nimish is the strategic lead for delivering the University’s energy, carbon and water reduction aspirations. He leads the development and implementation of the University’s various energy and carbon reduction policies and strategies along with related action. Nimish plays a critical role in delivering the University’s most ambitious Sustainability Sub Strategy to date, achieving net zero scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 2035.

Marcus Clayton

Area of sustainability: Energy Projects

Project Manager, Sustainability Section

Marcus is responsible for managing the coordination and delivery of a diverse range of sustainability and energy projects including PV solar, lighting upgrades, building retrofits, heat decarbonisation and reduction in carbon emissions. Marcus also works closely with internal and external stakeholders to ensure projects are delivered in line with the Sustainability Sub Strategy.

Matthew Moss

Area of sustainability: Energy Projects

Project Manager, Sustainability Section

Matt is responsible for managing the coordination and delivery of a diverse range of sustainability and energy projects including PV solar, lighting upgrades, building retrofits, heat decarbonisation and reduction in carbon emissions.

Tom Wood

Area of sustainability: Energy saving projects

Energy Manager, Sustainability Section

Tom will be analysing energy consumption in the various buildings and identifying opportunities for energy saving projects. Tom will also be responsible for delivering the University's energy, carbon and water reduction aspirations on its journey to net zero carbon emissions.

Lucy Poole

Area of sustainability: Administration and energy

Energy Officer, Sustainability Section

Lucy is responsible for collating data and verifying monthly utility usage and billing to produce reports on energy consumption across the University's campuses. She also deals with enquiries and provides efficient office administrative support for all aspects of the Sustainability team's work including energy, environment and transport activities.

Grounds team

The Grounds team maintains Wivenhoe Park, home to our Colchester Campus, along with our Loughton and Southend Campuses. The Grounds team aims to provide an attractive, clean and interesting setting with a sound, conservation-minded attitude to campus flora and fauna at the University. Maintenance is carried out to an agreed specification appropriate to the listed status of both the Colchester and Loughton Campuses.

Michael Minshull

Area of sustainability: Biodiversity and Grounds

Grounds Manager, Biodiversity and Grounds

The Grounds Manager is responsible for overseeing the actions to promote biodiversity across the estate. This involves managing the landscape to provide functioning and healthy ecosystems and habitats. They are also responsible for minimising pesticide use, recycling plant and green waste material and ensuring the highest standards are met whilst carrying out horticultural and aboricultural practices.

The Grounds Team getting ready for planting

Grounds Team at Wivenhoe Park tending to the flower beds

Travel and Transport team

The University's Travel and Transport team look at reducing the negative impact the University has on the local environment such as air quality, local congestion and to reduce the number of cars accessing the University. The University provides facilities and offers measures which promote healthy active travel to campus such as walking, cycling and the use of public transport to encourage a shift from private car use.

Caralyn Elmer

Area of sustainability: Travel and transport

Sustainability (Travel and Transport) Officer, Estates and Campus Services

Caralyn is responsible for overseeing and administering all aspects of travel and transport at the University. She helps to administer the University's Vehicle Fleet policy and all our sustainable transport measures including supporting Dr Bike at our Colchester Campus, promoting alternative modes of transport and planning arrival days for our students. She also coordinate and work with our Traffic Officers at the Colchester Campus.

Advisory support

Essex is home to many academics and researchers with a wide range of important knowledge and experience related to ecology, sustainability and wider ESG. The team will often work collaboratively with them when developing projects and work streams.

We also draw on support from The Centre for Environment and Society, which brings together world-leading staff and impact-focused sustainability to work on the social dimensions of sustainability challenges and solutions. The Centre is home to a number of staff from a variety of departments. The centre is committed to informing the global transition to a green economy which supports environmental well-being and social and economic justice.

UoE Sustainability on social media:

Sustainability team

Telephone: sustainability@essex.ac.uk