Environment and Sustainability Team

Meet the Team

Following a restructure in 2020 The Environment and Sustainability Team transitioned away from the umbrella of the Safety, Health and Environment Team to stand independently and with a dedicated Sustainability Board to ensure governance and effectiveness of the team.

Part of the Estate and Campus Services team, the Environment and Sustainability Team are responsible for managing initiatives supporting the accomplishment of our goal to be a Net Zero Campus (Scope 1 and 2) by 2030. We work closely with staff, students and our wider community to raise awareness of the impact of climate change, share best practice, encourage and support behaviour change and initiate socially impactful projects and initiatives.

Who we are

Sustainable Travel Advisor

Hollie Darby

Hollie joined the team in November 2020 to support the delivery of the University Travel Plan, to administer parking and travel related queries from across the university and increase awareness of sustainable travel options. Previously Hollie worked for Northamptonshire Highways as a Travel Choices Administrator, where she reviewed travel plans from developers ensuring they implemented sustainable strategies set out by the County Council.

Hollie has been leading on a range of sustainable initiatives such as the Student Bike Hire Scheme, increasing car sharing and introducing electric vehicle permits, and general active travel tips for the Cost of Living Task Force. This all works towards our overall reduction in single occupancy vehicle travel to campus.

Environment Advisor

Emma Stone

Emma joined the University in 2019 as Project Manager responsible for the implementation of a funded Cup recycling project across the university and town centre partners.  Having found a way to combine her skills with her passion for sustainability she took on her role as Environment Advisor. Emma’s role includes increasing awareness of sustainability and implementing initiatives to support staff and student engagement and behavioural change, working alongside the team to effectively monitor and implement our Environmental Management System, develop action plans to ensure sustainable waste management practices and support the creation and implementation of our Biodiversity Action Plan.

Environment and Sustainability Engagement Co-ordinator

Gemma Robinson

Gemma joined the Environment and Sustainability team in November 2022 as the Environment and Sustainability Engagement Coordinator.  After gaining her UON degree in Biology, Gemma wanted to harness her interests around public awareness and engagement in environmental issues.  Her goal is to promote positive environmental behaviours and Gemma’s first project, recruiting student and staff volunteers to be Sustainability Champions, helps build and develop work-based skills, experience, and knowledge in environmental sustainability at UON. Her role also includes running our social media pages, events calendar, and of course engaging with students and staff across the university.

Director of Estates & Campus Services

Tracey Russell

Tracey joined the Estates & Campus Services as Director in July 2023 having worked in the higher education sector for 25 years.  Tracey’s experience in running large, complex estates has led to the introduction of innovative sustainable solutions with the customer at its core.  Tracey is committed to making sustainability accessible to all and embedding practices in both academic and operational processes to continuously improve UON’s sustainability and environmental credentials.  Tracey is responsible for leading the implementation of both the University’s Sustainability and Carbon Net Zero Strategies.

COO and Deputy Vice-Chancellor

Becky Bradshaw (Secretary of the Association of University Directors of Estates (AUDE))

Becky has worked in the higher education sector for over 20 years taking her current position as Chief Operating Officer at the University of Northampton in 2023. Becky led the operationalisation of the University of Northampton’s new and innovative Waterside Campus and most recently directed their strategic response to the Coronavirus pandemic. She is passionate about social impact and the influence of professional services on student outcomes, alongside sustainability and environmental improvement, and currently leads development of both the University’s Sustainability and Estates strategies.