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 Net Zero in Scopes 1, 2 & 3 in line with the Government legislation target of 2050 with an ambition to do it within the next decade. 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

Environment Advisor

Hollie Darby

Hollie joined the team in November 2020 to support the delivery of the University Travel Plan having previously worked as a Travel Plan Assessor at Northamptonshire Highways. Hollie’s role has developed over the years to increasing awareness of sustainability and feeding into yearly targets and action plans. This includes implementing initiatives to support staff and student engagement and behavioural change in areas such as sustainable travel, biodiversity, and waste. Hollie leads on the annual Sustainability Survey and the monthly New Starter Orientation presentation.

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 effectively monitoring and implementing our Environmental Management System, developing action plans to ensure sustainable management practices and increase positive behavioural change. Emma leads on energy, water, and carbon management.

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.