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.

Environment and Sustainability Manager

Victoria Blake

With over 15 years of experience in working in sustainable development Victoria leads the Environment and Sustainability Team with the responsibility for developing and delivering on the sustainability plan for the University. Prior to joining Victoria worked as Sustainability Manager at BRE Ltd, where she was responsible for the management and implementation of turnaround initiatives to drive sustainability at a group-wide level. Victoria is dedicated to striking a balance between the objectives and requirements of the University with those of the environment and is passionate about achieving sustainability in both the natural environment and built environment.

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.

Energy Officer

Danielle Bird

A former BSc Environmental Science Student at the University, Danielle is applying the knowledge and skills she gained from her degree to her role as Energy Officer. Danielle’s role involves monitoring, measuring and reporting on energy usage and consumption across the estate and identifying any savings opportunities to help reduce our emissions by exploring ways to maximise energy efficiency. Part of Danielle’s role is to also raise awareness of energy use and its associated environmental impacts through engagement and initiatives with students and staff. Prior to studying Environmental Science, Danielle worked as a Project Manager within the exhibition industry but decided to follow her interest and love for the environment.

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 Victoria 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-Round

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.

Executive Director of Estates and Campus Services

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

Becky has worked in the higher education sector for 20 years taking her current position as Executive Director of Estates and Campus Services at the University of Northampton in 2018. 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 the influence of the built environment and support services on student outcomes, alongside sustainability, and currently leads development of both the University’s Sustainability and Estates strategies.

Becky sits on several local regeneration boards and often contributes to sector wide working and advisory groups. She is the Chair of the university’s Sustainability Board,  current Secretary of the Association of University Directors of Estates (AUDE), a Governor at Northampton College,  and a member of the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) national Health, Safety and Wellbeing committee.

Contact us

If you are a member of staff or a student at the University of Northampton and you would like to know more about our team or to maybe get involved with sustainability at the University please email environment@northampton.ac.uk and one of the team will be in touch.