Dr Jane Davidson has achieved many things in her time and this conversation takes us from her childhood in Africa to her current role as Pro Vice-Chancellor for Sustainability and Engagement and Director of INSPIRE at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David which is on a journey to embed sustainability throughout the university’s culture, campus and curriculum. Jane has won a number of UK wide awards for this work.
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A highlight of Jane’s career is her work, from 2007- 2011, as Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing in Wales where she proposed legislation to make sustainable development its central organising principle – the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act came into law in April 2015. 

Her work saw her being recognised as the third most influential environmentalist in the UK for the Independent on Sunday in 2009.

Listen to this fascinating journey through a life which has been devoted to inspiring sustainability.

 Just prior to the launch of their Renewables 2017 Global Status Report, which found there was a record of 161 GW added to global power capacity, for 23% less investment, I talked with Christine Lins, the Executive Secretary of REN21, which is based at the UNEP.

In this fascinating conversation, Christine and I discussed Trump's decision to pull out of the Paris Agreement, and why it may aid global action on climate change, baseload myths, fossil fuel divestment and how policy makers and innovative small businesses can help drive the renewable revolution.
 
REN21 was created in 2004 as a ‘Coalition of the Willing’: all those in the private and the public sector that are keen on advancing renewable energy. Their members span from national governments to different international institutions such as the UN, European Commission, World Bank, industry associations, NGOs and actors in the field of science and academia. 

On this podcast I’m joined by Tom Old and Karl Walker who are both directors of Clean Energy UK, which is a leading light in the renewables revolution, helping businesses switch to 100% clean supply.

They share their adventures in sustainability, with Al Gore being their matchmaker, and then taking us through their visit to COP21 and onto founding Clean Energy UK together in addition to being involved with The Big Clean Switch and the Carbon Free Group.  On the way we discuss the learnings from An Inconvenient Truth and how they are looking towards the exponential growth of climate solutions.

​Over-fishing and bycatch are massive global issues with few clear solutions. In this edition of we talk to Dan Watson, the founder and CEO of SafetyNet Technologies, which has developed the innovative Pisces, and has the potential to provide a solution to this massive problem (27 million tons of bycatch!) and revolutionise fishing.  Using light to attract the right fish into nets, they could reduce wasted catch by up to 90%.

Also joining us on the podcast is Nadia Labbs who guides their business strategy, which is currently centred on a Crowdfunder to support the business to bring Pisces to life on a mass scale.
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The fascinating conversation ranged from where Dan got his inspiration from for this exponential technology to why businesses and individuals should care about it.

In this fascinating and inspiring conversation Paul Gerrard, Group Policy and Campaigns Director for The Co-op tells us about why this grand-daddy of the co-operative movement was one of the leading businesses to campaign for the introduction of the UK Modern Slavery Act (MSA).  

The interview also covers how the Co-op first started to address slavery over 150 years ago and how they have now developed a range of partnerships to help people in slavery to break free. 

I was also delighted to be joined by an expert in the MSA, Jessica Cresswell, from the highly-regarded consultancy Carbon Smart who asked insightful questions regarding the challenging area of engagement with suppliers regarding modern slavery.  

As an added bonus Paul also shares at the end of the discussion two further fantastic initiatives that the Co-op are delivering in their communities.

A passion for racing cars and sustainability aren't usual bedfellows. Hugo Spowers is not an usual entrepreneur though, and the business he has created, Riversimple, isn't a business-as-usual company, as represented by its purpose: “To pursue, systematically, the elimination of the environmental impact of personal transport”.

The headline innovation of Riversimple is they are bringing to market a hydrogen fuel cell car: the Rasa. Whilst this is impressive, it is actually only one of the cutting edge circular economy innovations at the core of this company.  As Andrew Davis, CEO of the Environmental Transport Association, observes: "It’s important to think outside the box. I think some people at Riversimple don't know where the box is”

Ian Joesph, the CEO of Trustees Unlimited, a leading resource of trustees and board roles for not-for-profits, had a fascinating conversation with Adam Woodhall about the benefits of good governance, avoiding Napoleon’s and finding where the magic happens. 

Beginning life as a church minister, Ian Joseph has had an eclectic career.  He moved from being a pastor to working with those experiencing homelessness and drug addiction, and then took an interesting step into being a head hunter.  His heart was still in the right place however, as he continued working in the charity sector, recruiting the CEO's of numerous charities such RSPCA and National Autistic Society.  As well as being a father of three, Ian walks the talk himself as a trustee of a charity.

Interserve is one of the world’s foremost support services and construction companies of 80,000 people.  They are in the FTSE250, with revenues of £3.6billion. After a career in finance, Tim joined the business over six years ago as FD, and five years ago, took on the sustainability portfolio.

We talked about what inspired his interest in sustainability, favourite story, uncomfortable lessons and what inspires him  about the future.

You can read a summary of the interview with him here.