Understand the challenges facing your business
In 2019, Birmingham City Council declared a climate emergency and made a commitment to reduce the city’s carbon emissions and limit the climate crisis. The Council has set an ambitious target for 'the council and city to become net zero carbon by 2030, or as soon as possible thereafter as a just transition allows'. Creating a Sustainable city is pivotal for the ambitions of the region.
Indeed, in the United Nations World Cities Report 2022, it is outlined that achieving Net Zero is dependent on subnational and city level action. Greener futures can only be secured with a just transition; it is vital that businesses across the city understand their role in creating a greener and more environmentally friendly future.
Join this event to understand:
- What a sustainable city could look like
- How to ensure your organisation is part of the transition and does not get left behind
- The importance of developing green skills
Agenda
9:30am: Arrivals & Registration
10:00am: Event start
11:00am: Event close
Speakers
Jessica Wilkes-Ball, Senior Sustainability Manager, Mills & Reeve LLP
Jessica is is a cornerstone of the firm's ESG senior leadership team.
Her responsibilities include the development and delivery of a firmwide national environmental and sustainability strategy. This spans energy and water usage, waste management, travel and food, with the ultimate aims of reducing the environmental impact of the firm, and achieving its goal to be net-zero carbon in its operations.
Jessica has a wealth of experience in helping businesses focus on more than the bottom line and a long track record for delivering positive change in communities across the UK and beyond.
She sits on the West Midlands Board for Business in the Community and the Sustainability West Midlands External Advisory Committee. Jessica acts as the business representative for the Homeless TaskForce in the region, is an active member of the Legal Sustainability Alliance and recently joined the Net Zero Protocol working group with The Law Society.
Ashlea Mallet, Sustainability Manager, UCB
Ashlea is the Sustainability Manager for University College Birmingham, with her unique role spanning the university’s sustainability activities for the campus, curriculum and wider community.
Previously working on ESF Project Collaborate to Train, Ashlea worked with SMEs across Warwickshire on embedding sustainability into their business.
Ashlea is also co-host for People, Planet, Pint in Birmingham, Stratford Upon Avon & Warwick and has previously worked with BEC as a facilitator for their "Sustainability Manager" course in partnership with Coventry College.
Rosa Wells, UCB, Associate – Innovations and Sustainability
Rosa Wells is the FE Principal and Dean for STEM at University College Birmingham. Rosa is a highly experienced engineer who has dedicated her career to education and training. She is passionate about providing students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in STEM sectors.
In her previous role, Rosa was leading the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Institute of Technology, working closely with engineering employers and education partners to establish a state-of-the-art learning factory in the city centre accessible to all engineering learners across the region. She now sits on the Board of Directors of the GBS IoT and has, more recently, been appointed Vice Chair of the Institutes of Technology National Network.
Rosa works closely with leading sector bodies such as Women into Science and Engineering, STEM Learning and the Royal Academy of Engineering to ensure best practice is embedded within how the University works with learners, schools, and employers. This expertise and focus have been pivotal in the development of curriculum and provision across the University, who are leading in co-creation of courses with students and employers to ensure graduates meet, amongst other priorities, the green skills needs of our region now and in the future.
Rosa champions the power of education in the skills agenda and levelling up our region for wider societal benefit.
Hannah Kissick, CPW - Associate – Innovations and Sustainability
Hannah joined CPW in 2013 as a BREEAM and Energy Assessor. She qualified as a BREEAM AP in 2016 and a New Construction Assessor in 2014, working on a wide range of Public and Private buildings (including schools) targeting Very Good and Excellent ratings.
Following the launch of HQM in 2015, Hannah is fully qualified to assist with these domestic property assessments. She is also qualified to perform SAP calculations for new build residential properties.
Since joining CPW, Hannah has been involved in reducing the energy demand and carbon footprint of new build and refurbishment projects across the country. Producing sustainability statements for planning, as well as implementing a Low Energy Design Guide for the design team. In 2022, following an outstanding career and in recognition of her accomplishments and expertise, Hannah was appointed Associate.
She has completed a number of energy audits nationwide, creating a bespoke calculator to determine the unregulated energy load of proposed or existing buildings.
As a Low Carbon Consultant, Hannah also gives presentations and provides training on how passive design measures can reduce energy demand and CO2 emissions.
As lead of CPW’s specialist Innovations Team, and as part of her role, Hannah conducts research into how our mechanical and electrical engineers can better incorporate circular economy principles in their design, also completing CE reports for London Plan applications and providing design advice on how this can be reduced.
Clare Maltby
Clare has over twenty years’ experience working on sustainable transport and climate change, across the public and third sectors. Clare is the Director for the Midlands & East of England at Sustrans – the UK charity making it easier for people to walk, wheel and cycle. She is accountable for the strategic direction and impact of a team of 70 wonderful colleagues. Before joining Sustrans, Clare was a Senior Strategy Advisor in Whitehall, working first on climate change & energy strategy, and then renewable electricity. Prior to that she was the Transport Specialist to the House of Commons Transport Select Committee. Clare lives in Nottinghamshire.
Places are limited. To reserve your place and register today for this event, click the book now tab.
You can find other events as part of the Sustainable Business Series, by clicking here.
This event has been produced for the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce as part of the Sustainable Business Series. The Sustainable Business Series is the GBCC’s flagship campaign on environmental sustainability aiming to share best practice, guidance and knowledge on the measures businesses can take, and commercial benefits of, progressing to net zero.
In 2023, the Series contains a series of events and webinars taking place throughout September and October, culminating with the Sustainable Business Series Conference in November. Additionally, throughout the campaign, the Chambers will be producing podcasts and publishing blog content.
The Sustainable Business Series 2023 is sponsored by University College Birmingham and LLoyds Bank thanks to who, all events and content as part of the Sustainable Business Series have been made free to delegates.