Cutting edge research presented at the 4th Annual Sustainability conference
The two-day conference, attended by 165 people, included a mix of presentations from industry and academia as well as an exhibition of tools developed for industry by Centre researchers and industrial partners.
Keynotes were delivered by Ramon Arratia, Sustainability Director at Interface, Sanjeev Bahl, President at Saitex, Professor Gunther Seliger, Chairman at Technischen Universität (TU) Berlin, and CIS Director, Professor Steve Evans.
The event also featured presentations given by Centre members including Toyota, Unilever, Marks & Spencer, EEF (the Manufacturers' Association) and collaborators Elvis & Kresse, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), University of Ulster, High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult, Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology (CREST), IfM Education and Consultancy Services (IfM ECS), and many Centre researchers and academics from the universities of Cambridge, Cranfield, Imperial and Loughborough.
One delegate commented:
‘This conference has become the highlight of my year. The work being presented is cutting edge and the keynotes are truly inspiring- seldom do I feel more passionate about sustainability than when I reflect on the conference material’
Peter Jones, Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment
One of the features of the annual event is the extended time given to discussion and networking. During the conference exhibition, delegates had the opportunity to talk to Centre researchers and learn more about the tools developed through their work. The discussion continued into the evening at the conference dinner where amusing and inspiring talks were given by Barry Sheerman MP and Dr Jane Davidson of the University of Wales, Trinity St David as well as toasts to Prof Sir Mike Gregory, Co-investigator and Head of the IfM, who will be retiring in October.