Revealed: The 50 greenest leaders in the West Midlands

THE REGION’S first ‘Top 50 Green Leaders’ have been revealed by advisory group Sustainability West Midlands to support its drive to achieve a low carbon economy by 2020.

International Synergies’ Peter Laybourn, Prof Quentin Leiper CBE of Carillion and West Midlands Fire Service Chief Vijith Randeniya are some of the names amongst the list that also features representatives from academia and social enterprise.

The 50 received their certificates from veteran green campaigner Jonathon Porritt at an event at Millennium Point last night.

Dr Simon Slater, executive director of Sustainability West Midlands, said: “We were overwhelmed by the response. It clearly shows an appetite from the West Midlands to meet the 2020 low carbon vision.

“Our green leaders are a diverse group, who have all helped to implement and run activities that have had a positive environmental impact with additional social or economic benefits.

“It proves the great ingenuity and spirit that was present when the West Midlands kicked off the high carbon revolution is still alive and well today as we invent the low carbon era. We are trying to capture this drive and passion and share it with up and coming leaders, who will be essential in picking up the agenda and running with it.”

Peter Laybourn was included in the list for his work in developing and introducing the National Industrial Symbiosis Programme (NISP).

Through spin-out company International Synergies, he has made a major contribution to the region by creating/safeguarding over 2,600 jobs, boosting the economy by £99m and diverting 660,650 tonnes waste from landfill.

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Today, NISP has over 13,000 member companies from all industry sectors and some of its green achievements include reducing CO2 by 6m tonnes, saving 10.5m tonnes of industrial water and eliminated 371,000 tonnes of hazardous water.

Mr Laybourn said: “Anything that raises awareness of the green agenda is very welcome and I’m delighted that the work we did in developing NISP has been recognised and will be used as an example of what can be achieved.

“The lessons learned here can be used for new projects and opportunities that the West Midlands can lead on.”

Other business people recognised in the list are Barry Davies (A.F. Blakemore & Son), Dr Susan Juned (Greenwatt Technology), Andy Whyle (Ricoh UK Products), Sue Prince OBE (Beechenhill Farm), Tim Pollard (Wolseley UK) and David Smith (former CEO of Jaguar Land Rover).

Sustainability West Midlands is a private sector-led, cross sector and not-for-profit organisation which acts as a catalyst for change through advice to leaders, developing practical solutions with members and sharing success through its communications and events programme.

The top 50 in full (in alphabetical order)

Janet Bailey – Orion Management
Richard Baines – Black Country Housing Group
Richard Beard – Jericho Foundation
Phil Beardmore – formerly Groundwork West Midlands
Cllr Anthony Blagg- Worcestershire County Council
David Brown – IChemE
Keith Budden – Birmingham City Council
Michele Campbell – Bromford Group
Michael Chesshire – BiogenGreenfinch
John Christophers – Associated Architects
John Daft – Birse Civils
Barry Davies – A.F. Blakemore & Son
Paul Davies – Wates
Richard Davies – Marches Energy Agency
Laura Davis – Ideas for All
Alys Fowler – BBC Gardeners World
Natasha Giaquinto – The Hive
Maud Grainger – Faith and Climate Change
Russell Granville – Amcor Flexibles
Jane Green – 2020 Zero Waste
Phil Harris – Worcestershire County Council
Ian Housley – Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service
Dr Susan Juned – Greenwatt Technology
Gerald Kells – Campaign to Protect Rural England
Adam Kennerley – Household Energy Service
Professor Julia King CBE – Aston University
Jacky Lawrence – Warwickshire County Council
Peter Laybourn – International Synergies Ltd
Professor Quentin Leiper CBE – Carillion
Michael Lilley – MyTime
Fiona Loveland – Brindleyplace
George Martin – Willmott Dixon
Tony McNally – Climate Change Solutions
David Middleton – Business Council for Sustainable Development – UK
Tim Pollard – Wolseley UK
Sue Prince OBE – Beechenhill Farm
Vijith Randeniya – West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service
Matthew Rhodes – Encraft
Mark Sitton-Kent – Environment Agency
David Smith – former Jaguar Land Rover
Paul Sutton – Shropshire Housing Group
Cllr Paul Tilsley – Birmingham City Council
Peter Ulleri – 2050 Logistics
Chris Vaughan – Summerfield’s Residents’ Association
Kevin White – Midlands Vegan Campaigns
Andy Whyle – Ricoh UK Products
Gareth Williams – Caplor Farm
Andrew Thomas Woods – Abbey Forestry LLP
Peter Woodward – Coventry Partnership Environment Theme Group
Alan Yates – Accord Housing Association

Click on the link for a free pdf download of the Green Leaders’ biographies