Our people

Our community is essential to the success of our sustainability initiatives.

Our staff and students are the driving force behind our sustainability efforts across teaching, research, policy, and operations, and advancing the key goals of our Sustainability Plan. We are developing networks and mechanisms to enable our whole University community to feed into decision making and empower them to take action on sustainability.

To advance our sustainability goals, we have carefully developed a governance structure, including the Sustainability Steering Group, to embed sustainability and our Sustainability Plan into every aspect of University life.

University's Sustainability Steering Group

The University's Sustainability Steering Group provides strategic leadership for implementing and delivering our Sustainability Plan 2021–2030.

This group is a University Executive Board (UEB) subcommittee, represented by staff and students that is responsible for shaping the overarching vision for sustainability, recommending it to the UEB for approval by Council. As the central body for sustainability governance, it develops and oversees the Plan, ensuring alignment with the University's overall strategy and reporting to the UEB.

Chaired by Professor Sarah Thompson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, the group includes a diverse range of members from across the University community.

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Sustainability at York

Sustainability Champions Network

In 2025, the University launched an institution-wide Sustainability Champions Network. Our group of champions, nominated from departments across the University, brings a diverse range of professional experience, strong knowledge of their buildings and teams, and a shared commitment to sustainability. They are already leading by example, working with colleagues on the Energy Saving Campaign to help reduce energy use and cut waste.

Over the coming year, our Sustainability Champions will meet regularly to share ideas, develop new projects and collaborate on initiatives that support a more sustainable University.

Have an idea to make your department or building more sustainable? Reach out to your Sustainability Champion using the contact details below.

If you would like to learn more about becoming a Sustainability Champion, please contact sustainability@york.ac.uk for further information.

Current Sustainability Champions

Sustainability Champion	Department	Buildings responsible for	Email address
Amanda Morris	Department of Computer Science Department of Maths	Computer Science (CSE)	amanda.morris@york.ac.uk
Andy White	School of School of Physics, Engineering and Technology	SPET Buildings	andy.white@york.ac.uk
Carmen Álvarez-Mayo	Language and Linguistic Science	Vanbrugh Block B Vanbrugh Block C	carmen.alvarez-mayo@york.ac.uk
Daryl Stump	Department of Archaeology	Kings Manor Environment Building PalaeoHub	daryl.stump@york.ac.uk
Dina Jankovic	Centre for Health Economics (CHE)	Alcuin Block A	dina.jankovic@york.ac.uk
Francesco Pomponi	Department of Architecture	Piazza Building	francesco.pomponi@york.ac.uk
Georgia Ramsay	Department of Education	Derwent College Block K Derwent College Block L Derwent College Block M	georgia.ramsay@york.ac.uk
Graeme McAllister	Department of Chemistry	Chemistry Group	graeme.mcallister@york.ac.uk
Ian Money	School for School for Business and Society	Church Lane Building	ian.money@york.ac.uk
James Fox	Department of Biology	Biology Buildings	james.fox@york.ac.uk
James Lee	Department of Chemistry	Chemistry Group	james.lee@york.ac.uk
Jason Snape	Department of Environment and Geography	Environment Building	jason.snape@york.ac.uk
Jeremy Moulton	Department of Politics	Derwent College Nucleus	jeremy.moulton@york.ac.uk
Joanne Hampshire	Commercial Services	Alcuin College Block D Biology Block B - B/B Church Lane Building - CL Derwent College Nucleus - D/N Fairfax House Kings Manor J.B. Morell Library Piazza - PZA Roger Kirk Centre Ron Cooke Hub Vanbrugh Nucleus York Sports Village	joanne.hampshire@york.ac.uk
Joanne Morris	Stockholm Environment Institute at York	Environment Building	joanne.morris@york.ac.uk
Kate Clough	York Sports	Sports Centre York Sports Village	kate.clough@york.ac.uk
Lucy Hudson	Department of Biology	Biology Buildings	lucy.hudson@york.ac.uk
Rob Jenkins	Department of Psychology	Psychology and York Neuroimaging Centre	rob.jenkins@york.ac.uk
Saad Maqbool	School of ACT	Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall Sally Baldwin Buildings Block D Music Practice Rooms Music Research Centre Ron Cooke Hub Squash Courts Derwent Robot Lab Heslington East TFTV Building	saad.maqbool@york.ac.uk
Sarah Couttie-Cunningham	York Law School & The Department of Sociology	Law and Management Buildng	sarah.couttie-cunningham@york.ac.uk
Stacey Gatfield	Commercial Services	Alcuin College Block D Biology Block B - B/B Church Lane Building - CL Derwent College Nucleus - D/N Fairfax House Kings Manor J.B. Morell Library Piazza - PZA Roger Kirk Centre Ron Cooke Hub Vanbrugh Nucleus York Sports Village	stacey.gatfield@york.ac.uk
Thomas Mountain	Students Union YSU Commercial Areas	Derwent College Block L Vanbrugh Nucleus	t.mountain@yorksu.org

Environmental Sustainability at York

Environmental Sustainability at York (ESAY) is a University of York-based team that helps to connect the activities we are doing on environmental sustainability within teaching, research and campus operations to deliver new joined-up benefits and create impact within and beyond the University.

Through creating and leading collaborative activities, networking or providing resource support, ESAY aims to maximise our environmental sustainability impact with internal and external partners by working collectively rather than within individual parts of the University. The team is represented by individuals from teaching, research, policy and operations, along with a dedicated support team.

For enquiries, email esay@york.ac.uk.

Environmental Sustainability at York (ESAY)

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