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Jane Davidson to lead new institute for Sustainable Practice, Innovation and Resource Efficiency

17.03.2011

The University of Wales Trinity Saint David is delighted to announce that its new institute for sustainability - INSPIRE (Institute for Sustainable Practice, Innovation and Resource Efficiency) - will be led by Jane Davidson (currently Minister for Environment and Sustainability in the Welsh Government) in partnership with Peter Davies (Commissioner for Sustainable Futures in Wales) who is already a Professor of Professional Practice at the University, and Andy Middleton (Managing Director TYF).

Professor Medwin Hughes with Jane Davidson who will lead the new institute - INSPIRE Last month the University called for expressions of interest from external agencies and individuals involved in sustainability to assist in the development which will be up and running from September. INSPIRE will support embedding sustainability within the University’s curriculum at all levels as well as engaging with the widest number of organisations to develop sustainable practice across all sectors in Wales and further afield.

Professor Medwin Hughes, Vice Chancellor said, "I am delighted to have been able to secure such high quality individuals to lead the new institute. The University of Wales Trinity Saint David is committed to promoting the sustainability agenda in higher education in Wales and to work with all sectors to actively support the sustainability agenda."

Jane Davidson said, "Sustainability needs to be at the heart of how we do business, we cannot continue to use more resources than our one planet can support. I am privileged to have been invited to lead this new phase of the work at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, particularly in light of its existing partnerships with the further education sector and schools as well as the future merger with Swansea Metropolitan University as part of the creation of the dual sector university in South West Wales”.

Peter Davies added, "I am delighted to be able to play a part in the creation of this new institute in south west Wales, particularly as it provides opportunity to work with partners to develop exemplars of rural sustainability in practice".

Jane Davidson continued “I commend the University of Wales Trinity Saint David for the step it has taken in establishing the institute and am confident that its work will enhance the reputation of the University."

Andy Middleton said "INSPIRE will become a focal point for practical innovation in the areas of sustainability that make real difference to the performance of government, community resilience and long term success of business"

The University received some 50 expressions of interest from organisations and individual who are active in the field of sustainability and INSPIRE will be collaborating with them to develop its portfolio so that it can make a real difference to communities in Wales and beyond.

Professor Hughes concluded “The University sees its role as a catalyst in bringing together agencies and individuals who can transform the lives of individuals and communities, particularly within the region of South West Wales.

ENDS

Photograph: Professor Medwin Hughes with Jane Davidson who will lead the new institute - INSPIRE

Note to Editor

The University of Wales Trinity Saint David is working with Swansea Metropolitan University, Coleg Sir Gâr, Pembrokeshire College and Coleg Ceredigion to create a dual sector university. The institutions will work as a group to provide progression routes and choices for students as well as programmes of study that respond to the needs of employers in the region.
Jane Davidson has been Minister for Environment and Sustainability for Wales since 2007, where she was responsible for the Welsh Government agreeing to make sustainable development its central organising principle.

She is passionate about the environment and resource efficiency and has been given a number of accolades for her work.

She was the third most influential environmentalist in the UK for the Independent on Sunday in 2009 and has been Resource magazine's no 1 and 2 in 2009 and 2010 for her work on waste which has seen Wales come from behind the rest of the UK to be the lead recycling country in Britain.

She holds honorary fellowships from CIWM (Chartered Institute of Waste Management) and CIWEM (Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management) and has recently joined WWF's UK Council of ambassadors.

A former teacher and youth worker, she was also Minister for Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills who was responsible for developing the Welsh Baccalaureate in Wales, Foundation Phase, statutory school councils, Children and Young People’s Assembly (Funky Dragon) and Assembly Learning Grants. She lives on a smallholding in west Wales.

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