Dr Louise Ellis-Jones FRSA
Louise is a dynamic influential senior leader with 25 years’ international experience developing strategy and solutions in the sustainability, social responsibility, and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) field. Louise drives bold and transformational change projects, embracing the diversity of people, working through complex problems, and helping teams understanding the whole system.
Louise has 27 years’ experience leading sustainability policy making and organisational approaches to sustainability and social responsibility, with a focus on the relationship between the two areas. She has completed a variety of research projects investigating the transition to a low carbon economy, examining climate adaptation and sustainable value creation.
Louise works with organisations to set purposeful strategies, values and behaviours. She collaborates with senior leadership teams as they navigate the complexities of their environmental impacts, including equality and inclusion, community engagement and economic development.
A former Director of Sustainability at the University of Leeds, Louise built its Sustainability Service, supporting over £250m of associated annual research income for advancing sustainability solutions. Louise was responsible for the University’s sector-leading 7 Climate Principles, including its commitments towards Net Zero 2030 and Plastics 2023 – reducing carbon emissions by 32%, and removing over 1 million pieces of single use plastic from the University in its first year. These efforts were recognised with the award of 1st Class classification in the People and Planet University Green League.
Alongside her operational responsibilities, Louise provided academic leadership for sustainability in the curriculum, with over 6,000 students studying sustainability annually through 214 different modules.
Before embarking on a career in higher education, Louise held key sustainability roles with Deloitte, Mott MacDonald, and Sir William Halcrow and Partners. Her hands-on experience included working within the UN Global Compact Framework, leading environmental impact assessments including World Bank funded projects, and acting as an advisor to BP on environmental audits within the oil industry and wastewater operations.
Louise has a positive track record in leading bold and trailblazing commitments, developing highly effective external and internal relationships, across a wide range of sectors and stakeholders. Her unique career pathway gives Louise well rounded insights within and providing consultancy to organisations, bringing together senior and university-wide management, academic teaching, and a strong research portfolio, as well as private sector experience.