Student research

Viola Jardon (Cohort 14)

Viola delivered a TEDx Talk based on her dissertation research about gender disparity in venture capital.

Jemma Eustace, Silvia Monica Peralta Paredes, Rashmi Rungta, Stephanie Ying He, Rebecca Nguyen, and Tanzeela Akhtar (PCSB Value Chains Stream cohort 11) and Dr Fiona Charnley

An article based on the group project has been published by the International Wool Textile Organisation. Research focused on how the Merino wool value chain can maximise social impact and strengthen it's position against synthetics.

Cherie Nelson (PG Diploma Cohort 4)

This case study, based on their Analytical Case Study, has been published in the Journal of Circular Economy. It investigates the determinants of successful circular-oriented innovation in the textiles and apparel sector focusing on recycled cotton denim.

Fiona Lowrie (Cohort 13) and Paul Lohmann 

This paper published in Cambridge Core explores if carbon labels encourage sustainable food choices: Do carbon labels encourage sustainable food choices? Evidence from a field experiment in call-centre worksite cafeterias

Taofeeq Ibn-Mohammed (Cohort 12) & Angus Morrison-Saunders

This paper published in Energy Economics explores decarbonising the UK pulp, paper and printing sector: Balancing sustainability and global competitiveness through insights from LMDI and MRIO analysis.

Taofeeq Ibn-Mohammed, Suranga Herath, Nicholas Swallow, Charlie Gower, Adriana Puente Montes, Dawn Brooks, Andres Perez Garcia (Cohort 12) & Angus Morrison-Saunders 

An article based on their Group project research has been published in Corporate Reputation Review. It explores overcoming the challenges faced by leaders of purpose-led medium-sized businesses: The role of corporate communication and its interplay with corporate reputation and organisational identity.

Miranda Braga, Jeanette Simpson, Adam Snow, Fiona Charnley, Begüm Avcı, Kevin Brown, & Tanvir Ahmed (PCSB – VC Cohort 10)

An article based on their Group Project research has been published in Sustainable Production and Consumption. It explores challenges and critical factors in implementing circular economy initiatives, particularly in business-to-business and business-to-consumer contexts, through the analysis of previous failures.

Rashmi Rungta, Director/Transformation Lead, Praja Controls & Systems (PCSB – Valve Chains stream Cohort 11)

An article based on Rashmi’s PCSB individual assignments has been published in the ISEP Transform magazine. The article considers critical gaps in monitoring and measurement, stakeholder engagement, and industry-wide collaboration that must be addressed to achieve zero avoidable waste in construction.

Mark Champkins (MSt SL – Cohort 13), Senior Learning Lead, Lego

An article based on Marks’s dissertation has been published in The Journal of Cleaner Production. This study investigates the circulation of used LEGO products and the role of circular business models that support peer-to-peer (P2P) resale, as an exemplary case in the toy industry, which generates large amounts of plastic waste.

Fiona Charnley, Cherie Nelson, Saskia Wendland, Sonia Ventosa, Ajay Jain, Florian Mueller (PCSB - Value Chains Stream cohort 9) 

This paper published in the journal Resources, Conservation and Recycling addresses the pressing need for businesses to embrace Circular Economy principles within the textiles sector to reduce waste and pollution. Through comprehensive analysis and practical recommendations, it highlights the crucial steps required to scale up closed-loop systems for recycling post-consumer textiles, providing valuable insights for industry stakeholders and policymakers alike.

Sasha Sarokin (Cohort 12), Founder of CLOTH.WORK

Sasha has published a paper in the Journal of Cleaner Production based on her dissertation research into pursuing profitability in slow fashion.

Claire Medina (Cohort 10), UNDP Resident Representative, Malawi

Claire has published a paper in Oryx: The International Journal of Conservation based on her dissertation research into rhinoceros conservation and the first wildlife conservation bond.

Olutobi Onajin, Jonathan Hall, Ritu Rajashekar, Trevor Allen, Grace Cheung, Ksenija Ostojic & David Adeyemo (PCSB Cohort 21)

Research based on their group project into the Best Practices in Communications to Support Circular Economy Adoption has been published as a chapter in the Palgrave Studies in African Leadership series, Management and Leadership for a Sustainable Africa, Volume 3. The chapter is based on work undertaken to understand the critical role of communications in influencing behavioural change among city residents in favour of the circular economy through a comparative analysis of best practices in developing and developed nations using examples of the adoption of the circular economy in Lagos, Nigeria, and London, United Kingdom.

Sam Anthony (Cohort 10), Equity Analyst at Ninety One (previously Investec Asset Management)

An article based on Sam’s dissertation has been published in Business Strategy and the Environment. It explores how businesses value biodiversity in forest disclosures.

Sophie Pluck (Cohort 10), Managing Consultant at BSC Consulting (part of Accenture)

An article based on Sophie’s dissertation has been published in Appetite.  It entails a qualitative exploration of the multi-dimensional influences on meat consumption when home and office working during the Covid 19 lockdown in London, UK.

Andrew Mountfield (Cohort 9), Managing Partner at Mountfield Advisory AG, Kelly Hrajnoha, Internal Communications at CNH Industrial , Leslie Koh, Sustainability Director at Gimmill Industrial, Lija Lascenko, Environmental And Social Risk at Deutsche Bank AG, Renata Puchala, Sustainability and Social Impact Senior Manager at Natura and Cornelia Schalch, Project Manager Circular Economy at SBB CFF FFS

Andrew, Kelly, Leslie, Lija, Renata and Cornelia have published their Master’s Group Project Research in ‘Research Handbook of Sustainability Agency’. The chapter explores barriers to implementing sustainability experienced by middle managers in the fast-moving consumer goods and retail sector.

Julie Boussuge-Roze (PCSB – Value chains stream Cohort 8), Former executive director, Liryc institute

An article based on Julie’s Analysis Paper has been published in Nature review cardiology. It explores ways to reduce the environmental impact of healthcare by introducing circular models based on the example of cardiac electrophysiology.

Carmen Chan (Cohort 8),  Senior Sustainability and Fabric Manager, Tesco, Hong Kong

Research based on Carmen’s dissertation into microplastic fibre releases from industrial wastewater has been published in the journal Environmental Chemistry.

Abigail Herron (Cohort 8),  Global Head of Responsible Investment, Aviva Investors

At the FIR-PRI Finance & Sustainability 2020 Awards Abigail received the award for the best Master’s thesis for her research into “antibiotic resistance as a frontier topic in responsible and sustainable investment”

Alastair Marke (Cohort 8), Carmen Chan and Gozde Taskin 

Research based on their group project into the application of the innovative circular business models to reduce e-waste in China’s mobile electronics industry has been published in the journal of Asian Education and Development Studies.

Jessica Osikominu (Cohort 7), Manager Corporate Culture, Covestro

Jessica’s research into the adoption of “voluntary simplicity lifestyle” (VSL) has been published in the open-source MDPI journal. This study defines the VSL as a voluntary reduction of income and consumption in exchange for more free time and the study contributes to a clearer understanding of the concept and its potential to contribute toward reducing unsustainable consumption patterns

Michael Rogerson, PhD Candidate, University of Bath

Research conducted as part of the Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainable Business; Value Chains stream, has been published by alumni Michael Rogerson, PhD Candidate at the University of Bath together with Professor Glenn Parry, Professor of Digital Transformation, University of Surrey. Blockchain: case studies in food supply chain visibility.

Anita McBain (MSt Sustainability Leadership) Head of Responsible Investment at M&G Investments

Anita’s paper exploring the links between biodiversity, population growth, climate change and the current (and future) pandemic(s) features in a Forbes article by Prof Bob Eccles (Visiting Professor of Management Practice at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford).

Ambika Jindal (Cohort 6), ING Bank, Netherlands

Ambika's article Banking on Water - the role of commercial banks in water solutions has been published in Environmental Finance.

Julian Proctor (Cohort 5), Tiger Group Investments, Hong Kong

Julian’s dissertation research on whether the access to, and use of, informal and formal credit is associated with a higher quality of life amongst the poor in Hong Kong has been published in Progress in Development Studies (Volume 17, Issue 4). 

Michael James Bowes (Cohort 5), Solicitor with Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP

Michael’s dissertation research on Sustainability in the English Water Industry has been published in the Journal of Water Law, in two parts. The first part, evaluating how the introduction of the 2004 Environmental Information Regulations into the water industry have improved sustainable provision, is available here. The second part, summarising the data collection and findings, is available here.

Tom Barnett, Senior Account Director at Trucost, Michael James Bowes, Lawyer at Berwin Leighton Paisner, Jerry White, Marketing Executive for Northam Platinum Limited and Anwar Zaib, Finance Director and Head of Compliance at Berkeley Energy (Cohort 5)

Tom, Michael, Jerry and Anwar have published their Master’s Group Project Research in Vision: The Journal of Business Perspective. The article explores the findings from their research project investigating the concept of long-term thinking in business organisations.

Steven Greenfield (Cohort 4), Regional Director & Vice President, Dimensional Fund Advisors

Steven has had an article published by the Social Marketing Quarterly journal. The article To What Extent Is Social Marketing Used in Demand Reduction Campaigns for Illegal Wildlife Products? Insights From Elephant Ivory and Rhino Horn is based on the research Steven undertook for his Master’s in Sustainability Leadership.

Angus Yip, Master’s (Cohort 4) and Dr Nancy Bocken, CISL Fellow

Angus has had a paper accepted by the Journal of Cleaner Production. The paper, Sustainable Business Model Archetypes for the Banking Industry, is based on the research Angus undertook for his Master’s in Sustainability Leadership.

Hanmin Huang (Cohort 4), senior management consultant in China

Hanmin's article is based on his dissertation, entitled 'Dynamic Mechanism Leading to the Formation and Development of Industrial Symbioses: An Empirical Study on Industrial Symbioses of the Sugar Industry in Chongzuo City, China'.

Lorna Tweedie (Cohort 4), Executive Manager, Colonial First State Global Asset Management

This research paper entitled 'Climate change: Implications for superannuation funds in Australia' was co-authored by Lorna and Jake Reynolds and was originally published by Colonial First State Global Asset Management.

Roger Ponting (Cohort 4), Group Director of Finance and Business Support, the Energy Saving Trust

Roger's article Will mandatory carbon reporting drive change? based on his dissertation research appears on the Environmental Finance website.

Beth Knight (Cohort 4), Strategy & Operations for EY's Beacon Institute

This report entitled 'A Behavioural Competency Model for Sustainability Leaders' is a summary of Beth’s dissertation research. It examines the critical competencies found in past qualitative reviews and proposes a model for effective sustainability leaders.

Zoë Arden (cohort 3), CISL Senior Associate

This article Making It Personal: Developing Sustainability Leaders in Business, based on Zoë's Master's dissertation was published in the journal Organisation and Environment.

Group Project on the Efficacy of Finance and Accounting Qualifications in Preparing Professionals to Drive Sustainable Business (PCSB Cohort 18)

Robert Rosenberg (PCSB Cohort 18, and current Master’s student), Senior Consultant Sustainable Investment, South Pole Group

This paper, adapted from Robert's Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainable Business research, discusses the business case for corporate pension funds to consider sustainability, and specifically ESG, in their business models and investment decisions.

Aila Aho (PCSB Cohort 18), Head of Sustainable Financing for Wholesale Banking at Nordea in Finland

Aila shares her white paper on Understanding Green Bond Financing.

Coenraad Bezuidenhout (PG Diploma in Sustainable Business, Cohort 2), Independent Public Affairs and Sustainability Consultant.

An article based on Coenraad’s Thought Leadership Essay has been published in South Africa’s Business Day. It argues that solid dashboarding principles can help businesses provide clear, relevant and comparable data points to investors.

Ben Hickman (MSt in Interdisciplinary Design for the Built Environment)

Ben co-authored an article on waterproof concrete for basements in the August issue of the Institute for Civil Engineers Construction Materials journal.

The article, ‘The efficacy of crystalline waterproofing additives for basement concrete: an industry perspective of the literature’ was based on his IDBE research essay. Ben also presented a paper at the Property Care Association's 2018 International Structural Waterproofing Conference.