Submitted by Administrator on Thu, 30/08/2018 - 15:56
31 August 2018 — As part of a move to enhance its European activities and strengthen its presence in Brussels, the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) is delighted to announce two important new appointments to its Policy team.
Dr Martin Porter joins as Executive Chair, Brussels, to develop the European strategy and collaborative platforms run by CISL's leadership groups team, led by Dr Jake Reynolds, Executive Director, Sustainable Economy, and Eliot Whittington, Director of Policy and The Prince of Wales's Corporate Leaders Group. Martin joins CISL from the European Climate Foundation where he was an Executive Director, responsible for industry, innovation, and EU affairs, and latterly coordinator of its Europe Group. A highly reputed EU public affairs strategist and advisor, and holder of a doctorate in political science, he has worked in Brussels for over 20 years. He has worked for several international public affairs agencies such as Weber Shandwick and Edelman, as well as co-founding and successfully developing The Centre, Brussels’ first 'think-do tank'. He continues to be a member of the European Economic and Social Committee's Consultative Committee on Industrial Change, and an expert on the European Commission's Horizon 2020 Advisory Group on Climate Change and Natural Resources.
Ursula Woodburn joins CISL's policy team as Senior Programme Manager, Brussels, to drive further corporate engagement on climate and energy policy, and long term climate strategy in the EU policy making process. Ursula joins CISL from Weber Shandwick Brussels, where she led the sustainability practice. She previously worked in the European Parliament for an environmental NGO and brings more than 14 years of Brussels public affairs and strategic communications experience across energy, climate and transport sectors.
Commenting on the appointments, Dame Polly Courtice, Director of CISL said: “We are delighted to have two such impressive people joining our team in Brussels at a pivotal moment for us in our efforts to drive leadership on sustainability, not just at home but across Europe and internationally. The EU's commitment to sustainability is of great importance as we look across the world - especially given its leadership role to date. The issues facing us are urgent and present continued challenges to business and policymakers in Europe as they develop plans for innovation and transition to a genuinely sustainable economy. As we further build up our team in Europe, I am confident Martin and Ursula will bring new energy and perspectives to the work of CISL and look forward to working with them enormously.”
CISL’s work in Brussels acts as a bridge between academia, business and policymakers on climate and energy policy and a sustainable economy, via inter alia the Green Growth Platform (GGP) and The Prince of Wales’s Corporate Leaders Group (CLG). The CLG convenes European business leaders to accelerate progress towards a zero carbon economy, whilst the GGP brings together ministers from European governments, businesses and the European Parliament to discuss and debate the economic opportunities and challenges involved in the transition to a low carbon, resilient economy.
