Meet the Sustainability Team

The SSG will be responsible for governing and oversight of the university’s sustainability, climate change, and social responsibility agendas and developing and implementing a Strategic Sustainability Action Plan. It will circulate the Annual Sustainability Report to SLT and Senate, and others as required. Further, it will submit action plans as necessary to SLT for approval prior to submission to the University Resources Committee.

• This advocacy group has a key responsibility to deliver the university’s sustainability and social responsibility agenda.
• The Minutes of the meetings will be circulated to members for dissemination in their portfolios.
• The Group will produce an Annual Report for approval by the Senior Leadership Team and the University Resources Committee and publication via the University website.

Co-chairs

• Dean of Sustainability and CSR and Sustainability Manager

Senior Staff to represent the following areas (listed alphabetically):

Academic Quality and Student Experience

• Prof Odette Hutchinson

Estates Services

• Mr Stephen Doherty
• Ms Marie-Louise Gaile

Faculty Representatives (X4)

• AHSS-  Mr Colm Creen
• CEBE - Prof Neil Hewitt
• LHS - Dr Colin Breen
• UUBS - Prof Una Mc Mahon Beattie

People and Culture

• Mr Damian McAlister

Regional Engagement

• Prof Malachy O’Neill

Research

• Prof Liam Maguire (SLT Senior Sponsor for Sustainability)

Strategy and Finance

• Ms Elaine Hartin

Students’ Union (CEO and SU Officer)

• Mr David Longstaff
• Ms Oluwaseyi Kushimo (Students' Union Representative)

In attendance: Executive Assistant: Sustainability & CSR

On occasion, and where business-relevant, other stakeholders may be invited to attend.

• The Group will meet a minimum of 3 times per year.
• Papers will be circulated a minimum of 5 working days before meetings.
• Meetings will last approximately 1.5hrs.
• Quorum – One half of the membership including both co-chairs.

The group will:

1. Co-ordinate and collaborate on sustainability, climate change, and social responsibility agendas across the university.
2. Provide updates and make recommendations on sustainability, climate change action, and social responsibility to the Vice Chancellor and Senior Leadership Team including oversight of the university’s Environmental Management System (ISO14001).
3. Develop, implement and review sustainability, climate change, and social responsibility related policies and action plans including risks and opportunities that supports the university’s corporate strategy.
4. Publicise the university's performance and work with stakeholders and communities where appropriate to promote good practice in sustainability, climate change action, and social responsibility.
5. Promote the engagement of the university’s curriculum and research with issues relating to sustainability, climate change, and social responsibility.
6. Assist in setting objectives and targets to mitigate the university’s significant environmental impacts, including developing and monitoring climate plans, reduction targets and formulating strategies to minimise impacts.
7. Assist the university in taking a leading role in higher education sustainability, climate change action, and social responsibility initiatives, using this role to lead and challenge the sector, as well as raising the university’s profile, locally, nationally, and internationally.
8. Establish and oversee membership of any necessary sub-groups.

Each faculty has a Sustainability Committee or Working Group which aim to embed sustainability within teaching, research, and operations by driving local action, supporting strategic goals, and fostering a culture of sustainability across each faculty.

Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Ms Louise O’Boyd & Ms Ciara Shufflebottom – Faculty Sustainability Working Group Co-Chairs

Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment

Professor Neil Hewitt– Faculty Sustainability Committee Chair

Life and Health Sciences

Dr Patrick Noughton – Faculty Sustainability Committee Chair

Ulster University Business School

Dr Susann Power – Faculty Sustainability Committee Chair

The Corporate Social Responsibility Working Group works to integrate social, ethical, and environmental responsibility into institutional practices, promoting positive impact for staff, students, and the wider community.

Membership

• Associate Head of the Belfast School of Architecture and the Built Environment: Professor Neale Blair
• Corporate Engagement Partner: Ms Tania Carlisle
• Dean of Sustainability and CSR: Professor Ian Montgomery
• Director of Community Engagement: Professor Duncan Morrow
• Director of Employee Experience: Mr Mark Latuske
• Governance and Policy Manager: Ms Maria McGilloway
• Head of Procurement: Ms Clare Egan
• Head of Residential Services: Ms Glenda Campbell
• Head of Research Performance: Ms Natalie Dallat
• Head of School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences: Professor Paul McCarron
• Head of Sustainability: Ms Marie-Louise Gaile
• Head of Widening Access and Participation: Ms Claire Mulrone
• Interim Director of Campus Life: Mr Gareth Kennedy
• Lecturer in Criminology: Dr Gabrielle Nugent-Stephens
• Lecturer in Management Development: Mr Steven Pollard
• Project Officer: Ms Erin McKenna
• Senior Lecturer in Higher Education Practice and ESD Co-Lead: Dr Amanda Platt
• Sustainable Procurement Partner: Ms Denise Loughrey
• Ulster University Students’ Union Vice President (Belfast): Ms Favour Okpohs

The Sustainable Travel for Business Review Group aims to reduce the environmental impact of business travel by developing principles and policies that promote low-carbon, responsible travel practices.

Membership

• Associate Dean (Development and Partnerships): Professor Paul Hanna
• Associate Dean (Development and Partnerships): Professor Sven Schottmann
• Dean of Sustainability and CSR: Professor Ian Montgomery
• Deputy Director of Finance: Ms Jill Marshall
• EDI Section Lead – Disability and Age: Ms Caroline McMenamin
• Head of Global Recruitment and Engagement: Mr Niall McAleer
• Head of School of Geography and Environmental Sciences: Professor Sara Benetti
• Head of Sustainability: Ms Marie-Louise Gaile
• Head of the Doctoral College: Professor Alison Gallagher
• Interim Director of Campus Life: Mr Gareth Kennedy
• Lecturer in Higher Education Practice and ESD Co-Lead: Dr Kieran Higgins
• Senior Project Manager (Travel and Transport): Ms Anne Doherty

The External Sustainability Advisory Board provides independent expertise and strategic guidance on key sustainability challenges and opportunities, drawing on leadership from sectors including circular economy, conservation, sustainable construction, and corporate social responsibility.

• Chief Executive, Kore Retrofit (Passivhaus Sustainable Construction): Dr Barry McCarron
• Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Resources Network (Circular Economy): Ms Eimear Montague
• Managing Director of Business in the Community (Business and Social Responsibility): Mr Kieran Harding
• National Trust NI Director (Conservation, Business, and Ecology): Ms Heather MacLachlan