Governance

Sustainability at Sheffield brings together our strengths as an institution. Our academics are researching the solutions to our social and environmental challenges, our professional services staff are delivering sustainability projects across campus and our dedicated and passionate students ensure student priorities are represented. Our sustainability governance structures reflect these strengths to make sure that our work is informed by the latest research and students are involved in shaping our agenda.   

The University’s sustainability work is managed and implemented by two groups.  

UEB Sustainability-Sub Group

The Sustainability Sub-Group is the University’s highest-level dedicated sustainability body. Reporting directly to the University Executive Board (UEB), it is chaired by a member of UEB and brings together senior decision makers with
responsibility for sustainability and student representatives. This group is responsible for overseeing the delivery of the Sustainability Strategy, including making recommendations for budget allocation for major sustainability
projects. It receives and reviews quarterly reports on carbon emissions, strategic progress, and other key performance indicators.

Membership of the Sustainability Steering Group

Chair and University Executive Board Sponsor for Sustainability
Professor Ruth Blakeley, Vice-President and Head of Faculty of Social Sciences

Academic Lead for Sustainability
Professor Rachael Rothman, Co-Director of the Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures

University Executive Board Member
Joanne Jones, Chief Financial Officer 

Education Representative
Professor Matt Marshall, Deputy Vice-President for Education

Research Representative
Vacant

Operations Representative
Vacant

One University Representative
Professor Neil Sims, Faculty Director of One University - Engineering

Advanced Manufacturing Group Representative
Ryan Diver, Director of One University, AMRC

Student Lead for Sustainability
Anna James, Students' Union Welfare and Sustainability Officer

Estates and Facilities Management Representative
Linda Goodacre, Director of Estates and Facilities Management

Secretariat, communications and engagement
James Merryclough, Sustainability Programme Lead

Scope 1 and 2 advisor
Andrew Massey, Principal Engineer

Scope 3 advisor
Rosalind Farrow, Scope 3 Carbon Data Manager

Sustainability Network

The Sustainability Network is our community of practice – a cross-institutional group of staff and students drawn from faculties, schools, departments, and professional services. Its role is to champion, coordinate and support sustainability action across the University. Network members share insights, align activity, and learn from one another, helping to ensure our sustainability goals are embedded across research, teaching, operations, and engagement.

The Network provides a space for meaningful collaboration and knowledge exchange, and it plays a key role in ensuring that sustainability thinking informs decision-making at all levels of the institution.

Faculty, School and Professional Service Department Leadership

To embed sustainability across all areas of University life, we ensure that every academic school and professional services department has a Sustainability Lead. As members of the Sustainability Network, these colleagues advance local action, support staff and student engagement, and connect local priorities into University-wide sustainability planning.

We formally integrate sustainability into the University’s annual planning round and five-year strategic planning process. Schools, departments and faculties set clear sustainability objectives and targets aligned with the institutional strategy, and report on progress each year.

Together, this approach strengthens accountability and supports a culture of continuous improvement - ensuring our sustainability goals are driven through both central leadership and local ownership.