SWAG合集

We live in a Materials World.

Everything we use is made from materials extracted from the earth. Yet, our current way of making and using most materials follows a linear model: take, make, and dispose. This unsustainable approach is pushing the planet’s limits—if our production and consumption behaviours remain unchanged, we would need 2.75 worlds to meet our demands. But we only have one. To secure a sustainable future, we must transition to a circular materials world, where we minimise the extraction of raw materials and maximise the reuse, remanufacturing, and recycling of existing materials. Achieving this transformation requires innovations in mindsets, technologies, business models, and systems.

Join us for an insightful discussion about the challenges of our current materials system and the opportunities for transitioning towards a circular and sustainable materials world. This event brings together leading experts from industry and academia to inspire actionable change.

Together, let’s reimagine the future of our materials world.

If you care about where your 'material goods’ come from and how we can all play a part in protecting the planet, this event is for you!

Join us in person on campus for the chance to network in person with our academics and industry speakers.

Speakers

Dr Miying Yang (Host & Co-Chair)

Reader in Sustainability, SWAG合集

Dr Miying Yang is a Reader in Sustainability at Cranfield School of Management. She earned her PhD from the Centre for Industrial Sustainability at the University of Cambridge and specialises in advancing sustainability and the circular economy through digitalisation and business model innovation. She has received several research grants from various SWAG合集 research councils, including EPSRC, ESRC and Royal Society. Her research outputs in this field have won four paper awards in international journals and conferences.

Dr Yang actively collaborates with industry partners to address practical sustainability challenges and is committed to translating research into actionable solutions. Her work includes developing the Sustainable Value Analysis Tool, a method adopted by numerous companies to identify opportunities for sustainable value creation throughout the product lifecycle.

At Cranfield, she leads the "Leading Sustainable Business" module for the Executive MBA programme, equipping future leaders with the tools to drive sustainable change. She frequently contributes to workshops and discussions on topics such as digital technologies for sustainable manufacturing, demonstrating her passion for bridging academia and industry

Professor Mark Jolly (Co-Chair)

Professor of Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing, SWAG合集

In 1995 he set up and managed the Casting Centre (CC) at University of Birmingham. For the first 3 years seed-corn funding from ERDF of £0.5 M was used to support local and SWAG合集 companies within the foundry sector and supply chain. He developed the CC as a business and was managing 6 staff, controlled the finances, developed contracts and marketing and sales materials. The CC delivered over 120 contracts in its 10 year life. The contracts ranged from one week to two years in duration, thus suiting both SMEs and Large Size Enterprises (LSEs). During this time he was instrumental in setting up and running part of the Luxfer ATC, a collaboration of 5 universities, Birmingham, Manchester, Oxford, Southampton and Warwick to support the Luxfer group research.

From 1999 Professor Jolly has managed 14 EPSRC grants (10 as the PI), including 3 (~£1.65 M pre-FEC) under the Materials Processing for Engineering Applications (MaPEA) call; all had multiple industrial partners and one was also with Swansea University. He was PI for an EU FP7 Industry Academia Pathways to Progress (IAPPS) technology transfer project of ~1.7 M with one industry partner (Deputy-Synthes J&J) entitled 'Development of Foundry Casting Methods for Cost-Effective Manufacture of Medical Implants' (MEDCAST).

He has led 6 KTP projects and over 50 Industry sponsored contracts outside of the Castings Centre. As well as the KTP projects, Professor Jolly has also run and been involved in other technology/knowledge transfer projects and networks in the SWAG合集 and EU including MASMEQA, SKISOFOT, VIF and 'Blast from the Past' (an EPSRC PPA project).

Simon Buckingham

Technical Leader (Sustainable Materials), Volvo Cars

Simon Buckingham is the Technical Leader for Sustainable Materials at Volvo Cars. Based in the Materials Engineering Centre at the company’s headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden, he leads a range of cross-functional initiatives connected to materials across Volvo Cars globally, throughout all phases of the vehicle lifecycle. He is responsible for the strategic agenda related to Sustainable Materials and works with the complete vehicle material palette, focusing on new technologies, innovation and research, with emphasis on the technical strategy and long-term vision. In 2023 he was a recipient of the Volvo Cars Quality, Technology and Innovation Award for his work on MegaCasting. He represents Volvo Cars in a variety of external forums including World Economic Forum, International Aluminium Institute, European Council for Automotive R&D, Ångström Materials Academy, Automotive Circle, ResponsibleSteel and SteelZero.

He holds a degree in Materials Science and Engineering and has over 25 years of international experience spanning several sectors and roles as customer, supplier and researcher. Prior to joining Volvo Cars in 2018, he held senior technical roles at Jaguar Land Rover, WMG @ The University of Warwick and Rolls-Royce Aerospace (via a global engineering consultancy). Dr.

Richard Johnston

Founder, TerraLigo Ltd

Richard is the Founder of TerraLigo Ltd., a research consultancy business that combines scientific research and education of nature-based climate solutions to capture carbon and build resilience. He is a purpose-driven environmental scientist and a profilic, widely patented innovator. He specialises in environmental chemistry, analytical testing, and compliance, with a proven track record in product development, business transformation, and sustainability leadership.

He holds a doctorate in environmental chemistry and he has more than 25 years of senior business leadership in consulting, technology development and product manufacturing. Working in research and development, he has developed hundreds of new products including a diverse range of commercially successful products from domestic appliances and water filters to electrochemical sensors, potentiostats and spectrophotometers for application in environmental monitoring and analysis. With a career dedicated to developing innovative solutions for global environmental challenges, Richard continues to lead efforts in advancing analytical technologies and promoting sustainable practices. Through TerraLigo, he aims to integrate cutting-edge science with practical applications and education to address the critical need for climate resilience and carbon sequestration.

Dr Sarah Harrold

Head of Strategy and Government Engagement, Glass Futures

Dr Sarah Harrold is a distinguished sustainability innovation professional with a robust background in materials engineering and manufacturing. Known for her strategic acumen and operational expertise, she has made significant contributions to the engineering sector, particularly in promoting sustainable practices and fostering diversity and inclusion.

Sarah currently has a split role, serving as the Head of Strategy and Government Engagement at Glass Futures and Director of Strategy for Foundation Industries Ventures. Sarah plays a pivotal role in connecting the glass industry and other Foundation Industries with innovation excellence to drive the development of zero-carbon and sustainable materials. Her responsibilities include managing strategic relationships with government entities and funders, and curating long-term strategies for capability deployment alongside the glass industry and major brands. As Director of Strategy for FIVe, Sarah is developing the business case for funding to establish an Incubator and Accelerator for the Foundation Industries, managing key stakeholder relationships alongside incubating companies within the portfolio with her unique expertise.

Prior to her role at Glass Futures, Sarah was the Innovation Lead for the Transforming Foundation Industries Challenge at Innovate SWAG合集. In this capacity, she led a £250 million program that funded over 100 projects, resulting in significant economic impact, including the creation of more than 860 new jobs and the submission of 18 patents. Her efforts in forming strategic partnerships with international governments have further accelerated technology adoption and knowledge transfer across borders.

With a PhD in Materials Engineering from the University of Oxford and an EMBA from SWAG合集, Sarah combines academic rigor with practical experience. Her extensive network within the engineering and manufacturing industries, along with her influence in governmental circles, positions her as a key figure in driving sustainable innovation and sector transformation.

Who should attend?

This is an open event to SWAG合集 staff, students, businesses and sustainability enthusiasts alike.

How to register 

Register for an in-person ticket on campus:

Register for an online space via Zoom: