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SRI Staff
Dr Bamdad Ayati
Senior Research Fellow
SRI, Research Degree Leader
Bamdad Ayati is a Senior Research Fellow at the Sustainability Research Institute. He is a materials chemist with an interest in low-carbon building materials.
Email: b.ayati@uel.ac.uk
Alan Chandler
Interim Dean of Research
Alan's areas of expertise cover material technology, the theory of architectural conservation design, and community engagement. Alan's work on earthen architecture at UEL was presented at the International Conference on Nonconventional Materials and Technologies (NOCMAT) at Bath University in September 2009 and published in the American Journal of Civil Engineering and Architecture.
As part of establishing the research into tensile construction techniques, the work has been featured in the RIBA Journal, the Architects Journal, Architectural Research Quarterly and Building Design, as well as in a number of publications on concrete and materiality in architecture.
Email: a.chandler@uel.ac.uk
Dr Stuart Connop
Associate Professor and Director of the Sustainability Research Institute
Stuart has 20 years of experience working in conservation ecology and nature-based solutions research. He is a specialist in ecomimicry in urban green infrastructure design with a specific focus on using invertebrate ecology as a foundation for designing urban green spaces for people and nature. He has expertise in habitat assessment, design, monitoring and management. His background includes biodiversity and ecosystem service monitoring and the associated data analysis, including the use of spatial analysis and ISIS invertebrate assemblage analysis to quantify habitat quality.
Stuart has a track record of research leadership in UK and European projects including Work Package leadership in TURAS, Connecting Nature, Biurbs, and (starting in 2024) UGPplus. Stuart sits on UK and EU Standards Committees and Task Forces and has provided consultancy services to a diverse range of external partners (Natural England, Buglife, Newham Council, Thames Water, TfL, Environment Agency, etc)
Email: s.p.connop@uel.ac.uk
Dr Karina Corada Perez
Green Infrastructure Research Assistant
Karina is an interdisciplinary environmental chemist who works as a green infrastructure research assistant specialising in air pollution. She has a master's degree in Environmental Planning and Management from the University of Chile. After working as a researcher and consultant in Santiago de Chile, she moved to London in 2018 to study for a PhD at the Centre for Environmental Policy at Imperial College London. Her research focuses on green infrastructure and how it influences urban air quality. Her research helps inform decision-making for more health-promoting urban environments by optimising the expected benefits of green infrastructure through a holistic understanding of the positive impacts and trade-offs of these green interventions. Her research offers a comprehensive and up-to-date strategic view of implementing green infrastructure in cities to reduce exposure to air pollutants. Her interest is to support the transformation of cities towards a better and healthier environment through a transdisciplinary approach, using strategically nature-based solutions. Outside of her research work, she runs a healthcare products business to encourage women/mothers in Chile to practice conscious self-care. She also loves biking, travelling, trying new vegetarian recipes, painting, knitting, and making her own eco-friendly toiletries.
Email: k.corada-perez@uel.ac.uk
Dr Hebba Haddad
Senior Lecturer in Environmental Psychology
Hebba splits her time between UEL's School of Psychology and the Sustainability Research Institute (SRI). Within SRI, she is currently conducting research evaluating the perceptions and performance of retrofit Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) and Eastern New Energy (ENE), focusing on low/zero carbon actions and local economic development. Within Psychology, she is the Course Leader for the BSc (Hons) Environmental Psychology undergraduate degree. She leads on the two environmental psychology modules: Principles and Practices for Environmental Psychology (Level 5) and Psychological Approaches to Environmental Sustainability (Level 6).
Email: h.haddad@uel.ac.uk
Sam Jelliman
Research Assistant
Sam is currently leading research which explores how businesses can be supported to transition to net zero carbon. He is also involved in peatland restoration and air quality projects. Sam has experience working for the government and the third sector in London, New Zealand and Mongolia in the areas of behaviour change, sustainable transport and air pollution. He has experience across a range of sustainability issues and enjoys studying how various fields intersect and interact with each other to find real-world solutions. Sam studied Environmental Science at the University of East Anglia (UEA).
Email: s.jelliman@uel.ac.uk
Susan Keeping
Sustainability Project Delivery Manager
Sue provides oversight to the Eastern and South Eastern New Energy Projects for the SRI.
These projects aim to identify and take steps to remove barriers to decarbonisation utilising research collaboration and business support across an area of England from Hertfordshire to Thurrock. Working with a range of delivery partners across the private and public sectors, Sue ensures the partnership can effectively support businesses to take the next step on their decarbonisation journey involving a range of activities and services.
Working closely with the SRI Administration Team and colleagues in Research and Development Support (ReDs), Sue has ensured effective project management structures are in place and has helped to shape the programme governance for our European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Portfolio. Sue has 17 years of experience managing projects and programmes in the sustainability and economic development environment, driving sustainable practice in the built environment and upskilling businesses and individuals.
Sue has studied Business Sustainability Management with the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, is an IPMA Level D, Certified Project Management Associate, and is a graduate member of the British Psychological Society. She studied education and the arts at the University of Warwick. Sue believes that Individual knowledge and collaborative action are the keys to unlocking the sustainability challenges that we face and is passionate about finding ways to demonstrate how we can work together to achieve step changes in improving society, and spaces and protecting natural and built environments and ecosystems.
Email: s.keeping@uel.ac.uk
Dr Mehri Khosravi
Energy and Carbon Senior Research Fellow
Mehri is an environmental social researcher with a background in environmental management, climate change and energy decarbonisation. She has a first PhD in Environmental Planning and Management, and a second PhD in Environmental Science from the University of Liverpool. Mehri is interested in investigating the relationship between society and environmental issues through engaging with various stakeholders. She has extensive experience in working with stakeholders from various sectors such as energy, water, agriculture and tourism in developed and developing countries. She currently works at the SRI, as a social scientist and is involved in a European Regional Development-funded project 'Eastern New Energy'. Before joining SRI, she had a postdoctoral role at the University of Exeter, the Energy Policy Group (EPG), as a policy researcher to work on an EPSRC-funded project to explore UK energy policy makers' perceptions on cooling decarbonisation. Before this, she was at the Sustainability Research Institute (SRI) of the University of Leeds as a Research Fellow and worked on climate service and adaptation projects. Her qualifications are: PhD, Environmental Science (2015-2019), Department of Geography and Planning, School of Environmental Science, University of Liverpool, UK. PhD, Environmental Management (2010-2014), School of Environment, Science and Research, Tehran, Iran. MSc, Environmental Planning, School of Environment, University of Tehran, Iran. BSc, Agriculture Engineering, School of Agriculture, University of Tehran, Iran.
Richard Lindsay
Head of Environmental Sciences
Richard is an internationally recognised specialist in peatland conservation. He leads the SRI's portfolio of research and consultancy for peatland management and conservation and has been responsible for assembling and presenting several key peatland conservation cases and management and monitoring programmes at both national and international levels.
Richard joined UEL in 1997 to reshape and update the University's conservation degrees and graduates have since gone on to work for conservation agencies in the UK, Mexico and China. Prior to his time at UEL, Richard worked for over 20 years in professional nature conservation.
Email: r.lindsay@uel.ac.uk
Dr Mike Medas
Senior Research Manager
Mike is a specialist in environmental sustainability, with interests in renewable energy, life-cycle assessment and embodied carbon within the built environment. He also has extensive experience in managing sustainable urban regeneration programmes and delivering models of community-led regeneration across the UK.
Email: m.medas@uel.ac.uk
Dr Caroline Nash
Research Fellow
Caroline's work focuses on biodiversity and urban green infrastructure (UGI) design. During her PhD research, she investigated state-of-the-art measures to maximise the biodiversity value of UGI, with a particular focus on the brownfield ecomimicry. Caroline has extensive experience in ecological consultancy and biodiversity monitoring.
Email: c.nash@uel.ac.uk
Professor Darryl Newport
Former Director, Sustainability Research Institute
Darryl is an environmental scientist specialising in the built environment. His research and policy interests include renewable energy systems, sustainable construction through alternative material use and natural resource management. Darryl has worked on several major infrastructure projects in London including the 2012 Olympics.
He's also closely involved in the development of the Institute for Sustainability - including the Sustainable Industry Park at Dagenham Dock.
Dr Gloria Osei
Research Fellow
Gloria Osei is a Research Fellow, with specific research interests in nature-based solutions. Her professional interests are in urban spaces, Green Infrastructure development management, and environmentally-led innovation in the Built Environment. Her preoccupations are focused on environmental and social responsibility.
She has experience within the field of engineering and the built environment and has been involved in a range of activities from research into the application and use of green space as a nature-based solution and the power equality of stakeholders, as well as industry experience in analytical assessments, ground investigation, and site works. Gloria has accomplished writing research reports and proposals employing specific theoretical perspectives and highlighting critical thinking in project development and management.
Within SRI, Gloria is currently working on the BiUrbs project, a UKRI-funded project for an improved understanding of the economics of biodiversity.
Joseph Sanchez
Green Infrastructure Research Assistant
Joe has a diverse understanding of the issues around sustainability through studying a Green Building MSc at the Centre for Alternative Technology. Joe's research has focused on developing nature-based solutions for site developments with sustainable drainage systems and ecological conservation proposals, sustainable materials and council housing retrofit, Building Energy Performance, Life Cycle Assessment, and scenario mapping. Joe's background is in technical design and carpentry, which he practised for several years in the industry, giving him the capacity to think practically and with his hands. In a volunteer capacity, he is a member of a community housing union in South London and works in practical conservation at the Forestry Commission's Bedgebury Pinetum. His interests are driven by a focus on inclusivity and equity of access to the benefits of green space and climate resilience across cities and rural landscapes. Joe has contributed to the SRI's deliverables on the Horizon 2020 project Connecting Nature, reviewing the SRI's output of a technical solutions guidebook for nature-based solutions by incorporating wider NbS case studies demonstrating impactful planning, design, delivery, monitoring and upscaling. Currently, Joe works on the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funded Greenhouse Gas Removal project, exploring the multitude of benefits and co-benefits of peatland restoration. He is also working on the Eastern New Energy project funded in part by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), supporting small and medium-sized enterprises working towards decarbonisation through testing material performances in the laboratory.
Email: j.sanchez@uel.ac.uk
Daiva Raguckiene
Business Manager
Daiva supports staff on key SRI projects, HR and recruitment, and administrative duties and oversees the Institute's communication activities and website presence. Daiva is SRI's Research Degrees Sub-committee (PGR) representative.
Daiva graduated with a First Class Honours in Law LLB from UEL, a BA in International Tourism Management from London Metropolitan University and an event management diploma from King's College London. Daiva runs an event management business - DT Conferences & Events- focusing on fraud prevention and risk mitigation in the banking industry. Daiva is an associate of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development.
Email: daiva@uel.ac.uk
Lisa Sweetman
SRI Team Administrator
Lisa started with the Sustainability Research Institute on a temporary basis nearly 14 months ago and was over the moon when she became a permanent member of the team. Lisa's duties (amongst others) include organising events, purchasing for the team, minute taking, booking flights and accommodation, and ensuring spreadsheets and project databases are kept up to date. The position she holds is a far cry from her past work history. Lisa has spent most of her working life as a receptionist in the corporate sector. Although Lisa had very little previous experience in her position, she is committed to proving herself and enjoys using her organisational skills to keep on top of her diverse role and look after the team.
Email: l.sweetman@uel.ac.uk
Dr Jack Clough
Research Assistant
Jack works in the 'Green Infrastructure' team. His main work focuses on wetland conservation and paludiculture in the UK and abroad. As a developing researcher, he has growing expertise in SuDs, ecological surveys, GIS, and terrestrial laser scanning. Previous projects have involved working on the UK’s first Sphagnum farming project funded through Innovate UK, identifying a new blanket bog in Southern Spain and working on the DEFRA paludiculture sub-group which aims to develop the paludiculture policy within the UK. In his spare time, Jack is often found outdoors hiking, climbing, and cycling.
Email: j.clough@uel.ac.uk
Moza Ahmed
Graduate Trainee Project Manager
Moza is a graduate project management trainee who recently joined the SRI team. With a background in marketing and a degree from UEL, Moza brings a unique blend of skills and experiences to her new role. She has started her own business focused on motivating and empowering children through educational resources that celebrate diversity, reflecting her commitment to fostering positive societal change from an early age.
Driven by a deep-rooted belief in making a meaningful impact on the environment and society, Moza is passionate about sustainability. She is eager to contribute to the Sustainability Research Institution’s (SRI) mission by leveraging her marketing expertise to support initiatives promoting environmental stewardship and social responsibility.
Moza is excited about the opportunity to grow professionally within the SRI team, viewing this position as the perfect fit to enhance her skills and knowledge. She is determined to use her role to contribute to the institute’s research and outreach efforts, helping to create a more sustainable future while advancing her career in the field of project management and sustainability.
Email: mahmed7@uel.ac.uk
Helen Mailey
Graduate Trainee Researcher
Helen Mailey is a Graduate Trainee Researcher at the University of East London's (UEL) Sustainability Research Institute (SRI).
With a degree background in Sociology, Helen brings a deep understanding of social structures, human behaviour, and societal change to their research work. The role at UEL SRI involves contributing to interdisciplinary research projects such as Greenhouse Gas Removal Project, with a focus on sustainability, and community engagement.
Through their academic training and hands-on research, Helen is developing her social science insights to address pressing global challenges and drive positive social impact.
Email: h.mailey@uel.ac.uk
SRI Sponsored PhD Research Students
Hilal Koztepe
Email: u1832463@uel.ac.uk
Chidinma Muoneke
Chidinma Muoneke
Research Assistant
Chidinma is a research assistant who guides and supports companies on organisational greenhouse gas accounting. She is also an SRI-sponsored PhD student and is currently researching barriers to Scope 3 greenhouse gas accounting.
In 2020, she graduated with a first-class Masters in Sustainable Resource Management from the University of Limerick, Ireland. Shortly afterwards she joined the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of Limerick as a Research Assistant on an EPA Ireland-funded project that investigated the transboundary shipment of used electrical and electronic equipment in roll-on roll-off vehicles leaving Ireland for West Africa.
Chidinma has worked as a Sustainability Specialist in the telecommunications sector for almost two years. She led several initiatives designed to promote business sustainability such as carbon footprint measurement, setting relevant sustainability targets and driving several initiatives to reduce organisational environmental impacts.
Email: c.muoneke2201@uel.ac.uk
Ofelia Raluca Stroe
Research and Development Manager at AICPA-CIMA, part-time PhD student at the Sustainability Research Institute.
Work email address: r.stroe@uel.ac.uk; raluca.stroe@aicpa-cima.com
Raluca Stroe has a BA in International Relations and International Exchange and an MSc in International Relations with a strong focus on environmental politics and renewable energy policy from the University of Essex. She is currently a Research and Development Manager at AICPA-CIMA, overseeing the Academic Research Programme. She has previously worked as a Programme Officer on Publishing at the International Center on Small Hydro Power (ICSHP) in Hangzhou, China, authoring and editing several small hydropower country reports for the World Small Hydro Power Development Report (WSHPDR), a UNIDO-ICSHP project. Other past positions include working as an analyst in the renewable energy and infrastructure project finance publishing sector, and as a programme coordinator for an academic charity and think tank. Raluca is currently undertaking research on pathways to net zero for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the UK. She is assessing the effect of external factors on SMEs’ sustainability reporting practices and progress to net zero.
Latest publications:
- Dell’Aquila M., Atzori D., Stroe O.R. (2020) The Role of Policy Design and Market Forces to Achieve an Effective Energy Transition: A Comparative Analysis Between the UK and Chinese Models. In: Hafner M., Tagliapietra S. (eds) The Geopolitics of the Global Energy Transition. Lecture Notes in Energy, vol 73. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-39066-2_10.
- Liu, D., Liu, H., Wang, X., and Kremere, E. (eds) (2019). World Small Hydropower Development Report 2019. United Nations Industrial Development Organization; International Center on Small Hydro Power. Available from www.smallhydroworld.org (contributing author).
Oluchukwu Okonkwo
Details coming soon
Georgemma Hunt
Details coming soon
Marielena Margraf
Details coming soon
Joanna Bellett-Travers
Details coming soon
Completed PhD Students
Bamdad Ayati
Bamdad completed his PhD in Sustainable Development and the Environment in 2018. His research investigated the manufacture of lightweight aggregates from drill cuttings waste that is produced by the oil and gas industry in the North Sea and showed this to be a viable reuse application for large volumes of drill cuttings that are disposed of in landfills every year.
Email:b.ayati@uel.ac.uk
Ximena Alexandra Chamorro Bolaaos
Ximena holds a BSc in Chemistry and an MSc in Water, Waste and Environmental Engineering. She has a professional background in Environmental Chemistry and research experience in sanitation and reuse of waste materials. Ximena is currently developing her doctoral research on the assessment of different treatments for air pollution control residues (APCr) coming from municipal solid waste (MSW) incineration so that these residues can be used as raw material in the manufacture of lightweight aggregates (LWA). This PhD project is a partnership between the SRI and Augean PLC, which is a market leader in waste management solutions in the UK.
Email:u1932296@uel.ac.uk
Jack Clough
Dr Jack Clough
Research Assistant
Jack works in the 'Green Infrastructure' team. His main work focuses on wetland conservation and paludiculture in the UK and abroad. As a developing researcher, he has growing expertise in SuDs, ecological surveys, GIS, and terrestrial laser scanning. Previous projects have involved working on the UK’s first Sphagnum farming project funded through Innovate UK, identifying a new blanket bog in Southern Spain and working on the DEFRA paludiculture sub-group which aims to develop the paludiculture policy within the UK. In his spare time, Jack is often found outdoors hiking, climbing, and cycling.
Read Jack's full profile
Email: j.clough@uel.ac.uk
Ria Devereux
She completed her PhD at the SRI in 2023, investigating microplastic abundance along the tidal section of the River Thames. Ria's research aimed to highlight the contamination of water in the River Thames by microplastics and yield valuable information which may be used to help the removal of plastic waste.
Email:r.devereux@uel.ac.uk
Umar Khalid
Having completed an MSc in Civil Engineering, Umar's PhD thesis is to develop a mathematical model of the pan pelletisation process and to formulate cold bonded pellets using Air Pollution Control Residues (APCr). Umar's PhD is a collaboration with Augean Plc - a sector leader in modernising hazardous waste management practices.
Umar's wider interests include Building Information Modelling and construction automation.
Email:m.u.khalid@uel.ac.uk
James McGill
James is an entomologist and started his research at UEL in September 2014. His research focuses on brownfield invertebrate conservation in Essex and London, particularly managing succession and creating new habitat features. Prior to his time at UEL, James worked for Natural England, the RSPB and Reading University as a botanist and invertebrate ecologist.
Email: j.mcgill@uel.ac.uk
Caroline Nash
Caroline completed her PhD research in 2017, investigating state-of-the-art measures to maximise the biodiversity value of urban green infrastructure, with a particular focus on Open Mosaic Habitat ecomimicry as a mechanism for achieving nature-positive development.
Kinga Owczarek
Kinga's research investigates the properties of novel extensive green roof construction materials and the resultant hydrological functions. Her aim is to develop appropriate guidelines for multifunctional green roof design in the UK.
Kinga also works in the Centre of Geo-Information Studies, UEL on Smart Cities: Promoting Resilience in the London Borough of Newham.
Email:k.e.owczarek@uel.ac.uk
Stephanie Skipp
Stephanie Skipp completed her PhD in insect ecology in 2023. Her project focused mainly on the beetles that specialise in decaying-wood habitats within broadleaved veteran trees. Many of these species are uncommon and further threatened by habitat loss in the future. Stephanie researched the extent to which decreasing habitat connectivity may impact these beetles.
Email: s.k.skipp@uel.ac.uk
Associates
Dr Helen Bailey
Helen has been a Senior Lecturer at the University of Derby since 2015. Helen is also Managing Director at The Driven Company Associates Limited. The Driven Company supports asset owners, clients and contractors with the development of engineered solutions in highway materials design, production, specification and installation through the provision of advice and technical expertise. Its mission is to remove barriers to drive ahead quality and value; enhancing management, operations and asset creation.
Prof Allan J Brimicombe, Head of Centre for Geo-Information Studies at UEL
Allan's research interests include issues of data quality; the coupling of GIS and numerical simulation modelling for decision support; spatial data mining, analysis and visualisation; and mobile systems and location-based services (LBS).
These have been applied to crime, health, education, natural hazards, utilities and business. Recently he has been working on the Olympic Games Impact Study for the London 2012 Games. Commissioned by the Economic and Social Research Council, this work is mandated by the IOC and is the first for a summer Games.
He has published over 90 academic papers and is the author of 'GIS, Environmental Modelling and Engineering' (Taylor & Francis, 2nd Edition, 2010) and 'Location-Based Services and Geo-Information Engineering'(Wiley, 2009).
Email: a.j.brimicombe@uel.ac.uk
Prof Chris Cheeseman
Chris Cheeseman joined the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Imperial College London in 1990 This followed periods in industry with Redland Technology, Morgan Materials Technology and Morgan Matroc. He has a DPhil from Oxford University (high-temperature properties of ceramics) and a BSc in Physics and Materials Science from the University of Warwick.
Chris is a Professor of Materials Resources Engineering and the leader of a major research group working on the beneficial reuse of waste materials and resource efficiency within the Environmental and Water Resource Engineering (EWRE) Section. He is also the Director of the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Sustainable Civil Engineering.
The focus of his research is on sustainable use of materials, waste management and resource efficiency. The emphasis of waste management research has changed from safe disposal to the beneficial reuse of materials and wastes as resources. This type of interdisciplinary research falls between the more traditional fields of environmental engineering, materials processing, waste recycling and civil engineering and involves collaboration with both industry and other researchers at Imperial and beyond.
Dr Anca Ciupala
Anca is a Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering at the School of Architecture, Computing and Engineering.
She obtained her MEng degree in Civil Engineering in 1991 and her doctoral degree in Earthquake Engineering and Safety of Structures in 1999 from the Technical University "Gh. Asachi" Iasi, Romania. After spending 10 years in the industry and academia in Romania, Anca was awarded an EU Marie Curie Research Fellowship (FP5) at the University of Sheffield (2001-2003) and then joined the University of East London as a Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering in 2003.
Anca's main research interests are in the fields of Structural Engineering and Sustainability in the Built Environment where she has led and participated in a range of research projects and industrial consultancy contracts.
Email:m.a.ciupala@uel.ac.uk
Dr Marcus J Collier
Marcus is a Senior Research Fellow and the co-ordinator of the UCD-led EU FP7 TURAS project (Transitioning towards Urban Resilience and Sustainability). Marcus' research interests focus on the complex and fascinating interface between social and ecological systems, and his PhD research concentrated on damaged landscapes, resilience planning and collaborative processes.
His main areas of expertise are in interdisciplinary research, qualitative and quantitative methodologies, social-ecological interfaces, resilience and vulnerability, landscape and restoration ecology, environmental policies, rural geography, governance and community outreach as well as writing and presentation skills.
Marcus began his post-doctoral research in Teagasc, with funding from the EPA (STRIVE), examining the potential impacts of genetically modified crops on biodiversity and the landscape. He then continued his post-doctoral research with University College Cork / Environmental Research Institute.
At the Coastal and Marine Research Centre Marcus worked as a Sustainability Scientist and as a member and work package leader on several international research teams (Funded by the Marine Institute, INTERREG, ESPON and FP7).
Email:marcus.collier@ucd.ie
Dr Jon Green
Jon Green graduated from the University of Portsmouth and holds a PhD from Writtle Agricultural College on "Cryopreservation of Ribes nigrum utilizing field grown and in vitro material for genetic conservation".
Jon is currently leading a collaborative project between the University of Freiburg and the company Qfood Gmbh investigating food and drink quality using capture and release polymer technology.
He is a visiting researcher with the SRI and works with the University of Chongqing, China and the company RTAL (HK) Ltd. to develop lightweight aggregate from waste materials.
Armor Gutierrez
Armor is an architect, researcher and maker, interested in how innovation through sustainability can have a positive impact on our built environment. Prior to joining the University of East London as a Senior Lecturer, he gained extensive professional experience working for some of the world's most distinguished architecture firms such as Bjarke Ingels Group in Copenhagen, MVRDV in Rotterdam, and KPF in London, where he attained the level of Associate Principal.
In 2015 he co-founded Atelier La Juntana, a workshop exploring architecture, design and creative fabrication through sustainable making. As part of this exploration he organises, in collaboration with Madrid Polytechnic University of Architecture, a summer school which welcomes international students each edition sharing a common interest on the topic of sustainable materials and critical making.
Since 2017, he has run the design studio Unit 8 at MArch, Master in Architecture at the University of East London. Armor's students have engaged with a number of community-led organisations and assisted them with implementing sustainable solutions to their design schemes, including innovative solutions for floating communities in the Royal Docks in collaboration with Babylon Blue, and pioneering material prototypes using by-products from sugar cane in collaboration with Tate & Lyle. The unit students have been shortlisted on several occasions for RIBA awards, including the RIBA Silver Medal Nomination 2019 and 2021, the RIBA Dissertation Medal 2020 and the RIBA East Prize Skin thinking-Detail Award 2020.
Dr Amin Hosseinian-Far
Dr Amin Hosseinian-Far holds the position of Senior Lecturer & Deputy Subject Leader in Business Systems and Operations at the University of Northampton. In his previous teaching experience, Amin was a Staff Tutor at the Open University, and prior to that a Senior Lecturer and Course Leader at Leeds Beckett University. He has held lecturing and research positions at the University of East London and at a number of private HE institutions and strategy research firms.
Dr Hosseinian-Far has also worked as Deputy Director of Studies at a large private higher education institute in London. Dr Hosseinian-Far received his BSc (Hons) in Business Information Systems from the University of East London, an MSc degree in Satellite Communications and Space Systems from the University of Sussex, a Postgraduate Certificate in Research and a PhD degree titled 'A Systemic Approach to an Enhanced Model for Sustainability' which he acquired from the University of East London.
Amin holds a Membership of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), a Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (HEA), and a Fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA). He is also the founding editor and the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Strategic Engineering (IJoSE).
Email:Amin.Hosseinian-Far@northampton.ac.uk
Ajay Kathrani
Ajay is currently working with the SRI to develop our research commercialisation strategy. Ajay was previously a director at the Institute for Sustainability where he oversaw the development and delivery of projects and programmes across the circular economy, buildings retrofit, sustainable behaviours and demand-led climate innovation.
Ajay led London's Science and Industry Council at the London Development Agency - supporting business-university collaborations and promoting the city's life science, design and environmental technology base. Ajay's early career was spent in the broadcasting and media sectors – where he managed the launch of a range of new digital services. He holds a Masters in Urban Regeneration from the University of Westminster.
Email: Ajaykathrani@gmail.com
Rosa Rogina
Rosa is an architect, researcher and curator working as a Programme Director at the London Festival of Architecture. Rosa's work shares the fundamental premise that architecture is a public concern, with the specific aim of increasing public awareness about the role of architecture and sustainable design in contemporary society.
Since 2017, she has run the design studio Unit 8 at MArch, Master in Architecture at the University of East London. Rosa's students have engaged with a number of community-led organisations and assisted them with implementing sustainable solutions to their design schemes, including innovative solutions for floating communities in the Royal Docks in collaboration with Babylon Blue, and pioneering material prototypes using by-products from sugar cane in collaboration with Tate & Lyle. The unit students have been shortlisted on several occasions for RIBA awards, including the RIBA Silver Medal Nomination 2019 and 2021, the RIBA Dissertation Medal 2020 and the RIBA East Prize Skin thinking-Detail Award 2020.
Ian Short
Ian Short was appointed Interim CEO of Climate-KIC in January 2016 and tasked with implementing Climate-KIC's new structures, strategies and teams to enable the organisation to achieve its potential. Ian was previously Chief Executive of the Institute for Sustainability - an independent charity established to pilot and trial systemic solutions for sustainable cities and communities.
Previously, Ian was Deputy Chief Executive at the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation (LTGDC), a public/private regeneration agency in east London, which he helped establish in 2005. While in this role, Ian led the development of the Institute for Sustainability from its original concept to a fully operational charitable organisation in just over two years.
Dr Renée Tobe
Dr Renée Tobe is a Reader in Architecture. She has been awarded a Paul Mellon Research Fellowship at the British School in Rome (2018) and a Research Fellowship at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Humanities at Edinburgh University (2014). Before entering academia, she was in professional practice for 10 years, previous to which she studied at the Architectural Association, Cornell University and Ryerson University where she trained in sustainable building technology. Read more about Dr Renée Tobe.
Email:r.tobe@uel.ac.uk