News
County Pioneers in Green Leaders Listing
24 August 2010
The region's first ever Top 50 Green Leaders has been revealed today in a bid to drive forward the move to a low-carbon economy by 2020.
Six eco-pioneers from Shropshire are among the high-profile list of influential business people pushing the green agenda.
The Top 50 Green Leaders who received their certificates from international campaigner Jonathon Porritt at a special event organised by Sustainability West Midlands at Millennium Point, will now be invited to share and pass on their experiences, skills and knowledge to the next generation of professionals.
They will also be invited to develop new solutions and influence policy by contributing to reserach and new Government initiatives such as the Big Society.
The six featured in the list are Micheal Chesshire of BiogenGreenfinch; Prof Quentin Leiper CBE, Carillion; Paul Sutton, Shropshire Housing Group; Richard Davies, Marches Energy Agency; Andy Foyle, Ricoh in Telford and Adam Kennerley, co-founder of the Household Energy Service.
Dr Simon Slater, executive director of Sustainability West Midlands, said 'Our Top 50 Green Leaders features a diverse group of individuals, who have all helped to implement and run activities that have had a positive environmental impact with additional social or economic benefits.
'Shropshire is well represented and has been involved in some excellent examples of low-carbon innovation, communities tackling key green issues successfully and major public services adjusting the way they work to be more eco-friendly'.
Michael Chesshire was included in the list for his pioneering work with South Shropshire based Biogen-Greenfinch, who anaerobic digestion plants process food and other organic wastes before using them as a fuel to make renewable energy.
He is also a director of the Renewable Energy Association, a lecturer at the Centre of Alternative Technology and a visiting professor at the University of Southampton.
Another local business figure recognised is Ricoh UK Products' Andy Whyle. The environment officer at the global office products provider has instigated the company's membership of the Shropshire Wildlife Trust, leading to two conservation projects.
As chairman of the Business Environment Support Scheme, Telford, he also launched a pilot involving three organisations carrying out biodiversity surveys to improve the area's wildlife corridor.
Andy said 'Anything that raises awarenesss of the green agenda is very welcome and I'm delighted that the work we have done at Ricoh UK Porducts has been recognised and will be used as an example of what can be achieved.
'The lessons learned here can be used for new projects and opportunities that the West Midlands can lead on'. And Adam Kennerley has created Light Foot Enterprise to bring to life other social enterprises, including Farm Carbon which will work with farmers across South Shropshire to help them cut emissions.
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