Social sustainability

Sarah Nurton is Social Impact Manager for wienerberger, the largest brick manufacturer in Europe, and manages their social impact programmes within the UK&Ireland. Prior to that she worked for Transport for Greater Manchester as Social Value Senior Officer embedding social value within the procurement process. Her previous professional experience was marketing, communications and fundraising within the charity sector. She sits on the Social Sustainability Steering Group for ISEP (formerly IEMA) as well as the Greater Manchester Social Value Network (GMSVN). She is also a STEM Ambassador, Mental Health First Aider and Trustee for homelessness charity.

Richard Lupo, FISEP, CEnv, is the Managing Director of SHIFT Environment and a lifelong advocate for sustainability. He began his career applying environmental principles in manufacturing before earning an MSc in Environmental Engineering from Imperial College London, where his research focused on reducing construction waste. Since 2008, he has produced environmental reporting for a wide range of clients across the built environment sector. His deepening interest in social sustainability—sparked during his research years—led him to develop a holistic approach to measuring both human wellbeing and environmental performance, ultimately captured in his book Happiness by Numbers. Richard is also a WELL Building Accredited Professional, reflecting his commitment to creating environments that support both people and the planet.

Chris lead’s Global Technical Realty’s (GTR) approach to environmental, social and governance matters, and is responsible for ensuring the business delivers against GTR’s ESG strategy. Chris has worked in workplace sustainability leadership roles across the construction, engineering and finance sectors. Prior to joining GTR he was Head of Responsible Business for a FTSE100 listed insurer. He is also a member of a number of industry forums focused on sharing best practice on environmental and social matters. He holds an MSc in Energy and Environmental studies and is a full member of the ISEP.

I have 20 years’ experience in sustainability strategy, social value, community outreach, EDI, and sustainability reporting across the construction and railway sectors. I am currently the national technical and strategic lead for social sustainability at Network Rail, and I also serve as Co Chair of Beyond Barriers, a social mobility network focused on improving fair access and progression opportunities across the railway industry. My background includes working on major construction projects where I have delivered social value programmes to support communities affected by works. I bring both strategic insight and hands on delivery, ensuring that social value is embedded in plans and achieved on the ground. I am passionate about creating inclusive, resilient, and socially responsible places, and about helping organisations turn sustainability goals into real results. I am also driven to remove barriers so where someone starts in life does not limit where they can go, having experienced those challenges myself.

My name is Emma Thornton, and I am Head of Social Value at Capita Pension Solutions, where I leads the delivery of social impact across major public sector contracts, including the Civil Service and Royal Mail Pension Schemes. With a background in local government and a passion for embedding social value into operational delivery, I am a n energetic strategic thinker who aims to make the sometimes-complex social value concepts accessible. I hold a Level 1 Social Value Practitioner certification from social value International, have completed SROI training with the institute of social value and I co-chair the BSA’s Social Value Working Group as well as the Institute of social Value design and innovation working group. I’m particularly interested in social mobility, equity, and the role of data in telling stories of impact. I bring lived experience of growing up in a working-class community and I’m driven by a commitment to help create inclusive systems that work for everyone

Beth Knight is a leading figure in social impact and sustainability. With over 15 years of experience in leadership roles at major companies including Lloyds Banking Group, Amazon, and EY. Beth also holds non-executive positions with the British Tourism Authority and Save the Children and is a Senior Associate at the University of Cambridge Institute of Sustainability Leadership. Beth's expertise extends to sustainability standards with advisory roles on GRI, CSRD, and TISFD working groups. She has also played a crucial role in increasing diversity within the sustainability sector by launching a UK apprenticeship program. Recognized for her contributions, Beth was named the Great British Businesswoman of the Year in 2022/23. Her work during the COVID-19 pandemic and humanitarian aid response to the war in Ukraine has further solidified her reputation as an innovator in social impact.

Alastair comes from a background of both public procurement, private buying and policy development. In his present role as Sustainability and Social Value Manager, Alastair works for a regional procurement organisation to support the delivery of sustainable procurement, including but not limited to social value and sustainability. Alastair has a keen interest in the role of pairing recognised health inequalities with tangible social value outcomes to maximise the benefit of healthcare spend within his remit. Alastair also runs CPD accredited Sustainable Procurement training and supplier upskilling in support of national NHS policy and guidance.

Moa Sigurdardottir is Senior Manager for Corporate Social Responsibility and the nominated Human Rights Officer at Cargolux Airlines, where she leads sustainability reporting, human rights strategy, and social impact initiatives. With 25 years of experience in Corporate Communications and over a decade in CSR, she was instrumental in laying the foundation for the company’s sustainability program. She developed Cargolux’s stakeholder engagement program and materiality matrix, driving progress in carbon reduction, ethical business conduct, and employee well-being. She is currently pursuing an MSc in Sustainable Development at the University of Sussex and holds executive certifications from the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford. She is also completing the Corporate Sustainability Management program at Yale School of Management. In her current role, she is responsible for the company’s human rights program and for preparing the Cargolux Group to comply with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).

Dr. Rhythima Shinde is a Senior Sustainability Advisor at KLH Sustainability, where she leads on social value strategy, equity-centred design, and ESG integration in the built environment. With a PhD in Environmental Policy from ETH Zurich, her research focused on affordability and equity in housing policy. She has worked across Europe and Southeast Asia, including at ThomasLloyd, where she supported ESG-aligned investment strategies in infrastructure and energy. Rhythima has also held academic leadership roles at TEDI-London, designing modules that embed justice, social impact, and systems thinking into engineering education. Her cross-sector experience includes co-founding social innovation platforms like Energy Bazaar and Humane Warriors. Rhythima advises on responsible innovation and circularity in infrastructure, and regularly collaborates with organisations such as the Royal Academy of Engineering. She is passionate about equitable transitions and actively contributes to research, capacity building, and policy work on social sustainability.

I’m a Sustainability Commercial Lead and Lecturer working across the education and training sector to embed sustainability, social value, and systems thinking into everyday practice. With over 18 years’ experience in vocational education, I now lead sustainability strategy, training design, and stakeholder engagement for a UK college group. I’ve led community-focused projects on climate justice, youth opportunity, and inclusive behaviour change, working closely with a range of stakeholders to drive local impact. I’m currently completing an MSc in Sustainability, with a focus on accessible, equity-led approaches that engage underrepresented communities. I’m passionate about empowering others to take meaningful action—whether through education, policy development, or creative public engagement—and I’m committed to ensuring that the social dimension of sustainability is embedded across our profession.

I am a dedicated advocate for social and environmental sustainability, currently managing sustainability risk, regulation, and reporting at Edrington, a company renowned for its production of high-quality spirits. In addition to my core role, I proudly lead as the Global Chair of our Balance Network, driving gender equity within the business. My background spans the built environment and textiles industries, providing a diverse foundation for my current work. Based in the stunning Speyside region of northern Scotland, I enjoy every opportunity to explore everything my local environment has to offer, from the beaches to the hills. I hold an MA in Geography and an MSc in Sustainability and Environmental Studies, and I am currently an Associate member of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA). Throughout my career, I have successfully led initiatives focused on reducing carbon, improving regulatory compliance, mitigating climate risk and driving social value. Now with 6 years of driving impact in industry - although I feel I am just getting started!