The Future is Green

The Future is Green

Meet the team

The Future is Green project team

Based within the University of Exeter’s Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, The Future is Green is led by an international and interdisciplinary team of experts in engineering, business, sustainability and the circular economy.

Drawing on diverse, cross-disciplinary perspectives, the project team works with local businesses to develop innovative, evidence-based training programmes. Find out more about the project, here.

Why act now?

It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land. Widespread and rapid changes in the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and biosphere have occurred.

– IPCC, 2021 (See the report, here)

Meet our Experts:

Stefano Pascucci 

Head of Department – Management (Business School)

& Professor in Sustainability & Circular Economy 

Stefano’s work as Professor in Sustainability and Circular Economy at the University of Exeter Business School sees him exploring sustainability through organisation theories, innovation management, entrepreneurship and value-chain analysis.

He leads on circular economy, leadership, and future innovation aspects of the Future is Green project. 

Philipp Thies 

Professor of Renewable Energy (Engineering)

Philipp’s research interest lies in the reliability engineering of renewable energy technologies with a focus on offshore energy. A focus of his work has been on critical components such as dynamic submarine cables and mooring for floating offshore wind.  

Through The Future is Green project, Philipp aims to deliver green skills training programmes on topics relating to offshore energy developments. 

Allen Alexander 

Professor in Innovation & Circular Economy (Business School) 

Allen is a senior researcher and Associate Professor in Innovation and Circular Economy at the University of Exeter. His work focuses on investigating the roles of innovation and knowledge generation in enabling a transition towards the circular economy.

He leads, alongside Stefano Pascucci, on circular economy and future innovation under the Future is Green project. 

Justin Hinshelwood 

Associate Professor in Renewable Energy (Engineering) 

Justin is a Chartered Engineer with a background in biophysics, software engineering and integration of renewable energy technologies.   

He is working on the clean energy branch of the Future is Green project to deliver executive education programmes for individuals looking to retrain or upskill in green skills for the future in topics such as renewable energy systems. 

Jim Grant

Head of Energy Futures and Engineering

Specialising in energy and marine technology, Jim works directly with businesses and other stakeholders to help them access knowledge and expertise within the University of Exeter.

He was previously Head of Business Development, Cornwall, where he managed teams delivering business-facing projects worth over £40 million.

Julian Gregory

Research & Impact fellow

Dr Julian Gregory is an energy policy academic, whose research interests include the successful development and deployment of floating wind technologies & the transition to a Circular Economy.

Previous research includes the decarbonisation of Large Energy Intensive Industries (LEIIs) in the UK with the University of Manchester and the Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre (IDRIC.org). Before becoming an academic, Julian was an investment banker in both the UK and Australia, which included the development and financing of renewable energy projects.

Mary Hesling 

Impact and Partnership Development Manager, Exeter Innovation

Mary is Project Manager for The Future is Green. She has over 20 years’ experience in project and corporate event management and previously led the University of Exeter Arcaproject building skills for the circular economy in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. 

Through her work on ‘The Future is Green’ Mary, alongside Katie, aims to continue ‘Arca‘s legacy and vision of a circular Cornwall.

Katie Riesner 

Impact and Partnership Development Officer, Exeter Innovation

Katie is Project Officer of The Future is Green Project.  

In her previous Project Officer role, she managed the marketing of the University of Exeter ‘Arca’ project, building circular economy skills in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Here she synthesised information and created accessible and beautiful-looking posts breaking down circular economy theory and stories of interest for small businesses across Cornwall.

She contributes to the fascinating ‘The Future is Green’ project through organising events, building relations, and skills, and creating marketing materials.

Any questions? Contact us!