Philippa Erel

Background

About Philippa Erel

I have always been interested in the way we manage the environment, and after starting off as the Environment Prefect at Chelmsford County High School I embarked on an Environmental Science course at the University of Leeds. Here I covered a broad range of topics from atmospheric science to sustainability in the workplace, oceanography to ecological economics. After graduating I took up a role as an Environment and Energy Manager at NHS Worcestershire. Communication was key in influencing lower energy behaviour around over 80 properties. I developed energy management practices, and introduced a recycling scheme through retendering of the waste contract across the trust with help of my colleague Derek Carter. In 2010 I returned to the University of Leeds to undertake an integrated MSc and PhD. The scope of the MSc was broad, covering combustion, carbon capture and storage, sustainable consumption and alternative fuel sources. My PhD research involved developing biodiesel from microalgae. I also considered how this new feedstock could be integrating into the existing industry in Brazil with help of colleagues at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte. My current position is as a project manager at Rolls Royce, working in a supply chain unit to develop manufacturing capability. This role has an interesting link with my research as it involves understanding how a concept can move from a research phase to manufacture at high volumes. As a project manager I am developing skills such as stakeholder management, commercial awareness, inter-team and inter-site communications and practicing planning and organisation skills I began developing earlier on in my career. I remain passionate about developing cleaner technologies, following principles of green chemistry and closed loop systems in order to eliminate toxins in our environment, promote healthy lifestyles and protect human rights against consumerism of cheap products.