Spotlight: Jade

To celebrate Jade’s recent promotion to Associate Director, we caught up with her to learn more about her journey into sustainability, what drives her passion for low-carbon design, and the lessons she’s picked up along the way.

Firstly, congratulations on your promotion! Could you tell us more about your new role and what aspects of it you’re enjoying most so far?

Thank you! Those familiar with us will know that we’re award winners when it comes to environmental certification (blowing our own trumpet already, sorry!). But it’s been a focus of ours over the last few years to expand our carbon and strategic services, so that we can truly deliver as a holistic practice. As Associate Director, my mission is to champion this, and ensure we’re loud and proud about everything we offer as a consultancy, beyond the traditional certification routes.

Oh, and I also have the very serious responsibility of deciding when the ‘beer bell’ is rung on a Thursday afternoon!

Can you tell me a bit about your background and what first sparked your interest in sustainability?

I trained as an Architect, and during uni I developed a passion for sustainable design and materials. I was especially interested in reuse - partly driven by being a student on a budget, making the most of what I had, but also by a genuine belief in designing with less waste and more intention.

My thesis looked at how waste could be repurposed into building materials, specifically exploring the potential for making bricks from alternative sources. It was a hands on, sometimes slightly unconventional process involving eggshells and a lot of patience, but it really cemented (no pun intended) my commitment to circular thinking.

I apply this ethos as a carbon consultant, prioritising opportunities retain the value in the existing, increase reuse and minimise waste.

What are three key lessons you've learned since entering the industry that have really stuck with you?

The first is that while ambition is essential, turning it into reality is the real challenge. There’s a clear difference between setting targets and actually delivering them. One of the things we do well is help our clients move beyond the headline goals, working closely with them throughout the construction and delivery phases to make sure their ambitions are not just aspirational, but achievable.

That leads to my second lesson, always dig deeper. It might sound overly sceptical, but in an age of greenwashing, scrutiny is critical. Bold claims often don’t stand up to inspection. 'Net Zero' is the buzzword of the moment, and there’s a race to set the earliest possible targets, some as soon as 2025. But I always ask, is it credible? It’s not about being the first to set a target, it’s about setting targets that are realistic, measurable, and independently verifiable.

Finally, as cliché as it may sound, we really are all in this together. On complex projects with large, diverse teams, it’s easy to get caught up in individual priorities and lose sight of the shared objective. But collaboration is essential. If we’re serious about tackling climate change, we need to align efforts, share accountability, and stay focused on the bigger picture.

Looking to the future, what do you see as the biggest opportunities and challenges facing the sustainability sector over the next decade?

I really believe there’s a huge opportunity to bring more Architects into the sustainability space. Nearly 40% of global carbon emissions come from the construction sector, with around 11% linked to embodied carbon - everything from material production to demolition. As an industry, we carry a massive responsibility to deliver low-carbon buildings. And yet, I spent seven years in education and several more in practice before I even heard the word carbon mentioned in a meaningful way. 

We need to close the knowledge gap and embed carbon thinking and circular economy principles into the design process - not treat them as an add on. The environmental impact of our buildings should be considered as equally important as aesthetics and cost.  

Things are beginning to shift, partly driven by policy, which is so positive to see. Environment Secretary Steve Reed delivered a speech just last week stressing the importance of the circular economy and the need to get the most out of our materials and eradicate waste. We’re starting to see this way of thinking embed into the design process, but if there’s one message I could give to project teams, it’s start early. The biggest impact happens when carbon is considered from the outset - right at concept design, or even earlier. That’s when the opportunities are greatest, and when we can collaborate to make a real difference. 

On a more personal note, have you set any professional goals for the coming year, or is there anything exciting on the horizon you'd like to share?

I have a big professional goal that I’m hoping to achieve this year, but it’s slightly reliant on other factors. I should have mentioned when you asked the previous question, but one challenge in the industry is the lack of qualification routes for Life Cycle Assessor’s. Things are currently in development and once available, qualifying as a registered practitioner will be a priority as I think this is critical for the future reliability and verification of Whole Life Carbon Assessments.

I’d also like to use this opportunity to plug a very personal challenge I’ve set for the year. In September, on what would be my Dad’s 63rd birthday, I’ll be running 63 miles in his memory, raising money for Yorkshire Cancer Research. I’m already blown away by the generous donations of family, friends and colleagues, and thanks to Anna, the community lead at our office in Leeds, have lots of fundraising events in the pipeline over the next few months that will hopefully help raise lots more! So if you’re reading this, and are able to donate or share details of the charity, please do!

If you'd like to help Jade with her fundraising, use the link here!