Strathclyde Sustainability Symposium 2025
The Barony Hall, University of Strathclyde
Category
Welcome to the Strathclyde Sustainability Symposium 2025!
This year's Symposium will be hosted from 12pm in The Great Hall, and will include a welcome address by the Principal, as well as a Keynote by Dr. Martin Valenti(Director of NetZero, Nature & Entrepreneurship @ South of Scotland Enterprise) and several student lead sessions.
The in-person event will be held at The Barony Hall, a historic venue perfect for sparking conversations and sharing ideas. Lunch will be provided beforehand, and refreshments available throughout.
Please note: no registration is required to visit the Fair, held in the Winter Garden & Bicentenary Hall.
Current Agenda:
12:00 Welcome by Principal Professor Sir Jim McDonald
12:15 Keynote Address: Dr Martin Valenti, Director of NetZero, Nature & Entrepreneurship @ South of Scotland Enterprise
13:15 Student Engagement Update
13:45 Break & Poster Session
14:15 VIPer Pit
15:00 Student Society Planet Pitch
15:45 Break
16:00 Announce Poster Winners & Close
Student Sustainability Festival
The Student Sustainability Festival is a cornerstone event of the University of Strathclyde’s Sustainability Week. The Festival will be held in the Barony Hall, and will include the Sustainability Symposium (formally ESD Conference), Poster Competitions (Masters, UG and PGRs) and our Sustainability Fair.
The Sustainability Fair will be held in the Bicentenary Hall and the Glass-Covered Winter Garden, and will include the Hazaar Pop Up Shop, Green Careers and Student Societies. This will run from 10am - no registration is required.
Whether you're passionate about reducing inequalities, eco-friendly practices, or simply curious about how to make a positive impact on the planet, this Festival is the place to be. Come together with other students, learn from experts in the field, and be part of the movement towards a more sustainable future.
Martin Valenti Keynote Address
Dr Valenti is an award-winning sustainability practitioner and serial disruptor, with extensive experience of strategic business engagement and innovation. He is a proud Strathclyde alumni.
For over 30 years he has worked in a variety of senior management roles shaping and delivering inclusive growth initiatives and directing major collaborative projects.
He has successfully delivered high profile projects for the Scottish Government on climate change and sustainability.
Dr Valenti worked for SEPA for 17 years where he held a number of senior positions.
He played an instrumental role in setting up Scotland’s 2020 Climate Group and co-created the award winning 2050 Young Leaders Climate Group.
In 2018 he created the Vacant and Derelict Land taskforce to transform how Scotland deals with its post-industrial legacy to make more use of land for commerce and communities.
His most recent role was a secondment at Scottish Enterprise as Head of Climate Enterprise and strategic lead for COP26.
He joined South of Scotland Enterprise in July 2021 as Director of NetZero, and is leading the economic and community development agency’s efforts to help the region to just transition to a NetZero economy.