University Sustainability Award winners announced

Eight departments involved with Green Impact, a sustainable accreditation scheme open to staff at the University, were awarded bronze, silver, gold and platinum awards. The Accommodation Services team achieved a Green Impact platinum award, and received the highest number of points out of all teams taking part in the scheme. 

The awards also celebrated University laboratories taking sustainable action as part of the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF). A total of eleven laboratories were recognised for achieving bronze LEAF awards during 2026. VSM Teaching Labs and MSSU also received silver LEAF awards.  

Ceremony highlights included the presentation of the University’s Sustainability Awards, recognising individuals and teams making a significant sustainable difference to the University and the wider community. The award winners were: 

• Sustainability Hero: Jenny Kelly (Catering) – awarded to recognise Jenny’s role in championing sustainable practices within the University’s Catering Team, including introducing Pulpex water bottles and the Cauli Cup reuse scheme.
• Highly Commended: Lewis Learoyd (Accommodation) – celebrating Lewis’s work in making sustainability accessible for the accommodation team, encouraging involvement in a variety of national sustainability campaigns.
• Student Sustainability Hero: Nicoelle Ocampo – recognising Nicoelle’s work in setting up a charity to support their hometown impacted by climate disaster.
• Sustainable Society of the year: Musical Theatre Society – awarded for creating a new Sustainability Representative role, reusing costumes, plus promoting sustainable practices to members.
• Highly Commended Society: Formula Society - highlighting the society’s work in setting up a sustainability sub-team dedicated to measuring the impact of their activities and taking positive sustainable actions.
• Best Sustainable Project: Light Pollution and Sustainable Space initiative (led by Dr Noelia Noël) – recognising the first systemic assessment of how material design can reduce satellite brightness, aligning the University as a leader within the sustainable space field.

Martin Wiles, Head of Sustainability said: “The Sustainability Awards illustrates the range of positive, sustainable actions happening across our university community. Congratulations to this year’s award winners and nominees – you are not only making a significant difference to sustainability at the University but are having a positive impact in local and global communities too!”

Find out how you can get involved with sustainability at Surrey.