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Dr Beck Collins

Role

I joined SWM in April 2022 after fifteen years working in higher education, local government, and as a director for a community energy society.  I bring to SWM my skills in research, knowledge transfer and community engagement, and my knowledge in sustainable energy and sustainable built environments. My role is to advise and support local authorities, businesses, community groups and other organisations across the West Midlands to improve their sustainability practice.  I manage and deliver projects and research, facilitate stakeholder engagement, and write reports and strategies.  I am also working to ensure that all of our activities contribute to our Roadmap priorities, and that the West Midlands is leading in contributing to the national target of net zero gas emissions by 2050, while reducing health inequality and driving inclusive growth.

Profile

I first fell in love with environmental sustainability while working on an organic farm in Provence, when I saw a preying mantis for the first time.  The wildlife nestling amongst the vegetables in each of the polytunnels was amazing, and I had never tasted such delicious vegetables before or since.  I could smell the leeks at 50 paces!

I came back to the UK and began working for Groundwork West Midlands, using my passion for the environment as a vehicle for community regeneration and capacity building.  I helped local people take ownership of their local green spaces and improve them, ran taster courses on horticulture, and delivered major clean-ups of blighted open spaces with members of the community.

In 2010 I began a PhD at Birmingham City University, which blossomed into an academic career.  Over the next 10 years I researched local projects for sustainable energy, exploring the importance of ‘successful’ projects which are locally meaningful and respond to local challenges, and the risks of projects which are perceived to have ‘failed’, which can stall transitions to sustainable energy futures.  I also taught several modules on sustainable construction, green infrastructure, research methods, and environmental governance, and was Course Director of the postgraduate urban planning degree.

Alongside my time at BCU I continued to work in practice in sustainable energy.  From 2014-15 I worked for Birmingham City Council assisting with energy retrofit projects.  From 2012 onwards I was a founder member and director of Community Energy Birmingham Ltd (CEB), which has installed nearly 100,000kW of community owned solar panels on community buildings in Birmingham. I’m particularly proud of this work, and of what we can achieve from nothing, when we work together.  ‘One person can’t save the world – it’s going to take at least three of us!’

Outside work and volunteering, I have two very young and beautiful children, and love cycling, camping and eating.  My partner and I also love all things cider and orchards, and are supporting local producers of this very fine beverage through our online cider club.