Joan Expand One of the first people to get a Community Calling phone was Joan. She lives in a care home in London and had been cut off from her family during lockdown. Isolation and loneliness are growing issues for the elderly, especially in a digitalising world that can leave them behind. We delivered a sterilised phone to Joan’s door so she could start video calling family members. What was first thing she said she would do? Call her son to tell him she loves him. Check out the video below for Joan's story.
Mary Expand Mary is a single parent, and following a bad traffic accident, she had to have a major operation. This left her unable to do her regular cleaning work and was at risk of being made homeless. Mary was put in touch with a Southwark group who support vulnerable people facing homelessness. They recommended her for a device because she was keen to find a new job to help support herself and her son. On the day the Community Calling phone arrived, she used it to send off some job applications. Two days later she was called for an interview and landed the job! "I felt the phone had been the piece of luck I’d been waiting for... it's a turning point in my life."
Roger Expand Roger lives in South London and attends Unity Works, an organisation providing employment support for those with learning difficulties. He usually works as a kitchen porter for a catering company but has been on furlough since April. He lives alone and has found the recent lockdowns very quiet and lonely. Roger usually catches up face-to-face with his careworker, Rosanna, at least a few times a week, so restrictions enforced due to Covid-19 presented some challenges for him. However, Roger was fortunate enough to receive an iPad through our Community Calling project, which has allowed him to have video calls with Rosanna. “I speak with Rosanna about once a week and I really like using my iPad, especially as it’s got such a big screen!”
Robert Expand Robert lives in South London has been in and out of employment over the past couple of years, but was recently made redundant due to Covid-19. He has a wife and baby, but they don’t live in the same city, so the start of lockdown was particularly difficult as he was unable to communicate with them. He was going to his sister’s house to use her phone and WIFI to speak to his family. Robert found this, as well as not being able to keep updated with the news and government announcements, to have a huge strain on his mental health. During the first lockdown, as well as contacting his family, he was able to use his new device to apply for jobs and was able to secure some temporary work. He has also been teaching himself how to DJ on YouTube. Robert told us: “A phone can distract you a little bit and make you busy. Without it, it was a struggle, a real struggle”
Ruqayya Expand Ruqayya is a 15-year-old young lady who lives with her family in South Manchester. Her mother worked part-time but due to the pandemic she has been made redundant. This has put a lot of stress on the family because this was their only source of income. Ruqayya’s family are her main motivation in school, she wants to succeed, make her family happy and take them out of financial difficulty they’re currently suffering in. Her new smartphone will help her with accessing her schoolwork online as well as allowing her to stay better connected with friends. Ruqayya says, “my new phone will help me with my everyday social life, I’m especially looking forward to speaking with my friends via Facetime which I have never done before”
Georgia Expand Georgia is a 17-year-old young lady from Beswick, a deprived area of Manchester. She has had to overcome a number of barriers in her life and is no longer able to live in her family home. Georgia recently completed her Sport Leader Level 2 and helps out as an Assistant Sports Coach at Active Communities Network, supporting children who had specific needs when the other staff were unable to. Initially she was quite shy, but really embraced the volunteering opportunity and became much more confident in acting as a positive role model to others. Her volunteering work is a brilliant outlet for her and owning her own smartphone will help her to regain confidence in other areas of her life. Georgia has said, "I really like my new phone it’s top thank you it’s helps me communicate more with my friends and family. Thank you, I really appreciate it." Chelsea, her older sister who is taking care of her said, “We’re so grateful that Georgia was picked to have one of the phones! It really helps with her confidence in getting about on her own and chatting with her friends on social media is one of her favourite things to do! She’s so happy!"
Samantha Expand Samantha is a mother of four and is expecting her fifth child. Since the pandemic struck, having her kids at home whilst schools were closed has come with its challenges. The new smartphone, which she will be sharing with her children, will be a huge help for them as a family. Her kids will use it to access the internet for schoolwork and stay in touch with their friends as Covid-19 restrictions continue. When Samantha opened her gifted phone, she said: “An iPhone? I don’t believe it!”
Abubaker Expand Abubaker (Abs for short) is a 13-year-old who lives in Moss Side, Manchester with his mother and sister. Abs’ mother does not work because of her disability, and she doesn’t know much English, so Abs has to help her when needed. Abs’ father lives in Birmingham and also doesn’t have a job. Abs has been attending Community on Solid Ground, a youth centre in Manchester, where he can get help with his homework and participate in sports and other activities. Abs’ mother has a mobile phone, but it does not have internet access, so his new device will allow him to access the internet whilst at home, as well as helping him feel more included socially. Abs says, “I am so happy I have been selected to get this amazing iPhone, I have never had a phone before. It will help me do my schoolwork and I can speak to my friends because most of them have phones.”
Emma Expand Emma is based in Rochdale, one of Greater Manchester’s most disadvantaged boroughs. She has been in and out of homelessness and struggled with substance abuse for 25 years. Now, she is 10-months clean and has been living in temporary housing for the last year provided by her community support group, Stepping Stone. She’s on the up, is now back in touch with her family and her new device will be the gateway she needs to keep her connected to them, as well as her support workers. Eventually, she hopes it will help her back into employment. When she opened the box with her new phone in it, she said: “That’s fantastic, wow, I’m thrilled! This will be such a huge help in finding me a job”
Natasha Gammell Meet Natasha Expand Project Lead Human behaviour fascinates me. I really am a ‘people person’, and I find figuring out what’s stopping us from doing the right thing when it comes to the planet (whilst conjuring solutions to encourage positive behaviour change) as interesting as it is vital. Prior to Hubbub I worked in branding and communications with a range of ground-breaking tech startups to help them convey their true marrow from scratch. It was innovative and fulfilling, but it was time to combine my avid environmentalism with my career. I’m big on brands that can make a buck whilst cleaning up the planet. I don’t believe the two should be mutually exclusive ever. That explained my bullseye encounter with Hubbub Enterprise. Wearing many colourful hats, some of my Hubbub duties include leading the Cup Fund, the UK's largest coffee cup recycling initiative (did you know we go through 5,555 of them a minute and currently only 4% are recycled correctly?), as well as Hubbub's employee engagement work with forward-thinking corporates. We design imaginative programmes to equip people with all the reasons and ways to live more sustainably both at work and at home.
Beau Zilesnick Meet Beau Expand Project Coordinator I’m a Project Coordinator and work across a variety of projects and am currently leading on our Dublin Circle City campaign introducing recycling-on-the go across the city. I was attracted to Hubbub because of its fun, playful approach to tackling environmental issues with campaigns like Plastic Fishing and the shared belief that we can all make changes in our life that are good for us, wider society and the planet. Before coming to Hubbub Enterprise, I studied Geography at the University of Exeter and worked for the charity the British Exploring Society organising expeditions for young people. The highlights of my time there was working on the first expedition for disabled and non-disabled participants with the Jubilee Sailing Trust and spending six weeks in the Peruvian Amazon as an Assistant Leader. When not at work, I love spending time outdoors whether it’s in the garden, cycling or running. I also enjoy eating hummus and listening to Frank Ocean - sometimes simultaneously.
Stephanie Lambert Meet Stephanie Expand Trustee Stephanie brings 20 years of brand-building, media and marketing experience. She’s held various leadership positions across major multinational corporations where she’s led through times of transformational change. She joined Facebook in 2013 where, as Facebook’s Head of Industry for the FMCG vertical in the UK, she strives to forge deep collaborations and co-created solutions that deliver innovation, creativity and business impact for the industry. Prior to Facebook, she spent ten years with The Nielsen Company in Client and Account Director positions, culminating in her role on the European WATCH Board as a key contributor to the sustainable growth and development of its European Advertiser Solutions business.
Deborah Luffman Meet Deborah Expand Trustee Debbie has over 16 years broad industry experience in fashion and textiles. For over a decade she has led the Product department at the pioneering, sustainable outdoor clothing brand, Finisterre. She heads up the Design, Development and Sourcing of all Finisterre product. As Product Director she has led ambitious initiatives to reduce the brand’s impact and re-imagine a new and positive way to do business. Drawing on her experiences at Finisterre, whilst remaining Product Director there. Debbie has founded ThinkCircular, to work with business, education & policymakers, to inspire the transition towards circular products and systems, for a more sustainable future.
Ben Johnson Meet Ben Expand Trustee Following a career in journalism, Ben has spent the past decade in corporate communications and public affairs, serving as an Associate Director at a leading public affairs agency and then as Head of Corporate Affairs at one of the UK’s largest recycling and waste management companies. He is now Managing Director at the Different Bears communications consultancy, specialising in the fields of circular-economy, sustainability and resource-management. Ben holds an MBA from Henley Business School.
Lily Green Meet Lily. Expand Project Co-ordinator I am a Project Coordinator at Hubbub and am lucky enough to work across a range of projects; taking on air pollution with #AirWeShare as well as the circular economy and food waste. The language around sustainability can be all a bit... rye bread and tote bags. Across my work, I care about reframing sustainable living, shifting away from the perception of it as a posh diet fad or bougie commodity, and instead as an inclusive, enriching (and affordable!) way of life which is more in tune with the world around us. I am particularly fascinated by how the urgent questions thrust upon us by climate change can spark a conversation more generally around how we want to live – not just in a way that is good to the planet - but also which is less top-down, more community driven, connected to nature and our food system. Before Hubbub, my love of words led me to a degree in modern languages and then a couple of years working in media and public affairs. In my spare time you’ll find me cycling, making bread, failing miserably at a pub quiz or watching a trashy documentary.
Susha Sooral Meet Susha. Expand Communications Co-ordinator I’ve been interested in nature and the environment for as long as I can remember. Before Hubbub, I studied Business and Management (with one elected climate change module) and spent a year in digital marketing at L’Oreal where I focused on building sustainability within the brand I worked on. I dabbled in managing a franchise of a tuition centre for a while, and then just a few months after spotting them on TV I was lucky enough to end up here at Hubbub! As Communications Co-ordinator here, I help to deliver the organisation wide comms strategy, specialising in email marketing and social media. I love my role because I’m able to touch on all the different projects Hubbub creates, and help our playful and beautiful ideas have the biggest impact. Outside my job, you can usually find me painting or reading in the sun, and my life goal is to adopt all the animals I can find.
Rosie Gordon Lennox Meet Rosie. Expand Creative Lead I was first attracted to Hubbub through seeing the Ballot Bin. I was inspired by the action focused, fun, positive approach hubbub takes in dealing with environmental issues, an area that is often talked about in a very doom and gloom, anxiety making way. Now, as Creative Lead, I’m really excited to further explore how creative communication, and bold design, across all of our campaigns and activities can influence behaviour and create positive, long lasting change. As well as being passionate about taking environmental action, I’m a food fanatic! I’ve previously worked as Creative Brand Manager at Rude Health as well as a series of other ethical brands such as Abel and Cole and Food Connect. Outside of Hubbub, you’ll find me swimming in cold water whenever and wherever possible, cooking, taking photos, roaming markets and doing yoga. I’m yet to do the splits.
Emily Watson Meet Emily. Expand Creative Partner After studying Geography at Sheffield University I worked at Time Out London for over three years where I created inspiring content across food, music, theatre and things to do in London (if you need a restaurant recommendation, I’m your girl!). Keen to move into the environmental sector to satiate my love for the natural world and put my writing and creative content skills to good use, I am now a Creative Partner at Hubbub. I am responsible for overseeing our ever-growing relationship with Starbucks and helping to manage the multiple projects we run using the donations from their 5p cup charge. Outside of Hubbub, I love to read, swim and create new plant-based recipes. I am also an eager hula hooper.
Natalie Bayliss Meet Natalie. Expand Creative Partner I am a big fan of exploring all things ethical. With the rapid pace of change and development in the environmental space this is an incredibly exciting time to be working at Hubbub. My two boys are a constant source of inspiration when it comes to greener and healthier living. I am a big fan of long walks, quality loose-leaf tea, keeping chickens (especially bantams) and a good TED Talk. I have followed an unusual career path that has taken me from investment banking to retraining as a chef and qualifying as a nutritional therapist. From this point I took all I had learned and ploughed it into creating an ethical food business which managed to compete with established market leaders whilst adhering to its principles of doing good for the individual, the community and the environment. Long before the plastic bag tax and Blue Planet II, my business was a huge advocate of reusable shopping bags and plastic-free packaging and was even recognised as an “eco-hero” by a national broadsheet newspaper. On becoming a mum I sold the business and became involved in the Parents Association of my boys’ school where I was lucky enough to meet some incredible teachers, parents and pupils who taught me a great deal about the critical role school communities have to play in creating a more sustainable future. My experience of being an active member of this school community proved to be a fantastic foundation from which to build Plastic Pioneers - an exciting campaign empowering pupils to reduce single-use plastic in their schools. I wholeheartedly agree with Greta Thunberg that no one is too small to make a difference.
Rebecca Wetten Meet Rebecca. Expand Commercial Lead I get really fired up by creating campaigns and products that help solve the environmental crisis, inspire people and cause no harm. At Hubbub my role is to take the best ideas from the charity and scale them, generating new revenue for the charity and increasing the impact of what we can do. I’m currently working on the Ballot Bin, the world's first voting ashtray, and Plastic Fishing, trips on the world’s first plastic recycled boat to collect litter in our waterways. Before Hubbub I worked for Swedish-born app Karma, where I was helping to solve one of the planet’s biggest environmental issues: food waste. As Head of Hotels, Restaurants and Cafes, I launched the Karma app across London in early 2018 and helped to save tens of thousands of tonnes of fresh consumable food from being sent to landfill. I have also published reports in The Times and The Sunday Times on themes such as emerging technologies to ethical e-commerce. Outside of work I enjoy open water swimming and climbing mountains. I recently broke a Guinness World Record at a music festival, became World Champion in an obscure sport and featured in a BBC news article for night climbing. I volunteer for a range of organisations and causes including The Entrepreneurial Refugee Network, rainforest conservation, redistributing food to those in need and hosting women’s forums for vulnerable women.
Kirstie Brittain Meet Kirstie. Expand Project co-ordinator After graduating from the London School of Economics with an undergraduate degree in History and International relations, I became increasingly interested in sustainability and environmentalism. This was partly due to the wide-reaching impact of the seminal Blue Planet II documentary, which encouraged me to set up a petition against single-use plastic cutlery and straws and to increasingly use my social channels to speak about various environmental matters and climate change more widely. Eventually I sought out an environmentally focused master’s degree that would allow me to get academic experience in this new-found area of interest. I graduated from University College London at the end of summer after studying Environment, Politics and Society and am now working to put what I learnt and my passions into practice at Hubbub as the Sustainability Intern. I now work mostly on fashion related projects here at Hubbub, putting 8 years of experience in the modelling industry and a wider interest in sustainable fashion (particularly second-hand and charity shopping) to good use!
Sam Longworth Meet Sam. Expand Project Co-ordinator I am a Politics, Philosophy and Economics graduate from the University of Manchester. Through my degree I learnt about how economic factors such as the Financial Crisis shape society and how ideas like Unconditional Basic Income could shape the future. I also learnt that there is probably more to cooking than just pesto and pasta. Working in communications roles has taught me that positive, engaging and audience-focused messaging resonates. It's exciting to join an organisation that combines communications expertise with the ideas of behavioural economics to create positive outcomes around such important issues. I’m especially looking forward to working on the Plastic Fishing and #InTheLoop projects. Outside of work you can find me missing sitters at football, working through my classic films list or alienating my friends with terrible (brilliant) puns.
Efrat Eitan Meet Efi. Expand Design Intern I have always considered myself an environmentally conscious person, but it wasn’t until stumbling across a few zero-waste youtube videos that I realised how much more I could be doing. That was almost two years ago and ever since then I’ve been making changes to the ways I shop, eat and go about my life so that my values are aligned with my actions. After graduating from visual communication studies in Israel, I moved to London and discovered Hubbub. I’m thrilled to be able to combine design and sustainability, working on campaigns that will encourage people to lead a greener life. I believe that small actions add up and make a big difference. Aside from caring about the environment I’m also a huge movie buff, can’t resist a good book and my biggest obsession is my plants.
Alice Rebondy Meet Alice. Expand Project Lead I grew up in an environment where what others considered waste was seen as a resource; where there was always be a fun, different way to avoid food waste, and share, reuse, upcycle or repair things. From there, I developed a growing passion to build a more circular world, and bring others on the way through my zero-waste lifestyle. Convinced by the idea that companies can be a force for good, I studied business and started working in the chocolate industry, on a CSR programme for the brand Kinder, before moving to project manager roles in the travel industry. In 2017 I co-founded the Brixton Food Assembly, a local food market in South London aiming at bringing the community together around fresh, local products. Prior to joining Hubbub Enterprise, I was an On Purpose Associate, taking part in a leadership development programme where I gained some experience in climate and social change organisations while improving my understanding of the impact sector. I hold a Master in Management from EDHEC Business School in France and a Master in Global Business from the University of Victoria (Canada). I am a native French speaker who’s also fluent in English and Spanish, and currently learning German. At Hubbub, I am responsible for scaling up the Recycling On The Go project across cities in the UK and building a replicable model.
Natalie Oon Meet Natalie. Expand Project Support Intern I studied Graphic Communication and Illustration at Loughborough University where I developed a passion for work that not only looks good but does good. This has been my guiding principle that has influenced both my work and lifestyle choices. Before coming to Hubbub I worked as a designer for Wild Asia, a sustainable palm oil company in Kuala Lumpur. The role not only sparked my interest in sustainability, but made me realise that making simple changes can have a big impact. When I am not at work I spend my time watching medical dramas and seeing friends (mainly to visit their dogs!).
Monika Mackay Meet Monika. Expand Designer I recently graduated from the University of Brighton where I studied Illustration and also became aware of Hubbub. I saw the #StreetsAhead anti-litter campaign and Ballot Bins around the city, which both struck me as great forward-thinking ways of engaging the local community in important environmental issues. My role at Hubbub involves designing artwork and forming strong concepts. I believe in using creativity as a force for positive change and am excited about design that is useful, accessible and challenges the way we think. From the food I eat, to the clothes I wear, I am always trying to find new ways of reducing my negative impact on the planet, and I hope my work at Hubbub makes it easy and enjoyable for many others to do the same. Outside the office, I like to run and love a good podcast.
Aoife Allen Meet Aoife Expand Creative Partner I’m a Food Project Lead at Hubbub, a role that brings together my background in NGO communications, and my lifelong passion for eatingand living sustainably. Before joining Hubbub, I spent four years working as a chef and teaching sustainable cooking courses in Dublin. Across my work, I want to help people eat in a way that’s better for their health and our planet. We have become very disconnected from how our food is produced and face endless misinformation about diets, but with the right skills and knowledge we can take back a lot of control and learn to Seeking out local, seasonal produce and eating less and better meat may seem like small changes, but when lots of people make small changes the outcome can be extraordinary. Outside of work I love to read about social history, cook, ferment all manner of veg, and explore London’s beautiful parks.
Ryan Kohn Meet Ryan. Expand Trustee Hubbub Enterprise Ryan is the co-founder of PROPERCORN, the UK’s number one premium popcorn company. In the space of just seven years, Ryan has taken PROPERCORN from kitchen table startup to kitchen cupboard staple. Along with his business partner, Ryan now leads a team of 40 from their offices in London, selling more than 3 million packs of their popcorn per month. Prior to his time at PROPERCORN, serial entrepreneur, Ryan, founded his own environmentally-friendly property company. Aged just 25, he was recognised for his innovative development work, being awarded the best single unit award in the UK Property Awards. Passionate about people as well as the planet, In 2017, Ryan launched an initiative called 10 For 10, working with actor and friend Riz Ahmed to raise money for Syrian Refugees. In two months, they raised over $215,000. This year, PROPERCORN became a certified B Corp. Now an ambassador for the non-profit organisation, Ryan is a huge proponent and representative for their vision: that one day all companies will compete not only to be the best in the world but be the best for the world.Ryan has been rewarded for his efforts in both business and mentorship, receiving the prestigious EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
Dan Smith Meet Dan. Expand Trustee Hubbub Enterprise Dan Smith is a Partner at Headland, a leading corporate reputation consultancy. He is a campaigning specialist, and advises global brands, FTSE-listed businesses, NGOs and charities on all aspects of their communications and reputation. He has devised and delivered campaigns which have resulted in the adoption of free school meals in the UK, secured international commitments from governments to increase their spending on renewable energy R&D, and changed perceptions of arthritis as a public health condition.
Abi Arden Meet Abi. Expand Project Co-ordinator I started becoming interested in Hubbub two years ago after doing work experience with the team. Here I was struck by the unique way Hubbub works alongside the community, taking time to understand local dynamics whilst bringing a confident energy to issues that inspire others to experiment with new approaches. This led me to volunteer with the Love Where You Live campaign in Oldham throughout my final year at the University in Manchester and write my dissertation on the potential for communal sharing in these transformed spaces. As sustainability officer for the University of Manchester Students Union I established the ‘Earth Week’ initiative which organised discussion groups on topics from food waste to fracking. In this role I also supported the set up of The Closet - a student run fashion co-operative that encourages up-cycling and clothes swapping whilst raising money for local mental health groups. I believe that communication has a powerful role to play as we reimagine how to live sustainability. I have long been inspired by the power a few determined individuals can have to create real change. This is continually showcased at Hubbub and I feel fortunate to be working alongside such a dynamic team. Outside of work some of my favourite things include finding new music, running by the river and drinking tea.
Jess Wiles Meet Jess. Expand Creative Partner I’ve spent a decade working to make the world a more sustainable place. My background is mainly local government, in sustainability and transport planning; from writing climate change strategies and carbon reports to dressing as mascot ‘insulation man’, reducing fear of cycling and supporting road closures for play streets. More recently I worked in sustainability in construction and previously also encouraged recycling via a door-knocking campaign. I am fascinated by behaviour change and the potential for people to connect with a topic they’ve previously not known or cared about. I believe effective collaboration between academia, public policy, the private and third sectors can help solve pressing environmental issues. I therefore I’m always considering how we can encourage these forms of collaboration through Hubbub campaigns, to share ideas and opportunities. Outside of work I can be found discovering sustainable brands, film festivals and doing cycling, yoga and Pilates or volunteering on a public panel for cycle safety and health with Bart’s Hospital. At Hubbub I’m currently working on the high-profile Leeds By Example trial to increase recycling on the go. View my LinkedIn profile
Ellie Chapman Meet Ellie. Expand Project Coordinator I am a Spanish & History graduate from the University of Edinburgh, where I was able to study a wide range of courses including politics and anthropology. I focused my final year on social activist issues, including researching the evolution of indigenous women’s rights in Mexico. Alongside my studies, I taught English to asylum seekers, delivered sexual health and consent workshops and worked with the anti-corruption NGO, Transparency International. My interest in sustainability intensified on my year abroad in Mexico. While the air pollution in Mexico City and the lack of clear recycling and waste facilities came as a shock, I saw a vast number of people living sustainably and creating innovative eco-businesses. I found this inspiring, particularly given the country’s incredible natural beauty which is constantly threatened. I have changed my everyday habits - reducing my meat and plastic consumption, food waste and quitting ‘fast fashion’. Clearly, Hubbub is a constant source of inspiration for this! As a new member to the Enterprise team, I have already worked on two of Hubbub’s major projects: Plastic Fishing and Ballot Bin. I love Hubbub’s fun and positive approach to sustainability, and I can’t wait to see what’s next in store.
Zoë Arden Meet Zoë. Expand Strategic Advisor Zoë Arden is associate director at the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) and at the advisory firm and think tank SustainAbility. Previously, she was director of communications and sustainability at BT Retail. Zoë specialises in storytelling and stakeholder engagement. She is also a trustee of Bioregional, the creators of One Planet Living and BedZed. She has a Masters in Sustainability Leadership from Cambridge.
Ray Hopkinson Meet Ray. Expand Project Co-ordinator Having just graduated from the University of Manchester with a degree in Geography, Ray has joined Hubbub as a Sustainability Intern. She has campaigned on a wide number of social and environmental issues from introducing food waste bins on campus to encouraging her university to divest from fossil fuels to implementing landlord licensing in Toronto whilst on her year abroad. She is extremely passionate about reducing the consumption of disposable plastic and wrote her dissertation on the social and environmental effects of the production, distribution and consumption of bottled water. Most recently she has headed student engagement for #1MoreShot campaign recycling coffee cups in to reusable objects. Ray will be helping to tackle litter, drive down single use plastic consumption and help boost the circular economy. She is extremely interested in behaviour change and making sustainability fun and accessible to all. Outside of work she loves singing and has a great passion for the outdoors.
Jonathan Katz Meet Jonathan. Expand Trustee Jonathan has a commercial background and has held a number of senior positions in strategy, business development, line management and finance for both large public companies and more recently as the chair of various entrepreneurial and private equity backed ventures. Strategic roles have included major portfolio restructurings, acquisitions and disposals, the implementation of group-wide change projects and a range of new business development projects. Over the last few years, as the chair of smaller high growth businesses his responsibilities have broadened to cover the overall performance of the organisation: including business strategy and policy, performance management, and the recruitment and development of the senior team. Jonathan has always maintained an interest in the not for profit sector and has been a Trustee of Save the Children and Chair of their commercial operations for a number of years. Currently he is an active director of a multi academy trust in South London and chair of Blue Ventures Conservation, a marine conservation charity.
Catherine Brown Meet Catherine. Expand Trustee Catherine has worked in large and small businesses, the NHS, and most recently was CEO of the Food Standards Agency, where she developed an interest in supporting people to make behaviour changes that were good for them and the planet. She has always had an involvement in the third sector and a passion for equality and diversity, and social change, non-conformity and innovation in general. Currently, as well as being part of the Hubbub Board Catherine is also on her local NHS Board in Abergavenny and a member of the Wellcome Foundation’s Advisory Panel on Diversity and Inclusion in Science.
Rhiannon Ashley Meet Rhiannon. Expand Project Co-ordinator Rhiannon is a Media & Communications graduate from the University of Greenwich. Whilst studying she wanted to help create change for the students and was elected as; President of the Feminism Society, Societies Representative on the Student Council, and Programme Representative on her course. She was also hired as the Sustainability Hub’s Campaigns & Events Ambassador where she carried out projects such as ‘Grow At Home’, an initiative aimed at encouraging students to grow their own food, and ‘Reuse’ a campaign that resulted in saving 2 tonnes of useable kitchen items from being thrown into landfill on the Halls of Residence move-out weekend. On the course she tailored her assignments to explore different issues she cares about in more depth, her proudest piece being her final Advanced Project. The project asked questions about the relationship between art and activism, analysed the many ways that creativity can be used to provoke thought and inspire change, and concluded in exhibiting an activist artwork. After graduating Rhiannon pursued a career in the charity sector, temporarily working in administration, HR and research. She is now really excited to be joining Hubbub so that she can work on projects, combining her creative abilities with her passion for environmental and social change.
Alex Robinson Meet Alex. Expand Managing Director of Hubbub Enterprise Alex is responsible for building a sustainable business that scales the impact of Hubbub's environmental campaigns. This fits perfectly with Alex's desire to harness business principles to create a greener and fairer society and economy.Alex is a Fellow of On Purpose, a year-long leadership training programme focused on the social enterprise sector. As part of the scheme he worked at RBS. Alex created a social impact measurement framework for the bank's social lending charity. He also spent six months at Collaborate CIC, a nonprofit consultancy that works with public services. His analytical work enabled the organisation to become more financially sustainable. He also created a new Collaborate website and delivered projects for local councils and charitable foundations. Alex previously worked in the music industry. He was the founder and Managing Director of The Other Hand, a services company that represents US-based record labels overseas.
Michelle Robb Meet Michelle. Expand Creative Partner - Design I’m a designer at Hubbub and a strong believer that sustainable lifestyles can be inspired through bold, playful design. Never underestimate the power of a pun! Currently leading on our award Design By Nature, I'm excited to find and celebrate brilliant student designs that tackle everyday environmental issues from the air we breathe, to the clothes we wear and the water we use. Before Hubbub, I spent four years studying Graphic Design at Falmouth University, enjoying the Cornish coast and developing a passion for social and environmental design. It’s great to apply my design skills to everything from playful recycling bins and materials for the recent ‘#LeedsByExample’ campaign, to the anti-litter campaign #StreetsAhead in Brighton & Hove and promotional designs for #PlasticFishing and our growing fleet of recycled plastic boats. Outside of Hubbub, I’m an avid fan of all things creative; music, writing, life drawing and I’ll never say no to a good game of table tennis.
Lottie Hanson-Lowe Meet Lottie. Expand Designer Lottie is one fourth of the design team at Hubbub. From a Trashconverter van in the Forest of Dean to a giant fish zorb in the Thames, Lottie helps develop and deliver creative concepts for Hubbub's campaigns. She graduated from Kingston University in 2015 where she became passionate about using design thinking for social good. Her work has always been informed by human issues and has been featured on i-D, Its Nice That, Creative Review and El Pais. She is also a proud WE party founding member. Lottie completed the social innovation course Year Here, where she developed a Mental Health toolkit for the North London YMCA staff and consulted on the GLA’s Mayor’s Civic Crowdfunding Programme. In 2016, Lottie co-founded Misc, a social enterprise which redistributed unwanted furniture to people affected by the poverty premium. She organised an Upcycling Hack Day where she invited skilled crafts people to donate their skills and transform waste furniture into something beautiful. This furniture was then sold for profit and the money was used to buy essential household items for vulnerable people in East London. Lottie loves to collaborate with people of different professional backgrounds and is excited to use her design skills to encourage behavioural change around waste through playful interventions.
Jack Hodgkiss Meet Jack. Expand Creative Partner Jack joined the team in September 2016 through the Charityworks graduate scheme, which places graduates within the charity sector to enhance their skills and portfolio over the course of a year. He studied Psychology at Cardiff University and gained a variety of experiences in research placements and Clinical Psychology. Alongside the environment he is passionate about LGBT+ issues, mental health, and sexual health education. Alongside a passion in writing and meeting new people, core to Jack's approach is the ability to understand human behaviours and attitudes, and find a way of bringing ideas and topics that aren’t mainstream, to the mainstream. He believes it should be easy and rewarding for individuals to make the change to a sustainable lifestyle, and loves the approach Hubbub takes in celebrating those who make positive changes.
Saskia Restorick Meet Saskia. Expand Director Saskia looks after Hubbub's impact: making sure our projects are well thought through and have a big impact and a legacy and supporting the team to measure and report our impact in a Hubbub way. She also led our transformational Live LAGOM project with IKEA. Saskia is passionate about thoughtful living: balancing living well, with a deep understanding of sustainability, and enabling others to do the same. She is also passionate about her boys, her cat and (sustainably sourced) chocolate. Saskia started working life at Global Action Plan, where she spent 6 years running environmental behaviour change projects with corporates, local authorities and schools, and then managing all the London-based projects. She then led Accenture UK’s environmental programme for 3 years, gaining ISO14001, and setting their first ever carbon reduction target, and managing their company-wide employee environmental engagement initiatives. From a global corporate giant to a social enterprise start-up, Saskia moved to the Sustainable Restaurant Association, seeing it through from launch to established industry body. After having her second little boy, she started at Hubbub in May 2015.
Sarah Divall Meet Sarah. Expand Creative Co-Ordinator Sarah first came to Hubbub as a volunteer after finishing her Literature degree at the University of Southampton, wanting to discover more about environmental issues particularly surrounding food and fashion. After working a weird and wonderful array of jobs in order to move to London she joined the team full-time in January 2016. Sarah's background is mainly in the arts; she spent two years working with a Graduate production company which sparked her eagerness to take on big challenges and play with new ideas. Driven by a motivation to bring an eclectic mix of people together to work towards a common goal, she was drawn to Hubbub’s inclusivity and its guts to approach communitcating environmental issues in the way that it does. She believes fun and playfulness are the best way to connect people and communicate original thinking. From 2017, Sarah will be fronting Hubbub's YouTube vlogging channel as part of Hubbub's ongoing mission to take environmental messages to mainstream audiences in fresh and compelling ways. Meet Sarah and subscribe to the channel here.
James Murray Meet James. Expand Trustee James is founding editor of BusinessGreen and is one of the UK's leading commentators on the low carbon economy. He reports daily on a wide range of green business issues, with a particular focus on low carbon policy, economics and technology. In March 2011, he was voted number eight in the Press Gazette's list of the top 50 environmental journalists in the UK.
Viki Cooke Meet Viki. Expand Chair of Hubbub's Board of Trustees Viki is co-founder of BritainThinks. Viki has a track record for innovation having pioneered deliberative research methods in the UK. She personally led a number of high profile programmes including Your Health, Your Care, Your Say for the NHS and The Prince of Wales’s Business Summit on Climate Change. Viki is also Vice Chair and Pro Chancellor of the University of Warwick Council.
Tessa Tricks Meet Tessa. Expand Creative Partner I’m fascinated by how we can use food to improve health, culture and the environment and head up our food work here at Hubbub. Over the last 5 years we've been creating campaigns to reduce food waste, increase food skills, and promote low meat diets, working with leading brands, local Government and community groups to create lasting change. Outside of Hubbub, I dabble in food writing and have made contributions to the Oxford Food Symposium, the Sustainable Food Trust and Jamie’s Food Revolution. I am proud to be a cookery teacher and Trustee at Eat Club, a charity increasing access to food skills for youth in London. My interests include branding and behaviour change which I explore with the Medinge Group, a think tank of global brand fanatics who push businesses to use their power as a force for good. I have a deep-seated love of cooking, growing, eating and offal. In fact, my proudest moment at Hubbub was being referred to as an offal anorak. It's a water resistant badge I wear with pride. Prior to Hubbub, I worked in the Sustainable Food Trust’s communication’s team after a period in San Francisco with the Good Food Foundation organising the Good Food Awards which celebrates small craft producers across the US. I have a Masters in the Anthropology of Food from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). There I explored a range of global social and environmental justice issues. This followed from working in the kitchen and researching the cook book for the award winning Ethicurean restaurant. Finally, if you’re interested in any of the meaty issues mentioned about, check out my TEDx on the social dynamics of meat. | #Meat Too: It’s time to address meat and power |
Gavin Ellis Meet Gavin. Expand Director and Co-Founder Gavin is one of the Founders of Hubbub. Previously Gavin was Senior Client Manager at Global Action Plan, one of the UK’s leading environmental charities. There he led major environmental behaviour change campaigns with clients such as Sainsbury’s, Telefonica and Unilever. Prior to that Gavin was Marketing Manager at Global Action Plan. He also set up the UK’s first online carbon calculator and the UK’s first environmental lifestyle magazine Ergo.
Heather Poore Meet Heather. Expand Creative Director and Co-Founder Heather has a track-record of creating new ways to involve young people in sustainability. The pioneering Greenprint 2020 project she lead helped young people set out their vision for a better future and succeed in engaging 4,500 of their peers to take part in environmental projects and events. Heather was recognised for this work by winning the prestigious Institute for Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) graduate of the year award. Central to Heather’s approach in a constant desire to use design, photography and video as a way of engaging people through simple and compelling communication. This has not only worked with young people, but has also been used by Heather to run sustainability programmes within Telefonica, Accenture, Lloyds Banking Group, British Gas and the University of Creative Arts.