Jim is Professor of Environmental Science and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Environment and Sustainability at UWE, Bristol. He leads the university's sustainability agenda ensuring that sustainability considerations are present in the university's teaching, research, campus operations and civic engagement work. His 35 year research career has focussed on air and carbon management and urban sustainability. He has produced over 225 peer reviewed journal articles and book chapters and edited 24 books. His career research and consultancy income exceed £14 million. He has been a panellist and reviewer for NERC, EPSRC and ESRC and for research bodies in Germany, Portugal and South Africa. On behalf of Portugal's FCT he chaired the Global Changes Panel and the second stage Centre review. Since 2000 he has been the co-chair of the Annual Air Pollution Conference. He has advised national and international government departments, private companies and third sector bodies on air and carbon management. He cofounded the Institute of Air Quality Management.
He has held senior roles including Head of Department, Associate Dean for Learning and Teaching, Associate Dean External Engagement and Associate Dean Research. He has served on most major committees of the university and led major reviews and initiatives including the Green Capital Strategy, the UWE Grand Challenge and a review and enhancement of the experience of disabled students. He chaired the HEA Education for Sustainable Development Advisory Group and the HEA /QAA Development Group which produced the UK reference point on education for sustainable development (ESD). He is a former chair of CHES (the Committee of Heads of Environmental Sciences), the GEES Subject Centre Advisory Board, and the QAA Benchmarking Panel for Earth Sciences, Environmental Science and Environmental Studies and of the GWR Sustainability Panel. He served as a Director of Society for the Environment and the Science Council.
His current national roles include Honorary Vice President of Environmental Protection UK, chair of the Board of Directors and Trustees for the Environmental Association of Universities and Colleges (EAUC), co-chair of the QAA and Advance HE Advisory Group preparing the updated guidance on ESD for the HE sector and Director of the Bristol Green Capital Partnership CIC. He co-chairs Bristol's Advisory Committee on Climate Change, chairs the University Advisory Group supporting South Gloucestershire Council's climate action programme and on behalf of the EAUC serves on the Climate Commission for UK Higher and Further Education.
Jim joined the IES Council in 1998 because he wanted to make a difference to the governance of the environmental science profession, and to advance the standing and contribution of the environmental disciplines in national discourse. He served as Chair of Council from 2002-2006. He was elected Vice President on his retirement as Chair. Jim retired from Council in 2016.
