Rebecca Willis

Biographical Information
"Rebecca Willis is an independent researcher. Her work focuses on environmental politics and policymaking at both a national and local level. Rebecca convenes Green Alliance’s Climate Leadership Programme for MPs, and advises the Lake District National Park on climate change. In May 2011 she was appointed as a Council Member of the Natural Environment Research Council... From 2004-11 Rebecca was Vice-Chair of the UK Sustainable Development Commission, working with government ministers, advisers and officials to ensure that government policy reflects sustainability goals.

"Her freelance portfolio has included work with a range of organisations including Co-operatives UK, Ashridge Business School, Cranfield University and The University of Leeds. Current and recent projects include:


 * Low-Carbon Lake District: Development of a carbon budget for the Lake District, to ensure a strategic response to climate change action within the National Park.
 * The Disrupters: Lessons for low-carbon innovation from the new wave of environmental pioneers, a profile of eight innovators – The Disrupters – who are pioneering solutions to climate change.
 * A Green Living Initiative, co-authored with Professor Paul Ekins and published by the Policy Studies Institute, analysing the role of tax incentives in promoting sustainable households.
 * Advice to the Cumbria Strategic Partnership on measures to reduce carbon emissions across Cumbria.
 * Taking part in the judging panel for NESTA’s Big Green Challenge, a community carbon reduction initiative with a £1 million prize fund.

"Rebecca is a regular speaker at conferences and seminars, and has contributed to a range of media including BBC Radio Four’s Today Programme, The Guardian, New Statesman and specialist environmental press. She is an Associate of the think-tank Demos, and of environmental group Green Alliance. From 2001-4 she was Green Alliance’s Director. Previously, Rebecca spent two years as a policy adviser at the European Parliament in Brussels, specialising in international environmental issues.

"Rebecca has a degree in Social and Political Sciences from the University of Cambridge, and a masters degree in Environment, Development and Policy from the University of Sussex."