Speakers - Plastics Packaging

Linda Crichton, WRAP

Linda is responsible for WRAP’s waste and resource management programme which covers WRAP’s work on collections, recycling and material quality including initiatives related to food waste and packaging, and the national consumer behaviour change campaign Recycle Now.  Linda joined WRAP in 2004 to set up and manage WRAP’s local authority support programme; which has since established itself as a key provider of support to local authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.  Prior to WRAP, Linda worked in environmental consultancy for over 15 years where she was responsible for leading strategic and policy studies relating to waste and the environment both in the UK and internationally.

Iain Ferguson, Co-op

Iain has been with the Co-op for 27 years and is passionate about improving recyclability of packaging.  Some of the successes that he has contributed to have been introducing PET carbonate bottles with recycled content, numerous glass lightweighting projects including moving all Co-operative brand ales to best in class bottle weights, and the introduction of the UK's first fully certified home compostable carrier bag

Iain has an MSc in Environmental Management & Technology, is a Fellow of the Institute of Packaging, an accredited Packaging Professional and a Chartered Environmentalist.

Keith Freegard, Axion Recycling

Keith is a Director of Axion Recycling Ltd, with over 30 years of operational management experience in a wide range of production environments.  In recent years he has led the development Axion’s unique End-of-Life vehicle recycling business in Manchester with a focus on sales and marketing of high-quality plastics, aggregates and alternative fuels made from recovered ELV & WEEE  waste streams. He is Vice Chairman of the BPF’s Recycling Group and a non-Executive Director of OPRL – the on-pack recycling label scheme for consumer packaging.

Gavin Partington, BSDA

Gavin joined the BSDA as Director General in 2012 from the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, where he was interim Chief Executive.

In building the BSDA’s capacity to promote and defend industry reputation, Gavin draws on many years of experience as a public relations consultant and a political journalist. Previous roles include Director of Communications for the Lawn Tennis Association and telecoms firm Energis. He has advised a wide range of corporate clients both independently and with Brunswick Group. Previously, he was political editor of GMTV.

Chris Preston, Defra

Chris joined the Civil Service after finishing his studies at Cardiff University. The early part of career was spent in the Benefits Agency. Since then he has held a variety of posts which have included inspection work,  corporate services and  various policy and delivery roles in marine and fisheries, animal health, water and climate change adaptation.  In 2003 he also gained an MA in Public Services Management from York University. In January 2016 he took up post as Defra’s Deputy Director for Waste and
Recycling.

Trewin Restorick, Hubbub UK

Trewin Restorick is Founder and CEO of the charity Hubbub UK www.hubbub.org.uk which aims to revolutionise the way environmental messages are communicated by bringing people and organisations together as a force for good.  He is also Chair of Student Hubs http://www.studenthubs.org/ 

Previously Trewin created Global Action Plan the UK’s leading environmental behaviour change charity which he set up in 1993.  As CEO, Trewin developed award winning partnerships with BskyB, Barts NHS Trust and EON and developed successful initiatives in schools and communities.  Trewin is a frequent media commentator on environmental issues and was trained by Al Gore as one of his climate change ambassadors

Before starting Global Action Plan, Trewin was Director of Fundraising at Friends of the Earth where he created PaperRound London’s leading community recycling business.  Prior to Friends of the Earth, Trewin worked at Plymouth City Council and produced a youth TV programme for the BBC called Something Else.