Members Q&A Webinar – A Recap of Insights from the iiE Community

We were thrilled to welcome members to our recent iiE Q&A webinar, a lively and informative session that brought together a panel of our member organisations to share their experiences, challenges, and proudest achievements on their sustainability journeys.

The session was hosted by Camilla Sherwin from the iiE team, who introduced the panel:

• Ann Barrasso, Operations Director and Sustainability Lead at Roythornes Solicitors
• Matthew Edwards, Quality Manager and Green Champion at Elanco Animal Health UK
• Sara Monteiro, Team Leader and Sustainability Officer at Conker Cloud Innovations
• Grace England, Head of Strategic Initiatives and Innovation at Charity Bank
• Steve Mack, Head of Compliance at Newcastle United Foundation

Each panellist brought a unique perspective from different sectors, with a shared commitment to making sustainability part of their core business.

What has been a barrier that you have encountered during iiE and how did you overcome it?

The first question explored common challenges when implementing the iiE framework.

Sara from Conker shared how being a fully remote software business meant there wasn’t an obvious template to follow. Without a central office, how do you measure and reduce emissions? Working closely with iiE and using the homeworking calculator, they built a tailored approach that allowed them to measure everything from cloud use to heating and occasional travel. Going further, they offered LED lighting for staff homes, ensuring sustainability extended beyond the ‘office’ into personal lives.

Can you give an example of an element of your iiE journey that you are particularly proud of?

Matthew from Elanco highlighted how the iiE process helped embed good practice, setting clear goals, creating action plans, and reviewing progress regularly. What stood out most was the level of staff engagement. One standout initiative was switching to QR codes for product information, saving around six tonnes of paper annually. The IT team also began donating unused electronics, showing how small ideas can have big sustainability impacts.

Grace from Charity Bank echoed the importance of data, especially as a tenant in a shared building. With persistence, their facilities team secured access to utility data, allowing them to set clear targets, engage staff, and reduce emissions two years in a row. The iiE carbon calculator helped them see the full picture and focus their efforts for maximum impact.

How have you got your colleagues to support your iiE aims?

Ann at Roythornes emphasised board-level buy-in as a key driver. Sustainability is now a regular agenda item at board meetings, supported by a self-elected green team that runs initiatives across offices. Friendly competitions and intranet updates keep things engaging and inclusive.

Steve from Newcastle United Foundation started from scratch just a few years ago. Without prior experience in sustainability, he reached out to iiE and created a green team, using the iiE framework and support network to guide the Foundation’s journey. Staff now ask about sustainability at interview stage,  a sign that their efforts are making a real cultural shift.

What is the time commitment for iiE and how do you incorporate iiE into your working week?

Ann shared that sustainability work is simply part of the day job. While the green team meets every few months, tasks are embedded into normal routines. Roythornes, like many others, found transport data the most time-consuming to collect,  especially for mileage claims and vehicle types,  requiring manual input from finance teams.

Steve added that by updating mileage claim forms to include vehicle type and fuel, staff were nudged into better data reporting.

Can you tell us some examples of successful initiatives that have helped reduce transport emissions?

Transport proved to be one of the biggest shared challenges. Here’s how members tackled it:

• Elanco: Used tax incentives to promote EVs, ran a sustainable travel competition, and encouraged public transport use with on-site facilities like bike storage and changing rooms. They also created a car-share map via SharePoint, which helped staff coordinate travel to events and conferences.
• Conker: Being remote-first, their team travels intentionally. Quarterly in-person meetings are built around sustainability and wellbeing. Public transport is prioritised, and car sharing is used only when necessary.
• Roythornes: Offers additional mileage reimbursement for car sharing, a small financial incentive that supports behavioural change.

Camilla also shared examples from other members:

• Adjusting work hours to fit public transport timetables
• Paying for emergency taxis to encourage car sharing
• Rewarding active travel through staff benefits and policies

The common theme? Flexibility, leadership buy-in, and listening to staff needs.

Can you give us any examples of successful biodiversity or community projects you’ve run?

Grace shared how Charity Bank organised a team visit to Kent Wildlife Trust, combining biodiversity awareness with team-building. They’re now exploring ways to offset emissions through the Trust.

Steve spoke about the Foundation’s boot recycling scheme, which collects football boots from professional players and donates them to children in local communities, blending sustainability, inclusion, and sport.

Matthew noted that Elanco encourages staff to use their volunteer days on wildlife and animal care projects aligned with the company’s values, such as helping at donkey sanctuaries or local wildlife trusts.

Sara explained how Conker now supports two sustainability-focused causes each year,  one short-term and one long-term. This year, they donated to Wildlife Vets International, a charity supporting conservation through education and vet care in communities around the world.

Final top tips from the panel

We finished the session by asking each speaker to share one top tip:

• Ann: “Demonstrate that everyone can play a part, from printing less, to recycling, to using DocuSign. Just keep showing people how they can get involved.”
• Matthew: “Try lots of different things. Not everything will work, but celebrate your successes.”
• Sara: “Ask for feedback, and really listen. In our remote company, we use polls, dedicated chat channels, and interactive boards. If something’s not possible, explain why, and look for alternatives.”
• Grace: “Block time in your calendar for green actions. If it’s not scheduled, it’s easy to get bumped.”
• Steve: “My big four:
  1. Get support from the top.
  2. Get ideas from staff.
  3. Share your success stories.
  4. Use your iiE advisor – they’re part of your team!”

A huge thank you to our wonderful panellists for sharing so openly. It’s your ideas and energy that make the iiE community such a powerful force for change.

Let’s keep the conversations going. If you’ve been inspired to try something new, have a question, or want to connect with another member, get in touch with your iiE advisor, we’re here to help.