New Professors join Leeds Sustainability Institute

Professor Gary Shuckford, Director of Edenbridge Healthcare Limited, and Professor Pete Skipworth, Managing Director of Sheffield-based environmental monitoring company EMS Ltd, took up their new posts in October.

Professor Chris Gorse, Director of the Leeds Sustainability Institute, commented: “I am delighted that we have two new Professors working with the Institute. Both will bring new skills, expertise and knowledge to the University that will enhance our academic endeavours and take us forward as an industry facing research institute that brings benefit to society.

“Professor Pete Skipworth has considerable experience in environmental monitoring, energy assessment and specific expertise in water. Through innovation and advances in technology, he has a proven ability to develop commercial energy saving and environmental solutions that have led to the development and growth of a number of highly successful companies.”

“Professor Gary Shuckford has over 25 years’ experience in both healthcare and IT. We will be working with Professor Shuckford, drawing on his expertise and experience in informatics, data, health and interest in buildings.”  

Professor Pete Skipworth is an entrepreneur in the water and environment sectors. Alongside his role at EMS Ltd, he is Chairman of Ecus Ltd, a nationwide multidisciplinary environmental consultancy. Through EMS, Pete works with household names in the food and drink, pharmaceutical, automotive, heavy industrial, energy, and water sectors.

Prior to his current roles, Pete was founder MD at SEAMS Ltd, working for water companies, in the energy sector, and for national infrastructure bodies. Pete has worked closely with universities throughout his career, developing new technologies which have gone on to become key offerings to industry.

His current areas of interest include SMART Wastewater networks, remote monitoring, and novel sensors for the environment.

Pete’s career began in academia, achieving a PhD, lecturing and publishing more than 40 papers in the area of water and infrastructure management. He was also recipient of the Institute of Civil Engineer’s Telford Prize for artificial intelligence-based modelling of water quality.

Pete commented: “Leading companies in the fast moving environmental sector means I’m acutely aware of the reliance that companies have on our universities, not only for graduates but for their input in moving goods and services forward. Having worked with Leeds Beckett University over the last few years I understand the value this can bring. I’m looking forward to helping with the challenge of moving ideas and technology into business for the benefit of all.”

The Leeds Sustainability Institute, through the work of Dr Andrew Swan at Leeds Beckett, will be joining forces with Professor Skipworth pursuing research and commercial interests in Smart water and wastewater networks, remote motoring and novel sensors for the environment.

As Director of Edenbridge, a healthcare IT development company, Professor Gary Shuckford specialises in the design, development and deployment of clinical and business management solutions to health and social care, and acts as a consultant to a Leeds-based architecture practice, exploring and discovering new ways of interacting with the built environment.

Gary has spent the majority of his career in a wide range of roles, including Group Operation Director within EMIS Group plc, a leading provider of healthcare software and systems in the UK. He has also been a council member of Tech UK, representing over 300 companies involved in health and social care, and has been a regular presenter at national conferences.

Gary brings with him a wealth of expertise, including the use of data and informatics to inform evidence-based planning around healthcare requirements and estates planning. He is able to advise and develop virtual and actual worlds: for example when designing the patient flow from the home through every level of the healthcare pathway.

Gary said: “I have worked within the UK's NHS market for over 20 years and have seen the value of the innovative and progressive research of Leeds Beckett University, especially around infrastructure and buildings from Leeds Sustainability Institute. I look forward to developing the research synergies that we know exist.

“I am excited to be joining the University and supporting the opportunity to combine information and research regarding health and social care with buildings and their effectiveness to help create a healthier and more sustainable healthcare environment, especially at a time of transformational change for the NHS.”

Research and consultancy work at the Leeds Sustainability Institute at Leeds Beckett University aims to tackle the challenges of creating more sustainable places, communities and economies to enable society and its infrastructure to become sustainable. This includes areas such as low carbon building, materials, green computing, and renewable energy.