Ben Vivian

I am an independent and pragmatic environmentalist, seeking to enable change that lasts and delivers sustainable value. I am currently helping to create the next generation of sustainability professionals at Coventry University.

I am course director of an MSc programme in Sustainability and Environmental Management and I am working of research ideas looking at the relationship between young people (16-24) and natural environments, with a focus on understanding how to engage with them more effectively.

I have had board level experience in environmental charities and worked in multinational organisations.

I make connections between theory and difficult-to-grasp concepts and turn them into practical solutions helping individuals within organisations to achieve their goals in sustainability strategy, environmental management & auditing, social accountability, corporate social responsibility, policy setting and stakeholder engagement.

I performed my first environmental audit in 1989 and have developed capacity through training or coaching on five continents.

I verified my first Corporate Environmental Report in 1996 and have written eight Sustainability Reports and advised on numerous others. I am currently Convenor to Working Group 6 of ISO/TC207/SC2 developing a new standard on environmental reporting assurance.

I have led and been a member of numerous research teams, in fields ranging from geotechnical engineering and slope stability (doctorate); nutrient movement in soils (post-doctorate); impact of environmental UK legislation (principal investigator EU funded project) and EU accession states. More recently I have been part of a research team looking at legal compliance and ISO 14001 certification and led research (funded by BSI and BIS) on responsible sourcing.

Specialties: Strategic thinking, complex problem solving, communications, non-financial reporting, auditing, creativity and design; capacity, network and relationship building; auditing and governance.