Guest Speakers
Tanya Ewing
Will You Be A Green Entrepreneur?
Tanya Ewing was recognised as “British Female Inventor of the Year 2008” for her creation of a real time energy monitor Ewgeco (pronounced You-gee-co). Tanya wanted to bring meter information out of cupboards for all to gain a greater understanding of household&small business energy and water consumption. Unable to find such a device, she took it upon herself to develop one using a unique traffic light display system.
With no previous engineering or design experience, Tanya worked with technicians who could make her idea a reality. This all came at a hugely challenging time in her personal life. Due to a debilitating illness, Tanya had been unable to work for 7 years and was undergoing IVF treatment.
Her business is expanding and her story is held up as an example of pure determination in pursuit of a good idea. Tanya is passionate about the impact that Ewgeco can have on reducing the utility bills alongside the environmental benefits of reducing consumption and taking energy-conservation methods. She won the prestigious Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Award for the Environment in 2008.
Mike Marra
Climate Change and Human Catastrophe
Michael Marra is Policy and Public Affairs Manager for Oxfam Scotland. As lead lobbyist for the Stop Climate Chaos Scotland coalition he was heavily involved in delivering the ground-breaking Scottish Climate Change Act in June 2009.
He is a graduate of the London School of Economics and the University of Glasgow where he is now a Special Reader in Political Sciences. He is co-convenor of the public policy network on international development at the University of Edinburgh.
Sustainability Showcase Speakers
Sarah Griffiths
Sarah is in her final year studying Interior and Environmental design. She started this course in 1990, but took a 15 year break, during which time she became a mum and worked as a Shiatsu therapist, running a clinic in Edinburgh. Sarah has always been passionate about environmental issues and recently her work has become increasingly focused on sustainable communities.
