Discussion panel – what are the benefits of a digital future?

Alistair jointly heads the waste regulation and crime team in Defra, leading on the waste crime elements of the Resources and Waste Strategy. He is the product owner for the GovTech funded smart waste tracking project which is conducting research into tracking waste through electronic chips and sensors, the use of blockchain, common reporting platforms, and new data analytics. Previously Alistair worked in the energy sector (smart metering) and academia (calculating embedded carbon emissions in supply chains).

Stuart joined Veolia 16 years ago in finance after graduating from University and working in a Pharmaceutical company where he became a qualified CIMA accountant. Within three years of joining Veolia Stuart transitioned to focus on data analysis and started a national Business Intelligence team, with a vision to improve the financial performance of the business using insight and intelligence from an operational perspective. Subsequently, he became responsible for the transformation of the business systems within Veolia that provided the source to his data strategy, resulting in wider IT leadership roles and responsibilities. In January 2017 Stuart become CIO for the UK & Ireland and his team are on a new journey to express Veolia's digital strength focused on four main deliverables; To improve the customer journey and experience; To improve the working life of a Veolia employee; To streamline processes and enhance insight with data to improve operational efficiency and financial performance; and also to deliver new digital services.

Henry is a senior manager in the Sustainability and Climate Change team with 18 years of business and environmental consulting experience. Henry has worked on projects to assess the sustainability impacts of waste, packaging and recycling projects, including both environmental and economic indicators. This has included work with clients to help them comply with legislation and exploit the sustainability related opportunities. These opportunities have included investment in new waste treatment facilities, operational cost improvement and the capturing value from increased resource recovery. This includes work on projects in India and Africa as well as those in Europe. Henry is one of the technical leaders globally at PwC on the circular economy. He has lead the development of PwC’s plastic foot printing methodology that helps companies to understand the impact of their use of plastics and to create an action plan to reduce the impacts from their use of these materials.