Applying whole life carbon assessment to renewable energy infrastructure : Lessons from Lancaster University’s Net Zero Energy Project

Author's Biography

Anne Johnstone is ESG Director at Vital Energi, where she leads the company’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy. Her expertise encompasses embodied and operational carbon analysis, stakeholder engagement and ensuring project delivery aligns with evolving sustainability standards. Anne is dedicated to promoting best practices in carbon accounting and disclosure, consistently contributing her time and knowledge to the advancement of the industry. Her approach is grounded in evidence-based decision making and a pragmatic understanding of the challenges facing the built environment. Anne previously held senior consultancy roles at Hollis and Ramboll (previously ENVIRON). At Hollis, she established and led the company’s environmental service, later integrating it with energy and sustainability to form a unified ESG offering. She developed ESG due diligence products and net zero strategies for buildings, as well as authoring the company’s sustainability strategy and supporting policies. At Ramboll and ENVIRON, Anne spent over 14 years advising clients on environmental liabilities related to property and business transactions, specialising in contaminated land investigation, risk assessment and large-scale brownfield redevelopment.

FIEMA is Head of Sustainability at Lancaster University, and a Fellow of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment. With a strong focus on whole life carbon assessment and circular economy, Georgiana brings academic and industry expertise to sustainability strategies in higher education. Her primary role at Lancaster is to coordinate the university’s approach to sustainability and achieving the 2035 net zero target. Prior to joining Lancaster University, Georgiana was a Senior Lecturer at the University of Leeds and Leeds Beckett University, where she led undergraduate and postgraduate interdisciplinary modules. Before that, she worked in various sustainability management roles within the private and public sectors across the North of England. It was through her teaching that she gained her Fellowship with Advance HE and has continued to deliver a small amount of teaching in her role at Lancaster. She is a passionate educator and strives to make sustainability a relatable and accessible topic to learners of all ages.

Gemma Read is a sustainability graduate at Vital Energi, where she supports both the ESG and work-winning teams. Her role bridges strategic planning and operational delivery, helping to align Vital’s sustainability commitments with client expectations. Gemma contributes to the design of value-add environmental, social and governance measures that complement technical solutions, ensuring that ESG principles are embedded throughout project life cycles. Gemma plays a key role in data collection and performance tracking, supporting transparent ESG reporting and continuous improvement across the business. She is instrumental in advancing Vital’s sustainability transformation, particularly through the innovative adoption of One Click LCA for whole life carbon assessment. Her work enables more accurate carbon accounting and supports the company’s efforts to meet evolving regulatory and client standards. Gemma’s approach is collaborative and detail-oriented, helping to translate sustainability goals into measurable outcomes that drive real impact across Vital’s projects.