Peter Laybourn
Pro-Chancellor, distinguished friends, colleagues, graduands and guests.
Peter Laybourn, Chief Executive of International Synergies is committed to environmental resource efficiency to plant industrial symbiosis on the world map. He has been successful implementing measures in over 30 countries across five continents.
For his commitment to science and innovation in low-carbon sustainable economy, as a global expert and consultant, it is with pleasure that we today award Mr Laybourn with an Honorary Doctor of Science.
The son of an Imperial Chemicals Industry Royal Navy serviceman, Peter was a very successful student that turned his hand to several outstanding careers. He firstly graduated with a degree in Economics and Ecology from the University of Southampton in 1977 and spent 18 years in the aerospace manufacturing industry as Contracts and Commercial Manager at GEC Marconi, Smiths Industries and Meggitt Aviation and Marine – working with many local authorities to implement Local Agenda 21.
Originally from Billingham in County Durham, in the late 1990s he moved to the West Midlands on leaving the industry and completed a second degree in environmental management. He was drawn to the region by its rich industrial heritage and demographic. It was here he created an initiative called the National Industrial Symbiosis Programme, widely known as NISP. This is a cross sector industrial network open to businesses of all sizes and sectors. It allows environmental experts to identify ways that underused or wasted resources from one company can be recovered and reused by another.
Today, having proved the NISP concept in the West Midlands, piloting it from 2002 to 2003, Peter has gone on to implement replica projects all around the world. This has inspired numerous individuals and organisations, many of whom have made official missions and visits to the region to understand more about the programme.
Peter later went on to set up a not-for-profit company called Industrial Symbiosis Limited to help with delivery costs that come with some development opportunities, allowing expertise to be shared around the globe.
Now a regular keynote speaker at prestigious industrial events on symbiosis and the circular economy, Peter has provided advice to many bodies. These include the House of Lords, House of Commons and European Commission, most recently leading to the inclusion of industrial symbiosis in a number of policies, and to the G7 Alliance on Resource Efficiency in the West Midlands.
Over the last 15 years Peter’s company has created more than 3,200 jobs in the local area and reduced the carbon footprint of the region by over 5 million tonnes CO2-equivalent.
What’s more in 2014 he was awarded the title of Sustainability Leader of the Year by a panel of industry peers on behalf of the Sustainability Leaders and Edie Awards. Peter was also highly commended in the extremely prestigious ‘Circulars’ Awards for two years running from 2014 to 2016. While International Synergies won the Midlands Insider International Award for Export Advisor after successfully exporting his company resource model to 30 countries.
He likes to try and relax in the free time he gets, by cooking, canal walking, drinking wine and reading the occasional novel.
Peter has been married for 12 years to his American wife Dr Rachel Lombardi after first meeting at Yale University.
In recognition of his global expertise and leadership and work in ecology and environment, Coventry University, by decision of the Academic Board, has the privilege of conferring the Degree of the Honorary master of Science, honoris causa, on Mr Peter Laybourn.