Sustainability East is the East of England's independent sustainable development champion.
We work with policy makers, local government, public agencies and private business to help embed sustainable development in the region and beyond. We do this by commissioning research, hosting conferences, supporting education and acting as a candid friend
Prior to joining Sustainability East, Chrissie worked as
as a Senior Policy Officer for the
Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)
where she led policy development in the areas of sustainable infrastructure, transport and maritime engineering. During her time at ICE she developed a sustainable development strategy and action plan for the civil engineering sector. This united major civil engineering bodies in a commitment to take practical action on sustainable development. A long term champion for the equalities agenda, Chrissie has also worked as a policy officer for the Equality Challenge Unit, advising higher education institutions on promoting equality for both staff and students. Chrissie is also an experienced researcher having gained a social sciences PhD from Loughborough University in 2005. She also holds a BSc in Social Policy from Loughborough University.
Vanessa Tilling is the Sustainable Development Policy Lead at the Government Office for the East of England. She is a lifelong civil servant having spent her early career in various policy areas in Whitehall, but for the last 18 years, in the East of England Region, and with GO-East since the birth of regional Government Offices in the mid-90s. She has been working on the sustainable development agenda for over ten years now, encouraging regional partners, both public and private sector, to embed SD in their policies and practices. She helped to establish Sustainability East in 1998, and although she has escaped from being its Secretary for a couple of short spells in the intervening period, she keeps coming back!
Toni started off her career in the civil service working in the Crime and Drugs Team at GO East which involved working with colleagues to push forward agendas such as Alcohol abuse and Violent Crime. Toni also worked closely with the Home Office Research team to pull together statistics that helped to manage the performance of partnerships.
In her new role Toni helps provide secretariat support to Sustainability East, working closely with Vanessa Tilling and the Coordinator Chrissie Pepper. Part of Toni’s new role also includes dealing with the Regional Minister, Barbara Follett’s correspondence.
Toni has an NVQ Level 2 and has recently passed her NVQ Level 3 in Business and Administration.
