Dundee & Angus College Shortlisted for Green Gown Award

We are delighted to announce that Christine Calder, Academic Development Lead at Dundee & Angus College has been named as a finalist in the 2024 Green Gown Awards UK & Ireland, in the Sustainability Champion – Staff Category. This recognition highlights Christine’s commitment to sustainability within our College and beyond.

Christine is among the 16 in her category, along with other colleagues from across the UK and Ireland.  Christine was nominated by our Head of Estates, Billy Grace, for her outstanding efforts to embed sustainability into all aspects of Dundee & Angus College.

Celebrating the 20th anniversary year of the Green Gown Awards, this year's shortlist consists of 133 finalists from 84 institutions. Finalists are now invited to submit their stage two applications, with judging in October.

Christine said: “being shortlisted for staff sustainability champion is an immense privilege and I am humbled to be considered alongside the other finalists. The nomination is only possible because of the amazing people in D&A College whom I collaborate with on a regular basis, all with the vision of making our world, college and education system a little bit greener for everybody and everything.”

Christine’s dedication and passion for sustainability is evident in her efforts to inspire both current and future generations of lecturers and students.   Her innovative approach includes the Continued Professional Development (CPD) programmes and groundbreaking curriculum mapping projects which have fostered a culture of environmental responsibility.

The Hedgehog Friendly Campus initiative that Christine brought to the College, has engaged groups of diverse and passionate individuals to create a community, working together to support the local wildlife and positively impacting the mental health of young people. 

Christine has been a strong advocate for sustainable travel policies and reducing the College’s carbon footprint by influencing policy-making and strategic development. She encourages change at all levels, from the Board of Management to students, creating a positive impact that has been replicated across other educational institutions.

By working with Academic Development team to embed the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into our teaching qualifications and pathways, Christine has ensured that new lecturers have been introduced to sustainable practices and are confident to inspire discussion and deliver cultural change with their students.

The judges commended Christine’s contributions to sustainable practices within Dundee & Angus College and nationally.  They said: “An inspirational commitment to both policy, CPD, and operational areas within the College.”

Dundee & Angus College have a proud history with the Green Gown Awards, having won for Carbon Reduction in 2015 and Campus Food and Drink in 2019. We were also Finalists in 2014, 2021 and 2023. An outstanding achievement that we hope to continue as we work towards our ongoing commitment to sustainability and our goals of achieving net zero.

The winners will be announced this year at the Green Gowns Awards Ceremony at Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh on 13 November. The event, celebrating two decades of Green Gown Awards, will be hosted by Charlotte Bonner from EAUC and Jo Allatt from UKRI.

Congratulations Christine for your remarkable achievements and we wish you the best of luck at the awards ceremony!