Sustainability Insider

BDO UK: Claire Snowdon

In our latest podcast episode, Nicola Stopps, Founder of Simply Sustainable, sits down with Claire Snowdon, Director of Sustainability and ESG at BDO UK. Claire shares her first moves in building BDO’s sustainability function, starting with a clear strategy grounded in double materiality as a foundational step, even when it was not mandatory. The conversation explores BDO’s decision to complete a double materiality assessment ahead of regulation and the value it unlocked, how sustainability is embedded into overall business strategy rather than treated as a compliance exercise, how stakeholder expectations are evolving and what that means in practice. It also covers how organisations can balance climate priorities within a broader sustainability agenda, including social mobility.

Samskip: Laurens Dourleijn

In this episode of Sustainability Insider, host Nicola Stopps, Chief Impact Officer and Founder of Simply Sustainable, is joined by Sytze Dijkstra, Netherlands Country Manager at Simply Sustainable and Laurens Dourleijn, Sustainability Manager at Samskip - a global logistics company at the forefront of the low-carbon transition. Laurens speaks about the real experience of cutting emissions within a complex, multinational, multi-modal transportation business. He offers an honest look at what transition work feels like on the ground - from navigating new technologies and shifting regulations to driving change in a highly cost-sensitive industry. The conversation also explores Laurens’ approach to bringing colleagues along on the journey, providing clarity and direction while empowering others to co-create solutions that work in practice. A thoughtful and grounded discussion filled with rich insights into what a mature, adaptable sustainability function looks like in a fast-moving sector.

Kennedys: Kate Hursthouse

In this episode of Sustainability Insider, host Nicola Stopps, Chief Impact Officer and Founder of Simply Sustainable, welcomes Kate Hursthouse, Head of Responsible Business at Kennedys. Kate shares how the law firm Kennedys is driving responsible business practices across a complex international network during times of political uncertainty. She also reflects on what it takes to maintain momentum and embed long-term change in a sector known for tradition and caution. The conversation covers the importance of aligning ESG strategy with core business values, the power of employee engagement, and the role of law firms in shaping a more sustainable and inclusive future.

Speedy Hire: Amelia Woodley, ESG Director

In this episode of Sustainability Insider, host Nicola Stopps, Chief Impact Officer and Founder of Simply Sustainable, is joined by Amelia Woodley, ESG Director at Speedy Hire. Together, they dive into how Speedy is embedding sustainability at the heart of its operations to drive meaningful change in the equipment hire industry. Amelia also outlines Speedy Hire’s ambitious journey to Net Zero and explains how the business is guided by a clear sustainability framework built around the four Rs: Revenue, Risk, Resilience, and Reputation. She shares how these principles are being used to reshape business strategy, improve operational efficiency, and deliver value across the supply chain.

Manchester Airports Group (MAG): Adam Freeman, Decarbonisation and ESG Director

In this episode of Sustainability Insider, hosts Nicola Stopps, Chief Impact Officer and Founder of Simply Sustainable and Joaska Mischke, Head of ESG and Sustainability Strategy at Simply Sustainable speak with Adam Freeman, Decarbonisation and ESG Director at Manchester Airports Group (MAG), about how one of the UK’s largest airport operators is navigating the path to decarbonisation. Adam outlines MAG’s bold ambition to reach Net Zero by 2038 and explains how the group is embedding sustainability across its operations without losing sight of its core purpose to connect people and places. Adam also reflects on the challenges and opportunities facing the aviation industry more widely as it moves towards a more sustainable future.