News

After an extensive recruitment process Dr Knight has been selected to join business-led charity Business in the Community (BITC) in March 2012 as Environmental Sustainability Director.  The appointment marks the growing importance of the environmental sustainability agenda as a mainstream consideration for all responsible businesses.

Stephen Howard, Chief Executive of Business in the Community said it was important to find a candidate who has the right skills and experience to develop BITC’s environmental work.

“Alan has the passion, experience and proven track record we are looking for.  We wanted an individual who understands the huge business opportunities associated with environmental sustainability and the very real risks associated with climate change, resource depletion and loss of biodiversity. 

“We also wanted the candidate to have a clear vision of how Business in the Community needs to work with all our members and stakeholders to ensure that every business recognises and improves their overall impact on the environment; creating a more sustainable supply chain and ultimately a transformed business model.  We are very excited to welcome Alan into the BITC team.”

As part of his role, he will be responsible for BITC’s established environment campaign www.bitc.org.uk/environment; The Prince’s Mayday Network www.maydaynetwork.com; START www.startuk.org and ways2work – www.ways2work.bitc.org.uk

Dr. Knight has nearly 20 years’ experience of working with global and national companies and governments on sustainability and for nine years he was a commissioner with the Sustainable Development Commission.  Before joining BITC he was an advisor to business and government with expertise in corporate sustainability, product centric sustainability and public policy.  He has worked with companies as diverse as Virgin Group, B&Q, Kingfisher, SABMiller, Coca Cola, Body Shop, the Alberta Oil Sands Industry and has served on several Government advisory groups.

He chairs the UK Task Force on Peat, is a panellist on the UK Independent Panel on Forestry and is a founder of the Global Association of Corporate Sustainability Officers (GACSO). In 1998 he was awarded the OBE.

Dr Knight said: “It is an honour to be selected for this role. This is a challenging time for business which is why it is my ambition that through collaboration across the BITC membership we can re-enforce the emerging opinion that economics and environment cannot be separated, many environmental solutions will accelerate an economic upturn and good economics in turn helps improve our environment.  

Dr Knight was educated at the University of Southampton and holds a PhD, Impact of Mining Waste Dumping off the Coast of Cornwall from University of London.