Tom recently submitted his doctoral thesis titled ‘Place Relationships in Project Developer Approaches to Engagement’, and is interested in public engagement for large scale infrastructure projects, with specific focus on renewable energy developments. Much of Tom’s research is underpinned by place-based approaches and advocating for policy and research to be co-produced with the public.

Tom is keen to develop projects around embedding engagement within decision-making for the region, but is also able to be a point of contact between the region and the extensive sustainability and environmental expertise at Anglia Ruskin University.

ARU’s Sustainable Futures research innovation and impact theme supports sustainable innovation, creativity, and engagement with citizens, social, economic, and technical partners to envision and deliver a more inclusive, healthier, and resilient society by bringing together the four pillars of environment, economy, culture and society.

To date, Sustainable Futures has:

• Hosted the First International Resilience to Disasters conference covering cultural heritage, healthcare and Infrastructure resilience featuring speakers from 11 worldwide institutes.
• Hosted the Allia Workshop: The Future of Work in a High Growth Region, which generated a project application with 11 regional partners to Innovate UK.
• Funded 28 knowledge exchange and pump priming projects, investing over £140,000 into partnership development and research.
• Supported, funded, or hosted 25 events. The events engaged with approximately 70 partners ranging from local councils, third sector organisations and international companies.

To find out more about opportunities to collaborate with ARU get in touch with Tom here