Former Greenpeace director Dr Jeremy Leggett gives lecture to SRUC Craibstone students
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A FORMER director of Greenpeace has shared his knowledge with the next generation of entrepreneurs at SRUC.
Drawing on his clean energy industry knowledge, veteran climate campaigner Dr Jeremy Legget delivered a lecture to entrepreneurial SRUC students at the Craibstone Campus in Aberdeen.
Dr Leggett, founder and chief executive of Highland Rewilding Ltd, is a world-renowned solar energy entrepreneur and, alongside Jackie Brierton, is the first entrepreneur in residence at SRUC.
In his lecture to students, Dr Leggett shared the story of his journey from solar entrepreneur to the field of natural recovery and rewilding developments in the Highlands.
Students also heard about his long history of support for climate change action and the importance of looking for innovative green solutions.
After serving as director of science for the climate campaign at Greenpeace from 1989-1997, Dr Leggett founded his international solar energy company Solarcentury and, in 2006, set up SolarAid to facilitate the provision of solar energy in Africa.
SolarAid received a Google global impact award, a Guardian sustainable business award and an Ashden gold award.
Dr Leggett, who was also winner of the Gothenburg prize for sustainable development in 2015, said: “I have spent the last 30 years building international businesses which directly combat climate change using innovative technology through the creation of sustainable community networks.
“It’s great to be able to share the lessons I have learned, and am continuing to learn every day, with so many interested students who could be the next leaders of organisations building a thriving natural economy.
“I am sure they will build on their high-quality experiences at SRUC and graduate into fulfilling roles and for some, create new jobs, which deliver social and environmental value as part of Scotland’s green economic recovery.”
Dr Carol Langston, director of SRUC’s Enterprise Academy for the Rural and Natural Economy, said: “We are thrilled that Jeremy was able to meet with so many of our students today.
"It was clear the students were inspired and challenged to think about how they can develop their capacities while at SRUC and how they can each contribute to solving some of our biggest challenges facing the world.”
Click here for further information on SRUC’s Enterprise Academy for the Rural & Natural Economy.
