Iacovidou
i am a professor of environmental management and director of the centre for pollution research and policy (cprp) at brunel university of london. i develop sustainable solutions for resources and waste management, focusing on circular economy strategies and sustainability assessment. my research asks how materials, components, and products can stay in use at their highest value for as long as possible, rather than becoming waste. at the heart of my work is the complex value optimisation for resource recovery (cvorr+) framework and toolkit, a systems-based decision-making framework i developed to examine challenges from a whole-system perspective rather than in isolated parts. it helps pinpoint where targeted interventions can deliver the greatest value and impact across the value chain. because resource recovery is never only a technical problem, i consider its social, economic, political and cultural dimensions alongside the environmental and engineering ones. the aim is to develop solutions that are technically sound, socially inclusive and able to accelerate the transition to sustainability. my research centres on five key areas: plastics and plastic packaging systems – assessing sustainable pathways to circularity textiles – advancing waste prevention, reuse and repair food loss and waste – addressing challenges in sustainable consumption and recovery construction products and components – promoting reuse and modular design waste electrical and electronic equipment (weee) – advancing repair, reuse and circular strategies in addition, i examine the effects of technological, market and regulatory lock-ins, the role of stakeholders in sustainability transitions, and the impacts of informal recycling systems on society and the environment. i am also exploring how waste infrastructure can be tailored to local needs and how digital technologies can enable product and component traceability across the value chain. the ultimate goal of my research is to provide systemic, integrated sustainability assessments that support evidence-based policymaking, guide industry innovation and foster interdisciplinary collaboration. whole-system assessment of resource recovery systems, using cvorr+ to evaluate environmental, economic, social, technical and political value circularity pathways for plastics and packaging, including reuse and refill systems, deposit return schemes and extended producer responsibility (epr) waste prevention, reuse and repair across textiles, construction products and components, and waste electrical and electronic equipment (weee) food loss and waste, and the food–energy–water–plastics nexus technological, market and regulatory lock-ins that slow sustainability transitions stakeholder dynamics, informal recycling and place-based solutions in the global south chemicals in plastics, and safe and sustainable by design materials digital traceability of products and components across value chains metrics and indicators for monitoring circular economy policy circular economy; resources and waste management; life cycle sustainability assessment; systems thinking and decision-making frameworks; plastics, textiles, food, construction and electronics value chains; environmental governance and policy. my teaching is research-informed and practice-oriented. i connect sustainability challenges to real-world decision-making , so students build the interdisciplinary, analytical, and enterprise skills the sustainability sector needs. i have taught at brunel since 2018 across postgraduate and undergraduate programmes in environmental management, environmental sciences and sustainability. programme leadership programme director, msc sustainability, entrepreneurship and design (sused), since 2022 lead for the resources and waste management option of the msc environmental management postgraduate modules (module leader) sustainability, policy and governance natural resources and solid waste management portfolio: sustainable development in practice international political economy (assessment block) i also contribute to the total environment and tools and methods, covering natural resources management, environmental technology and policy, and material flow analysis. undergraduate teaching strategic sustainable development (module leader) supervision of final-year projects in environmental sciences modules i have previously led include: environmental management and legislation sustainable development environmental governance construction materials and sustainability sustainable transport infrastructure entrepreneurship assessment
![Dr Eleni Iacovidou]()
Dr Eleni Iacovidou
I am a Professor of Environmental Management and Director of the Centre for Pollution Research and Policy (CPRP) at Brunel University of London. I develop sustainable solutions for resources and waste management, focusing on circular economy strategies and sustainability assessment. My research asks how materials, components, and products can stay in use at their highest value for as long as possible, rather than becoming waste. At the heart of my work is the Complex Value Optimisation for Resource Recovery (CVORR+) framework and toolkit, a systems-based decision-making framework I developed to examine challenges from a whole-system perspective rather than in isolated parts. It helps pinpoint where targeted interventions can deliver the greatest value and impact across the value chain. Because resource recovery is never only a technical problem, I consider its social, economic, political and cultural dimensions alongside the environmental and engineering ones. The aim is to develop solutions that are technically sound, socially inclusive and able to accelerate the transition to sustainability. My research centres on five key areas: Plastics and plastic packaging systems – assessing sustainable pathways to circularity Textiles – advancing waste prevention, reuse and repair Food loss and waste – addressing challenges in sustainable consumption and recovery Construction products and components – promoting reuse and modular design Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) – advancing repair, reuse and circular strategies In addition, I examine the effects of technological, market and regulatory lock-ins, the role of stakeholders in sustainability transitions, and the impacts of informal recycling systems on society and the environment. I am also exploring how waste infrastructure can be tailored to local needs and how digital technologies can enable product and component traceability across the value chain. The ultimate goal of my research is to provide systemic, integrated sustainability assessments that support evidence-based policymaking, guide industry innovation and foster interdisciplinary collaboration. Whole-system assessment of resource recovery systems, using CVORR+ to evaluate environmental, economic, social, technical and political value Circularity pathways for plastics and packaging, including reuse and refill systems, Deposit Return Schemes and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Waste prevention, reuse and repair across textiles, construction products and components, and waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) Food loss and waste, and the food–energy–water–plastics nexus Technological, market and regulatory lock-ins that slow sustainability transitions Stakeholder dynamics, informal recycling and place-based solutions in the Global South Chemicals in plastics, and safe and sustainable by design materials Digital traceability of products and components across value chains Metrics and indicators for monitoring circular economy policy Circular economy; resources and waste management; life cycle sustainability assessment; systems thinking and decision-making frameworks; plastics, textiles, food, construction and electronics value chains; environmental governance and policy. My teaching is research-informed and practice-oriented. I connect sustainability challenges to real-world decision-making , so students build the interdisciplinary, analytical, and enterprise skills the sustainability sector needs. I have taught at Brunel since 2018 across postgraduate and undergraduate programmes in environmental management, environmental sciences and sustainability. Programme leadership Programme Director, MSc Sustainability, Entrepreneurship and Design (SusED), since 2022 Lead for the Resources and Waste Management option of the MSc Environmental Management Postgraduate modules (module leader) Sustainability, Policy and Governance Natural Resources and Solid Waste Management Portfolio: Sustainable Development in Practice International Political Economy (Assessment Block) I also contribute to The Total Environment and Tools and Methods, covering natural resources management, environmental technology and policy, and material flow analysis. Undergraduate teaching Strategic Sustainable Development (module leader) Supervision of final-year projects in Environmental Sciences Modules I have previously led include: Environmental Management and Legislation Sustainable Development Environmental Governance Construction Materials and Sustainability Sustainable Transport Infrastructure Entrepreneurship assessment
Jobling
i am deeply interested in understanding and addressing the impacts of exposures to environmental contaminants on ecosystems, wildlife and human health. urban environments, where the majority of the global population resides, are hotspots for such exposures, and my research has consistently aimed to unravel the pathways and consequences of these interactions. my early work explored how environmental contaminants disrupt endocrine and reproductive systems, leading to significant regulatory advancements. over time, my focus has shifted toward interdisciplinary approaches to solving environmental pollution challenges, fostering collaborations across academic, industrial, and governmental sectors. as the founder and director of the institute of environment, health, and societies at brunel university london, i championed interdisciplinary research, integrating expertise from diverse fields. currently, i lead the plastics in indonesian societies (pisces) program, an ambitious initiative to combat plastic pollution through evidence-based solutions and circular economy principles. i am passionate about mentoring the next generation of researchers who will drive innovative solutions for a safer and more sustainable planet. environmental contaminants and their impacts on ecosystems, wildlife and human health investigating the pathways through which pollutants affect ecosystems, biodiversity and human health wildlife toxicology and population dynamics studying the effects of contaminants on aquatic ecosystems and aquatic wildlife to understand individual and population-level consequences and support conservation efforts. circular economy and system change interventions collaborative research to help develop and implement circular economy frameworks to reduce plastic waste leakage, with a focus on real-world applications in high-impact regions like indonesia. interdisciplinary solutions to pollution bringing together expertise from various disciplines to create novel methodologies and actionable solutions for pollution mitigation, from local to global scales. policy-driven environmental research ensuring that scientific findings influence policy and regulation to improve environmental quality and public health, bridging the gap between academia and policy-making. research projects: i am currently leading and directing a large nerc funded project called ‘a systems analysis approach to reduce plastic waste in indonesian societies (pisces)’ is an interdisciplinary project involving more than 40 researchers from uk, indonesia, india and thailand . plastic pollution is one of the world’s biggest environmental challenges. an investment of £20 million by ukri has supported five interdisciplinary research projects that aim to improve understanding of the impacts of plastic pollution in developing countries. the pisces project has been funded under this initiative and aims to reduce the impact of plastic pollution on communities and the environment in indonesia. the team are examining socio-economic, behavioural and cultural factors associated with plastic use in indonesia; developing interventions and assessing their social, environmental and economic benefits. we are working closely with academic partners as well as governments, ngos and industry. project partners include systemiq (project stop and the bali partnership) and the co-ordinating ministry of maritime affairs national plastics action plan. indonesia has a rapidly growing economy and the largest archipelago in the world with exceptionally high levels of plastics contaminating its rivers and seas. pisces will work along the value chain examining the costs of inaction and benefits of targeted interventions. our work will mitigate the impacts of plastic pollution and aims to enable cleaner, more resilient and productive environments. we aim to promote economic growth, social inclusion and societal wellbeing including environmental sustainability of oceans and coastal areas.
![Professor Susan Jobling]()
Professor Susan Jobling
I am deeply interested in understanding and addressing the impacts of exposures to environmental contaminants on ecosystems, wildlife and human health. Urban environments, where the majority of the global population resides, are hotspots for such exposures, and my research has consistently aimed to unravel the pathways and consequences of these interactions. My early work explored how environmental contaminants disrupt endocrine and reproductive systems, leading to significant regulatory advancements. Over time, my focus has shifted toward interdisciplinary approaches to solving environmental pollution challenges, fostering collaborations across academic, industrial, and governmental sectors. As the Founder and Director of the Institute of Environment, Health, and Societies at Brunel University London, I championed interdisciplinary research, integrating expertise from diverse fields. Currently, I lead the Plastics in Indonesian Societies (PISCES) program, an ambitious initiative to combat plastic pollution through evidence-based solutions and circular economy principles. I am passionate about mentoring the next generation of researchers who will drive innovative solutions for a safer and more sustainable planet. Environmental Contaminants and their Impacts on ecosystems, wildlife and human health Investigating the pathways through which pollutants affect ecosystems, biodiversity and human health Wildlife Toxicology and Population Dynamics Studying the effects of contaminants on aquatic ecosystems and aquatic wildlife to understand individual and population-level consequences and support conservation efforts. Circular Economy and System Change Interventions Collaborative research to help develop and implement circular economy frameworks to reduce plastic waste leakage, with a focus on real-world applications in high-impact regions like Indonesia. Interdisciplinary Solutions to Pollution Bringing together expertise from various disciplines to create novel methodologies and actionable solutions for pollution mitigation, from local to global scales. Policy-Driven Environmental Research Ensuring that scientific findings influence policy and regulation to improve environmental quality and public health, bridging the gap between academia and policy-making. Research Projects: I am currently leading and directing a large NERC funded project called ‘A systems analysis approach to reduce plastic waste in Indonesian societies (PISCES)’ is an interdisciplinary project involving more than 40 researchers from UK, Indonesia, India and Thailand . Plastic pollution is one of the world’s biggest environmental challenges. An investment of £20 million by UKRI has supported five interdisciplinary research projects that aim to improve understanding of the impacts of plastic pollution in developing countries. The PISCES project has been funded under this initiative and aims to reduce the impact of plastic pollution on communities and the environment in Indonesia. The team are examining socio-economic, behavioural and cultural factors associated with plastic use in Indonesia; developing interventions and assessing their social, environmental and economic benefits. We are working closely with academic partners as well as Governments, NGOs and industry. Project partners include SYSTEMIQ (Project STOP and the Bali Partnership) and The Co-Ordinating Ministry of Maritime Affairs National Plastics Action Plan. Indonesia has a rapidly growing economy and the largest archipelago in the world with exceptionally high levels of plastics contaminating its rivers and seas. PISCES will work along the value chain examining the costs of inaction and benefits of targeted interventions. Our work will mitigate the impacts of plastic pollution and aims to enable cleaner, more resilient and productive environments. We aim to promote economic growth, social inclusion and societal wellbeing including environmental sustainability of oceans and coastal areas.
Manika
danae manika (phd, university of texas at austin) is an honorary professor at brunel business school; and executive dean of alba graduate business school at the american college of greece. in the past, danae served as executive dean of brunel business school and as acting executive dean and deputy dean of the college of business, arts and social sciences at brunel university of london; and as associate head of brunel business school. before joining brunel, she was professor of marketing at newcastle university business school, where she led its london campus as academic group head and held the deputy director of research role at newcastle university business school. danae in the past has also held academic positions at queen mary university of london, durham university and the university of texas at austin; and is currently visiting professor at newcastle university and queen mary university of london. prior to her academic career, danae worked as an account planning intern in advertising agencies such as latinworks in austin, tx, and ddb in new york. she obtained a ph.d and a m.a. in advertising from the university of texas at austin, and a b.a. honours in marketing from university of stirling. danae’s recent research has been published in journals such as journal of service research, journal of business ethics, tourism management, annals of tourism research, psychology and marketing, european journal of marketing, technological forecasting and social change, journal of business research, european management review, and international business review, amongst others. using an interdisciplinary approach, danae’s research focuses on effective message construction for behaviour change within the contexts of health, well-being and the environment. she is involved in various consultancies (e.g., harrow council, royal borough of kensington and chelsea council, recoup, global action plan, texas comprehensive cancer control coalition), and her research has been supported by £450,000+ of funding (e.g., nerc, cruk, epsrc/innovate uk, red). danae is section editor for the journal of business ethics (section: marketing ethics) and an associate editor (ae) for business and society and the journal of current issues and research in advertising, while in the past she was ae for the journal of marketing management (2017-21). she is also currently on the editorial review boards of: technological forecasting & social change, and journal of marketing management; with guest editor experience across multiple top journals. danae also has experience as: funding reviewer for cancer research uk (2015-19); and track chair for top marketing conferences (ams wmc 2025 and 2023, tcr 2021). using an interdisciplinary approach, blending the lines between marketing, advertising and psychology her research aims to answer a fundamental marketing research question: how to diminish the knowledge-behaviour gap? particularly, her research focuses on effective message construction for behaviour change. it takes an information processing approach, which identifies, classifies and examines cognitive (e.g., knowledge, confidence, trust, values) and affective (e.g., pride, fear, disgust) factors that influence individuals’/consumers’/employees’ decisions and choices after exposure to campaigns/messages/interventions, and translate knowledge acquisition to behaviour change/formation. her research is theory-based but practically applicable research, and often uses health (e.g., weight control, alcohol consumption, vaccination), well-being and environmental (e.g. energy saving, recycling) social issues as the venue for understanding the knowledge-behaviour gap, with direct implications for persuasive communication and behavioural interventions that motivate health and environmental action. the campaigns/messages/interventions often examined involve digital components (e.g., websites, social media, mobile applications, online tracking tools) and technology adoption behaviours (e.g., adoption and usage of technology-based solutions). other projects with information technology and effective message construction focus include: social media service failure apologies, online petitions, and online political engagement. side projects include innovative research methodologies, female-disparaging adverts, and consumer animosity, amongst others. danae’s recent research has been published in journals such as journal of service research, journal of business ethics, tourism management, annals of tourism research, psychology and marketing, european journal of marketing, technological forecasting and social change, journal of business research, european management review, international business review, information technology and people, studies in higher education, journal of marketing management, computers in human behavior, international journal of advertising, journal of health communication, journal of marketing communications, health marketing quarterly, and multivariate behavioral research, amongst others. she often engages in research projects that require collaborations with other disciplines such as medicine, engineering and geography; and her research has been supported by£450,000+ of funding (e.g., nerc, cruk, epsrc/innovate uk, red, and arrow/erdf). she also strongly believes in the interplay and interdependence of academia, government, business and society and hence she is often involved in various consultancies (e.g., harrow council, royal borough of kensington and chelsea council, recoup, global action plan, texas comprehensive cancer control coalition), in line with her research (i.e., effective message construction for behaviour change). danae is section editor for the journal of business ethics (section: marketing ethics; ft50 journal), and associate editor (ae) for business and society and the journal of current issues and research in advertising, while in the past she was ae for the journal of marketing management (2017-21). she is also currently on the editorial review boards of: technological forecasting & social change, and journal of marketing management; with guest editor experience across multiple top journals. danae also has experience as: funding reviewer for cancer research uk (2015-19); and track chair for the academy of marketing science world marketing congress conference in 2023, the transformative consumer research conference in 2021, and the european social marketing association conference in 2016. knowledge-behaviour gap effective message construction for behaviour change information processing & persuasive communication health communication (employee) pro-environmental behaviour technology adoption for behaviour change consumer psychology social marketing advertising
![Professor Danae Manika]()
Professor Danae Manika
Danae Manika (PhD, University of Texas at Austin) is an Honorary Professor at Brunel Business School; and Executive Dean of Alba Graduate Business School at the American College of Greece. In the past, Danae served as Executive Dean of Brunel Business School and as Acting Executive Dean and Deputy Dean of the College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences at Brunel University of London; and as Associate Head of Brunel Business School. Before joining Brunel, she was Professor of Marketing at Newcastle University Business School, where she led its London Campus as Academic Group Head and held the Deputy Director of Research role at Newcastle University Business School. Danae in the past has also held academic positions at Queen Mary University of London, Durham University and the University of Texas at Austin; and is currently Visiting Professor at Newcastle University and Queen Mary University of London. Prior to her academic career, Danae worked as an Account Planning Intern in advertising agencies such as Latinworks in Austin, TX, and DDB in New York. She obtained a Ph.D and a M.A. in Advertising from the University of Texas at Austin, and a B.A. Honours in Marketing from University of Stirling. Danae’s recent research has been published in journals such as Journal of Service Research, Journal of Business Ethics, Tourism Management, Annals of Tourism Research, Psychology and Marketing, European Journal of Marketing, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Journal of Business Research, European Management Review, and International Business Review, amongst others. Using an interdisciplinary approach, Danae’s research focuses on effective message construction for behaviour change within the contexts of health, well-being and the environment. She is involved in various consultancies (e.g., Harrow Council, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council, RECOUP, Global Action Plan, Texas Comprehensive Cancer Control Coalition), and her research has been supported by £450,000+ of funding (e.g., NERC, CRUK, EPSRC/Innovate UK, RED). Danae is Section Editor for the Journal of Business Ethics (section: Marketing Ethics) and an Associate Editor (AE) for Business and Society and the Journal of Current Issues and Research in Advertising, while in the past she was AE for the Journal of Marketing Management (2017-21). She is also currently on the Editorial Review Boards of: Technological Forecasting & Social Change, and Journal of Marketing Management; with guest editor experience across multiple top journals. Danae also has experience as: funding reviewer for Cancer Research UK (2015-19); and track chair for top marketing conferences (AMS WMC 2025 and 2023, TCR 2021). Using an interdisciplinary approach, blending the lines between marketing, advertising and psychology her research aims to answer a fundamental marketing research question: How to diminish the knowledge-behaviour gap? Particularly, her research focuses on effective message construction for behaviour change. It takes an information processing approach, which identifies, classifies and examines cognitive (e.g., knowledge, confidence, trust, values) and affective (e.g., pride, fear, disgust) factors that influence individuals’/consumers’/employees’ decisions and choices after exposure to campaigns/messages/interventions, and translate knowledge acquisition to behaviour change/formation. Her research is theory-based but practically applicable research, and often uses health (e.g., weight control, alcohol consumption, vaccination), well-being and environmental (e.g. energy saving, recycling) social issues as the venue for understanding the knowledge-behaviour gap, with direct implications for persuasive communication and behavioural interventions that motivate health and environmental action. The campaigns/messages/interventions often examined involve digital components (e.g., websites, social media, mobile applications, online tracking tools) and technology adoption behaviours (e.g., adoption and usage of technology-based solutions). Other projects with information technology and effective message construction focus include: social media service failure apologies, online petitions, and online political engagement. Side projects include innovative research methodologies, female-disparaging adverts, and consumer animosity, amongst others. Danae’s recent research has been published in journals such as Journal of Service Research, Journal of Business Ethics, Tourism Management, Annals of Tourism Research, Psychology and Marketing, European Journal of Marketing, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Journal of Business Research, European Management Review, International Business Review, Information Technology and People, Studies in Higher Education, Journal of Marketing Management, Computers in Human Behavior, International Journal of Advertising, Journal of Health Communication, Journal of Marketing Communications, Health Marketing Quarterly, and Multivariate Behavioral Research, amongst others. She often engages in research projects that require collaborations with other disciplines such as medicine, engineering and geography; and her research has been supported by£450,000+ of funding (e.g., NERC, CRUK, EPSRC/Innovate UK, RED, and Arrow/ERDF). She also strongly believes in the interplay and interdependence of academia, government, business and society and hence she is often involved in various consultancies (e.g., Harrow Council, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council, RECOUP, Global Action Plan, Texas Comprehensive Cancer Control Coalition), in line with her research (i.e., effective message construction for behaviour change). Danae is Section Editor for the Journal of Business Ethics (section: Marketing Ethics; FT50 journal), and Associate Editor (AE) for Business and Society and the Journal of Current Issues and Research in Advertising, while in the past she was AE for the Journal of Marketing Management (2017-21). She is also currently on the Editorial Review Boards of: Technological Forecasting & Social Change, and Journal of Marketing Management; with guest editor experience across multiple top journals. Danae also has experience as: funding reviewer for Cancer Research UK (2015-19); and track chair for the Academy of Marketing Science World Marketing Congress Conference in 2023, the Transformative Consumer Research Conference in 2021, and the European Social Marketing Association Conference in 2016. Knowledge-Behaviour Gap Effective Message Construction for Behaviour Change Information Processing & Persuasive Communication Health Communication (Employee) Pro-environmental Behaviour Technology Adoption for Behaviour Change Consumer Psychology Social Marketing Advertising