Dr Anne Velenturf is a Research Impact Fellow in Circular Economy at the University of Leeds and Managing Director of the consultancy 4Innovation. She works on the interface of academic research and practice, using her expertise in participation process management, knowledge exchange and impact delivery for challenge-led research that supports the implementation of a sustainable circular economy.
Anne has led the £7M Resource Recovery from Waste programme funded by the Natural Environment Research Council, the Economic and Social Research Council and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. She also delivered projects on market research, business model innovation, regional and national circular economy implementation, and various projects to create a policy environment that is more amenable to a sustainable circular economy. She has a growing research track record in the application of circular economy principles to the design, operation and end-of-use management of energy infrastructure.
Being involved in implementing circular economy practices has revealed significant gaps in the theoretical foundations of circular economy and its capability to contribute to sustainable development. Anne has published in a variety of media on this subject and is a regularly invited speaker, with a reputation for challenging comments and questions that spark fundamental debates.