About us

Our Executive
 
Ian Short  

 

Ian Short is Chief Executive of the Institute for Sustainability and holds overall responsibility for the organisation's strategic direction and operation.

Ian previously work at the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation (LTGDC), the lead regeneration agency for east London, which he joined in early 2005 soon after the organisation was established. As Deputy Chief Executive, his initial focus was setting up the entity's corporate infrastructure and securing future funding from government. During his time at the LTGDC he also led development of the Institute for Sustainability from original concept through to fully operational charitable organisation in just over two years. He became a Founding Trustee of the Institute in March 2009 and resigned in February 2010 to take up his role as Chief Executive.

Before the LTGDC, Ian worked at Lehman Brothers for ten years where he held a number of roles with focus on running project teams and managing the corporate functions of the Operations division. When he left he was a senior vice president with responsibility for global project management and the corporate functions for a division of 1,400 people. While based in London, Ian was also actively involved in setting up and running a number of community based schemes in east London. 
Ed Metcalfe

 

Ed Metcalfe is the Institute's Director for Research and Business Development and is responsible for developing the overall research strategy and implementation plans.  This includes a research programme to inform and learn from large-scale retrofit demonstrator projects in urban, peri-urban and rural areas.

Ed works closely with businesses, networks and universities to stimulate new innovations and ways of working as well as setting up processes to ensure that key knowledge and learning is captured in a systematic, user friendly way.  In his former role as Trustee, Ed utilised these relationships to help develop the business case and support for the establishment of the Institute.

Ed was at South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) from 2002 to 2009 where he was the Chief Scientific Advisor.  His key area of responsibility centred on working with universities and businesses to boost high tech skills and innovation in the region, stimulating economic development and regeneration.  Before joining SEEDA, Ed was Head of the Department of Chemical and Life Sciences and Professor of Materials Chemistry at the University of Greenwich.

His key achievements included the negotiation of a successful £180m commitment by the Regional Development Agencies to form a strategic partnership for innovation with the Technology Strategy Board, and leading a regional task force to develop the business case to invest in space based research and innovation.  The £40m Harwell International Space Innovation Campus was created as a result of this work.

 

 Stella Okeahialam

Stella Okeahialam MBE is Programme Director at the Institute and is responsible for the quality and execution of the Institute’s programmes, ensuring robust risk reporting and effective programme governance.  Stella also leads on Resource Efficient Buildings projects and works closely with stakeholders and partners to ensure that the Institute’s activities provide added value.

Prior to joining the Institute, Stella worked at the London Development Agency (LDA) as the Head of Skills and Employment, pulling together a portfolio of projects and programmes that respond to the challenges of London’s labour market, creating sustainable employment for Londoners.

Before the LDA, Stella was the Programme Director for Croydon Enterprise - a £77 million initiative to develop and encourage a new enterprise culture in Croydon through working in schools, the community, local businesses, voluntary and public sector organisations.

Stella was awarded an MBE in 2010 for her services to business and enterprise.

She has previous experience in delivering various strategic programmes in economic development, regeneration and community renewal.  Stella's private sector experience includes the banking and private healthcare sectors.