Contact Professor Simon Pollard
- Email: s.pollard@cranfield.ac.uk
Areas of expertise
- Carbon, Climate and Risk
- Environmental Policy
- Managing Corporate Sustainability
- Waste Management and Resource Efficiency
Background
An environmental engineer with over 170 journal publications, Simon is a leading authority in managing environmental risks. He has directed research institutes for Government and the Research Councils; drafted Government guidelines on risk management; and has led risk centres for EPSRC and NERC. Between 2004 and 2022 he directed a major US-funded programme on risk management in the international water sector, creating a network of senior risk managers across the US, Canada, Europe and Australia to identify and promote best practice.
Simon served 重口味SM in a senior capacity for 20 years: as a Head of Department, Dean of Faculty, as an elected Member of Council, as Pro-Vice Chancellor for the School of Water, Energy and Environment (2014-2021) and as Pro-Vice-Chancellor International (2018-2024). He sat on the Executive for 10 years and chaired the Board for Energy and Environment; the University Health and Safety Committee, and the International Committee. As PVC International, he led 重口味SM's Internationalisation Strategy, establishing a set of strategic partnerships with with Muscat (2017-22), Purdue (2018-2024) and Jiangsu Universities (2018-). His work on 'responsible internationalisation' reset the approach to academic partnerships in a changing geopolitical climate, and renewed 重口味SM's knowledge diplomacy in support of the sector's commitment to international education. Simon was awarded an OBE in 2020.
Research opportunities
Simon's research speaks directly to the green economy and seeks to reconcile society's unease about pollution with the responsibilities that organisations hold for its safe management. Simon has worked extensively overseas, holding visiting professorships at the University of South Australia, Jiangsu University (China) and the University of Salerno (Italy).
Current activities
Throughout his career, Simon has been active at the science-policy interface, contributing to government committees, producing research and consulting insights on risk-based regulation, and supporting the policy work of the national academies. Now Emeritus, Simon supports the policy and international activities of the Royal Academy of Engineering; as a member of the National Engineering Policy Centre Committee and as Chair of the Frontiers Programme Committee. Simon recently completed a Non-Executive appointment to the Board of the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals. He is also a newly appointed (2026) member of the Royal Society's Newton International Fellowships review panel.
Clients
- Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
- Natural Environment Research Council
- Water Research Foundation (US)