James Hardy

Director, Head of UK Sustainability

Sustainability is the defining issue for today and the future. It provides an opportunity for every city, community and business across the globe to thrive.

I lead our sustainability consultancy service in the UK. We help clients transform cities, communities and industries by putting social, economic and environmental considerations at the heart of their strategies.

I am dedicated to driving a sustainable future that enables every client to thrive in a zero-carbon economy.

I’m passionate about sustainability having worked in the field for 20 years, previously for the Mayor of London and as a senior strategist for the UK Government.

Our team works across the public and private realm to support and challenge clients on their strategies and implementation – from carbon accounting, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting, and costing net zero through to major, national retrofit scheme delivery.

I am driven by understanding complex environmental problems from all sides and seeking pragmatic solutions – sharing learnings and expertise, so that our industry can address the climate and ecological emergencies, without delay.

Career highlights

Appointed Director, Head of UK Sustainability
2023
Joined Turner & Townsend as Director, Net Zero
2022
Appointed Head of Climate Change & Energy, Greater London Authority
2016
Appointed Head, International Climate Change Strategy, Department of Energy and Climate Change
2012
Appointed Senior Policy Advisor, UK Climate Change Bill, Prime Minister’s Office of Climate Change
2006

Q. What attracted you to join Turner & Townsend?

A. As a former client of Turner & Townsend, I was attracted to the way the organisation worked – highly strategic and very connected to the market, which is incredibly insightful for a client when delivering a project.

Q. Detail any specialist skills or experience for which you are known

A. I’ve been fortunate to have had experience of strategy, policy and delivery at a global, national and local level. Highlights of my career before Turner & Townsend include leading policy development for the Climate Change Act and setting up the UK Government's Climate Change Committee, being in the UK delegation to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and designing major energy programmes for the Mayor of London.

Q. Which project are you most proud of being involved in at Turner & Townsend?

A. I am proud to be associated with the flagship programmes we lead for the UK Government such as the Technical Assistance Facility. This helps social landlords and Local Authorities across England successfully bid into government retrofit programmes (such as Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund and local authority schemes), so they can improve the energy performance of homes, reduce carbon and tackle fuel poverty.

Q. How do you contribute to Turner & Townsend making a difference?

A. I feel privileged to be in a role where I can directly help accelerate the pace of change around decarbonising our economy, while supporting the most vulnerable through home retrofit schemes that create greener, affordable and healthier homes.