About the editor of 'The Renewable Way'

Some biographical notes

 

Paul Newman (pictured left) was born in London in 1946 and has also lived in Northumberland, South Wales and Kent but his home (since 1973) is Staffordshire.

 

He has been developing an awareness of the way people deplete global resources (and the potential consequences of our activities such as hunger and climate change) since the 1960s and as a result been concerned about how economics and society can be developed more sustainably. His interest and knowledge was consolidated as a result of working for the UK Government's Energy Efficiency Office from 1985-91 and this eventually led to studying for and being awarded the degree of Master of Arts in Sustainable Development by Staffordshire University in 2001.

 

His other academic qualifications include a BSc in Sociology and a post-graduate Diploma in Management Studies (both gained in the 1970s). His main voluntary commitment is as a Director of the Community Council of Staffordshire, a county based charity which provides support for a wide range of community organisations and activities under the broad headings ‘sustainable development’ and ‘social cohesion’. He formed an association with the Community Council of Staffordshire as a result of working on its Rural Sustainability Project, spreading the message of sustainable development to communities across Staffordshire, and worked on a consultancy basis with Staffordshire University, Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Stafford Borough to encourage businesses to look at the market for renewable energy. He devised the further education course 'Living with Climate Change', accredited by Open College Network North West Midlands for whom he has moderated an innovative programme 'Working with Waste', which was created by HMP Stafford.

 

As a serial volunteer, he has in the past been a Trustee of Hanchurch Village Hall, a member of the Management Team of the Chartered Management Institute's Staffordshire Branch, served as Chair of Sustainable Staffordshire for four years, had three terms (a total of twelve years) as a member of Swynnerton Parish Council (including being its Vice-Chair and Chair of the Planning sub-Committee), which resulted in serving on the Governing Body of Staffordshire Parish Council Association, the Executive of Stafford Borough Council’s Strategic Partnership and being a member of Staffordshire’s Local Strategic Partnership, in particular taking part in discussions within the Sustainable Development Thematic Group to help create the Local Area Agreement.

 

However, currently he and his wife are enjoying the opportunities of retirement, including being ‘Grandpa’ to both his grandchildren and growing vegetables.