Speaker Bio

Mike is a leader in sustainable change. One of the pioneers of green business in the corporate world he helped to develop, launch and implement Marks and Spencer’s ground-breaking sustainability programme, Plan A (because there is no Plan B for the one world we have). In ten years, Plan A delivered £750m of net business benefit and over the years won 230 awards.

 During his time at M&S he helped evolve Plan A to become a change management programme designed to make sustainability ‘how M&S did business’. The business achieved zero-waste-to-landfill status, moved to 100% renewable electricity and achieved carbon neutrality across its global estate of stores, offices and warehouses.

He helped the business engage in some of the world’s leading collaboration platforms for sustainability such as the World Economic Forum, the Consumer Goods Forum and Business in the Community. His external leadership ensured that Plan A leadership and learning was leveraged into wider change throughout the global economy, including:

Achievements

• Inaugural winner of the Guardian Sustainable Business Innovator of the year in 2011 after a public vote; 
• Co-chair of the Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) Sustainability Steering Group; 
• Chair of the World Environment Centre; 
• Member of Business in the Community’s Environmental Leadership team; 
• Business Fellow at the Smith Centre Oxford University; 
• Senior Associate Cambridge Institute for Sustainable Leadership
• Ethical Corporation Honouree 2019
• Trustee at Blueprint for Better Business

Landmarks

• October 2019 – present: Director, Mikebarryeco Limited
• September 2013-June 2019: M&S Director of Sustainable Business
• 2007-2013: Head of Sustainable Business, Marks and Spencer plc
• 2005-2007: Head of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Marks and Spencer plc
• 2000-2005: Environmental Systems Manager, Marks and Spencer plc