Meet the team
With previous careers addressing supply chain issues across a whole number of sectors for retailers and manufacturers, leading research teams and working at the strategic level of environmental NGO’s both Charles and Lisa, the founders of Newleaf, developed two fundamental beliefs.
One, if products and supply chains are designed with responsibility and sustainability in mind this will address many of the global environmental and social issues we have today. Two, that businesses have a huge opportunity to restore natural and social capital and in doing so will ensure their own longevity as well as pass on a rich inheritance to future generations.
With these beliefs, it was natural that we wanted to help. Newleaf was founded to offer our experience, knowledge and support to businesses, NGO's, government and trade bodies that want to address the issues in their products and supply chains.
Charles DreweDirector
Charles DreweCharles leads on our specialist product and supply chain services.
Charles has 15 years direct experience of responsible sourcing and CSR with some of the UK's leading brands. During this time he has inspired a beyond compliance ethos in the ethical management of complex supply chains; converted product ranges to reduce impacts; and quantified organisational reductions in environmental impacts of their products. He inspired and led the Eden Project-Homebase 21st century Living Project to understand the challenges and opportunities of sustainable living.
During his career he has made significant contributions to the sustainability community through active membership of industry working groups e.g. WWF's GFTN UK Advisory Group; BRC's ethical supply chains; Business Trading Ethically's stone and aggregate; Defra's peat and HTA's Growing Media Initiative.
At Newleaf, Charles works with retailers, suppliers, trade associations, government departments and NGO's to help them identify and tackle the challenges in global supply chains. He sees opportunities for collaboration, innovation and business profit in reducing environmental and ethical impacts through his role as a trusted advisor to his clients.
Charles is the technical author of the WWF-sponsored PAS 2021: A Guide to Meeting the EU Timber Regulation. He has developed and launched a product traceability and supply chain transparency platform, which is currently the corporate memory of sustainability credentials for over 30,000 products and 300 suppliers. His work has enabled large retailers to enhance their GRI environmental reporting; created a step change in sustainability data gathering/verification processes from suppliers; facilitated procurement teams to manage their supply base using non-financial measures; and changed the conversations of CSR professionals.
Lisa DreweDirector
Lisa DreweLisa's career began as a scientist researching toxins in the environment, what makes pollinators tick, the good, the bad and the ugly of pesticides and the wonders of DNA. She moved in to the policy and strategy world where she held senior positions in the MoD and the FCO developing future technology and organisational strategies.
In 2006 she followed her passion for the environment and joined the National Trust to lead the development and implementation of its first national strategy. She went on to lead their Business Sustainability function and led several high profile change programmes putting peat bogs on the balance sheet, embedding a triple bottom line tool in to all decision making processes and leading the national procurement team towards more sustainable procurement.
At Newleaf Lisa leads our work on strategy and change management programmes for business and our own 'Giving Back' programme.
Lisa is a member of the Cambridge Programme for Sustainable Leadership alumni, the Society of Biology, the British Ecology Society and the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment. She is a Trustee for the Jurassic Coast Trust.
Tim BarkerProject Manager
Tim BarkerWith a background in the paper industry, Tim has over ten years' experience of dealing with sustainability issues. He was responsible for the sustainable supply chain programme of a global paper merchant group, which helped to increase the efficiency of supplier assessments, reduce business risk and enhance corporate reputation. Tim has also managed environmental management and chain of custody certification systems and advised numerous businesses, large and small, helping them to make progress against their sustainability goals. He has led stakeholder engagement initiatives and helped to integrate sustainability into marketing strategy and communications.
At Newleaf, Tim acts as project manager, providing support and expertise to help ensure that our clients' requirements are fulfilled.
Tim is an associate member of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) and holds a professional diploma in marketing.
Gaynor RenwickTraining and Development
Gaynor RenwickGaynor specialises in helping trainers design practical training solutions for their proposed training programmes to be delivered in-house.
She enjoys helping individuals and groups to develop their training style and their confidence in delivery through a range of approaches, believing that any concept can (and should) be presented in an engaging and memorable manner.
Gaynor's background is in teaching, as well as in training and development of both courses and trainers in a range of companies as well as Newleaf, including British Airways, Rank Group, TTi Global and the National Trust.
Helen SessionsProject Manager
Helen SessionsHelen works at Newleaf Practice as a project manager.
Helen has over 13 years experience in the retail sector including retail management and buying a variety of product areas within horticulture, garden and home departments.
Kirstie DiveCommunications
Kirstie DiveKirstie has twenty years' experience working in communications-related roles in the private, public and third sectors. As former Head of Corporate Communications for the Environment Agency and Head of Internal Communications for the National Trust, she has a strong understanding of environmental issues and how effective communications can change behaviour.
She is practiced at developing communication strategies to meet the needs of a variety of external and internal audiences. Having started out in book and multimedia publishing, she has excellent copywriting and editing skills and can draw on a network of freelancers and creative agencies to get things done quickly and to the highest standards.
