12:00 pm - 1:00 pm 24/03/2026
Speakers: Angela Lynch, Entrepreneurial Development Co-ordinator & Laura Middlemass, Sustainability Manager at the University of Sunderland.
In this session, Angela and Laura unpack the design and delivery of SOLVE: The Sustainable Ideas Workshop, a one-day innovation sprint aligned with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14.
With their riverside campus as the backdrop, the challenge centred on how we can all play a part in safeguarding the sustainability of Sunderland’s river and coast.
Bringing together diverse students and graduates and supported by external partners, including Sunderland City Council and Chris Hines of Surfers Against Sewage, participants tackled real-world challenges affecting Sunderland’s river and coastline. The event blended Design Thinking and rapid ideation to build confidence and collaboration.
The session will also share reflections from their Sustainability Manager on how enterprise-led initiatives can exemplify the art of the possible and support education for sustainable development, particularly at a time when students are seeking purposeful, practical ways to make a difference.
Who will benefit from this session?
This session is for enterprise educators, practitioners and sustainability champions who want to collaborate with external partners to design purposeful, high-impact innovation experiences.
If you are looking to create short, energising workshops with a clear sustainability focus – experiences that build creative confidence, spark meaningful collaboration across disciplines, and equip students and graduates with real-world, career-ready skills- this session will offer practical insight, tested approaches and honest reflection to help you do just that.
You’ll hear what worked, what didn’t, and how you might adapt the model in your own institution.
About the speakers:
Angela Lynch:
Angela joined the University of Sunderland in June 2025 as Entrepreneurial Development Coordinator.
Her prior experience includes delivering consultancy on the Innovate UK Digital Launchpad, amongst other economic growth initiatives. A key focus was establishing a new EdTech Cluster for entrepreneurs, bringing together the quadruple helix for mutually beneficial collaborations.
With a previous private sector career background in businesses ranging from PLC through to CIC, Angela has worked in the creative innovation teams of design-led consultancies across the UK, delivering strategy, research, planning and ideas for client brands from varied industry sectors.
Angela is a Chartered Marketer and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM).
A Fellow of the RSA (Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce), she enjoys its positive social change impact on the community and initiatives.
Laura Middlemass:
Laura is the Sustainability Manager at the University of Sunderland. As part of her role, she works with academic leads to develop a framework to embed sustainability in the curriculum across faculties. Our aim is that every student will graduate with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the increasing environmental and social impacts of their chosen careers.
Prior to joining the university, Laura worked as part of the Sustainability Team at Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust, developing and delivering sustainable healthcare projects in partnership with clinical and non-clinical colleagues.