Over the last 20 years, International Synergies Limited (ISL) has helped its network of companies avoid nearly 50 million tonnes of CO2 and realise £3 billion in economic value through the circular economy approach of industrial symbiosis.  Founded and led by Peter Laybourn, ISL has delivered positive impact across the globe with projects in 50 countries and developed world-leading resource matching software SYNERGie® hosting over 100,000 resources for reuse from over 34,000 organisations in 30 countries.

As industrial symbiosis gains traction globally as an effective way to address climate change and raw material depletion, the ISL Board, led by Peter Laybourn, is delighted to promote two experienced ISL staff to key leadership positions:

Effective January 2023, Business Development Director Dr Rachel Lombardi has become Chief Executive Officer and Operations Director Ian Humphreys has an expanded role as Chief Operating Officer.  This exciting development is the first step toward the new dynamic C-Suite at ISL.

Between them, Ian and Rachel have over 30 years’ experience with the company.  In her previous role, Rachel led ISL’s diversification to balance public and private sector work, while continuing to share ISL’s expertise globally through projects with, for example, World Bank Group, United Nations and the European Commission.  In terms of ISL’s future Rachel comments “increasingly industrial symbiosis is seen as a tool to deliver carbon and cost savings in the short-term and demand led innovation in the medium term, bringing ISL exciting opportunities to help our public and private sector clients meet their targets around Net Zero and SDGs.”

Ian joined ISL in 2007 as an experienced operations manager. His technical and operational expertise has been critical to ISL’s ability to deliver all ISL’s projects.  Ian looks forward to “continuing the excellent working relationship with clients and the whole of the ISL team, seeking their views and input at all stages in this exciting journey.”

These appointments come at a time when ISL is both marking the 21^st anniversary of the birth of the National Industrial Symbiosis Programme (NISP®) and working in its 50^th country.  This experienced team will continue to drive the company to further growth around the core offerings of industrial symbiosis delivery, resource efficiency software (SYNERGie® and derivatives), training and capacity building, regional economic development, and consultancy to assist clients on the journey to net zero/zero waste.

Peter moves from Chief Executive/Executive Chair to Chair of the Board of Directors. Reflecting on the past twenty years, Peter comments “there have been so many highlights including NISP®, 3GF, G7, RIO+20, WCEF and Downing Street visits, but most gratifying of all has been the verified impacts we have achieved working with forward thinking companies from corporates to SMEs to start-ups to solution providers.  There is so much more to do and ISL are still, only scratching at the surface of the possibilities.  Industrial symbiosis is needed more than ever, and I have every confidence that Rachel and Ian will, through their leadership of ISL, deliver even more positive impact for industry, environment and society.