Jeremy Leggett is a social entrepreneur and writer. He is founder and a director of Solarcentury, one of the world's most respected solar energy companies, winner of a Queen's Award for Enterprise in Innovation. He has been described in the Observer as “Britain’s most respected green energy boss." He is also founder and chair of SolarAid, a charity set up with Solarcentury profits, winner of a BITC Unilever Global Development Award. An Entrepreneur of the Year at the New Energy Awards, he was the first Hillary Laureate for International Leadership in Climate Change. His vision is of a renaissance in civilisation aided or even triggered by renewable energy and its intrinsic social benefits. Leggett has called for a rapid strategic withdrawal from fossil fuels and argues that coal should be left in the ground. He is critical of the lack of reporting by the British mainstream media on the economic imperatives of climate change abatement. He is also known for his support of microgeneration technology in the fight to abate global warming and has spoken in depth about the great dangers of allowing carbon assets to be viewed at zero risk of impairment if promised action on climate change does take place.

Free wine, soft drinks and vegan food will be provided - with a great opportunity for networking after the talk.

Accessibility Access: There are disabled toilets in the Winstanley lecture theatre, and is accessible via lift, with spaces in the lecture theatre for wheelchairs. Induction loops are also installed in the theatre.