Dr Paul Toyne is a sustainability strategist and non‑executive leader who helps organisations turn complex challenges into credible, measurable results. With deep international experience across industry, design and construction, he brings the strategic insight, governance expertise and cross‑sector perspective needed to deliver lasting impact.
Paul moderating a conference for Volvo Construction Equipment in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Dr Paul Toyne - Sustainability and climate leader
Dr Paul Toyne is independently recognised as one of the UK’s top sustainability and climate leaders.
Paul has served in influential public appointments, including 14 years as a London Sustainable Development Commissioner, membership of the Green Construction Board and Strategic Forum for Construction. Paul is an experienced board director and non-executive director, serving as a Board Member of the British Aviation Group and non-executive director of Redmond Group Ltd. He has chaired and advised multi-stakeholder groups across government, industry and civil society, helping shape national policy on carbon, energy, circular economy, social value, biodiversity, responsible sourcing and sustainable development.
Today, Paul works with boards, major projects and global organisations to develop credible sustainability strategies, strengthen governance and deliver measurable environmental and social outcomes.
What motivates Paul's work?
“I believe the built environment needs a completley new narrative for sustainability. “Net zero” and “ESG” have become divisive and reductive; they frame sustainability as harm-reduction, when the real task is to design systems – buildings, neighbourhoods, cities – that are restorative, resilient and ultimately regenerative.
I am frustrated how often business still treats sustainability as compliance or risk management, rather than a platform for innovation, value creation and competitive advantage. I am optimistic that regenerative outcomes – better health and wellbeing, material circularity, carbon and energy gains, biodiversity recovery – are all achievable with today’s technology and know-how.
I want to help companies explore what this shift means for them: how they can design products, services and places that give back more than they take, and in doing so create benefits for customers, communities and their own success.”
Paul's story
Paul Toyne has spent his career demonstrating that sustainability is a catalyst for innovation, competitiveness and long-term value. His work has taken him from remote rainforests to global boardrooms, from scientific discovery to corporate strategy, and from environmental campaigning to shaping the future of cities. Across every chapter of his career, Paul has helped organisations challenge “business as usual” and place sustainability at the centre of their commercial purpose.
Paul directed three expeditions to southern Ecuador to study its wildlife and threats to a national park from illegal gold mining.
Paul examining a young goshawk as part of his long term study on the ecology of the species.
During his schooldays Paul was always out in nature. He graduated with a degree in environmental sciences and ecology. His career began as an ecologist, explorer and environmentalist and environmental advocate.. In Ecuador, he led Royal Geographical Society endorsed scientific expeditions that uncovered new species — including a butterfly later named after him Splendeuptychia toynei — and exposed illegal mining that threatened biodiversity and public health. His campaign against the Anglo-Norwegian mining venture resulted in a broadcast documentary, scientific publications and meaningful environmental protection with the mining and associated pollution stopped. Alongside this work, Paul completed a long-term study on the ecology of the goshawk (a bird of prey) in Britain that earned him a PhD from Imperial College London.
At WWF-UK, Paul helped establish over 600,000 hectares of protected forest, supported the creation of the Forest Stewardship Council, and led successful campaigns for tigers, Iberian lynx and other endangered species that changed government policy. He contributed to early climate change research on Arctic migratory birds and Siberian tigers. These studies showed how climatic impacts will influence both the natural world and built environment, and the importance of maintaining resilience.
Preparing plant samples collected for herbariums in Ecuador and overseas including Kew and Missouri Botanical Gardens.
Paul’s entrepreneurial pivot came with the co-founding of Article 13 Ltd, a consultancy specialising in corporate social responsibility and governance. Here he brought scientific insight into the world of business, advising government and bluechip companies including DEFRA, Severn Trent, Royal Mail Group, Masterfoods and Roche. He led new business development, strategic advisory work and the company’s media profile, helping clients navigate emerging expectations around sustainability and corporate responsibility.
In 2007, Paul shifted his focus to the built environment — recognising that cities, buildings and infrastructure are central to resource efficiency and climate resilience. Over the next two decades he held senior leadership roles across planning, architecture, design, engineering, construction and development. At Bovis Lend Lease, he designed an award winning sustainability strategy that delivered major reductions in carbon, waste, material impacts and created social value. At WSP Group, he led global sustainability across operations in America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australia, developing the “Future Cities” service to integrate sustainability throughout the project lifecycle. At Balfour Beatty, he oversaw environmental and sustainability performance across global operations and led a UK team focused on energy management, compliance, social value and operational efficiency. His proudest achievement was creating Involved, a UK wide community investment programme that generated measurable social value and helped win major public sector contracts.
Paul delivering a lecture at the MPavillion design festival in Melbourne discussing regenerative design in the built environment
Presenting the independent assessment of climate actions contained within the masterplan of Baku White City at COP 29 in Baku, Azerbaijan
Most recently, as Practice Leader for Sustainable and Regenerative Design at Grimshaw, Paul established the firm’s first global sustainability strategy, embedding net zero and regenerative design across its international portfolio. He led the development of Minoro.org — an award-winning global decarbonisation platform — and advised on major aviation and regeneration projects including Baku White City.
Paul’s commitment to collaboration and governance runs throughout his career. He chaired the Strategic Forum for Construction’s (pan government and industry) carbon group, served as deputy chair of its waste group, and has been a longstanding member of the UK Government’s Green Construction Board infrastructure working group. He contributed to the development of PAS2080 (infrastructure carbon management) and PAS2070 (city -level consumption based emissions). As Chair of Constructing Excellence’s sustainability forum, he convened its membership to address emerging themes such as digital construction and the circular economy.
Hosting the Construction Climate Challenge which showcased innovation in infrastructure construction projects
Paul was appointed as an independent chair to a meeting and wider conference that the client wanted to participate in but not lead.
Between 2010 and 2024, Paul served as a London Sustainable Development Commissioner, appointed by the Mayor of London. His work shaped London’s approach to carbon measurement, circular economy, access to nature, and sustainable urban regeneration. He chaired the Quality of Life workstream, overseeing two landmark reports and leading London’s globally recognised reporting against the UN Sustainable Development Goals. He also contributed to revisions of the London Plan and served as a Policy Commissioner for Birmingham University’s Urban Futures Commission.
Today, Paul brings this breadth of experience — scientific, entrepreneurial, corporate and civic — to organisations seeking to lead rather than follow. He helps businesses navigate risk, build the right partnerships, and unlock commercial opportunities through sustainabilitydriven innovation. His career demonstrates that when environmental insight meets strategic governance, organisations don’t just become more responsible — they become more successful.
Strategic capabilities that drive responsible growth
Discover how Dr Paul Toyne strengthens your organisation’s performance and credibility – whether as a non-executive director, a trusted advisor on operations and governance or a skilled facilitator who brings stakeholders together to drive alignment and action. His work helps leaders deliver responsible growth, reduce risk and future-proof their business.
Non-Executive Director
Advisory
Charing & Lectures
Paul has worked for:
- Balfour Beatty
- LendLease
- WSP
- WWF-UK
Paul has chaired conferences and private meetings for:
- Ecobuild/FutureBuild
- Volvo Group
- Anglian Water
- Wilmott Dixon
- Cory Riverside Energy
- BRE
- London Borough of Bexley
- Cygnus Homes
- Insulation Manufacturer’s Association
- Peabody
- TEPFFA
- Children’s Intenational Fund Foundation
- Skanska
Paul has advised:
- Amey
- Anglian Water plc
- Atkins (now Atkinsrealis Group)
- Barratt Development plc
- Children Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF ngo)
- Cory Riverside Energy
- Severn Trent plc
- Volvo Construction Equipment
Paul has chaired working groups and committee's for:
- British Aviation Group
- Cares
- Constructing Excellence,
- Strategic Forum for Construction
Paul has been a board member/director/Trustee of the following organisations:
- Article 13
- BeOnsite (not for profit)
- Balfour Beatty Foundation – Building Better Futures
- British Aviation Group (elected)
- Redmond Group Ltd
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A Proven Leader in Sustainability Solutions
