Dr Chris Coggins PGCE PhD FCIWM FRGS FRSA (b.1947) was lecturer and senior lecturer in Geography, then Reader in Waste Management at Luton College of Higher Education/University of Luton from 1972 to 1997. From 1993, he was also Director of the institution’s Centre for Waste Management.

Mr Barry Dennis (b. 1946) worked in the Deards waste management group from 1964, and progressed to the board of the company. He is former Director General of the Environmental Services Association (retired 2014), and is a Trustee/Director, and past President of the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management.

Professor Judith Petts CBE PhD AcSS FRGS FRSA (b. 1954) graduated in Geography from Exeter University in 1975. After a few years in business she became a research fellow in the Institute for Planning Studies, University of Nottingham and then in the Department of Chemical Engineering, Loughborough University on a project on major hazard control. In 1987 she moved into the Centre for Extension Studies taking over a series of post experience short courses, and developing the first postgraduate part-time course, in hazardous waste management.

Mr Ernie Sharp (1921–2015) worked as a dustman in Lewisham Borough Council from 1947 until 1965 when he became Junior Area Manager of the Rivers and Refuse Disposal division in the Greater London Council’s (GLC) Public Health Engineering Department.