Balfour Beatty’s group Sustainability Director, Jo Gilroy, has been appointed to the board of the industry-leading Supply Chain Sustainability School (the “School”).

The Supply Chain Sustainability School seeks to upskill those working within, or aspiring to work within, the built environment sector. 

Gilroy, who has worked at Balfour Beatty since April 2022, was recently elected to govern alongside eight other partner representatives responsible for the fiscal governance and strategic direction of the School, including; Wilmott Dixon, EMCOR UK, Morgan Sindall Group, Speedy Services, VINCI Facilities, Skanska, Laing O'Rourke and National Highways. 

“With the climate change emergency becoming increasingly more urgent, it is integral that the construction and infrastructure industry pulls together in the same direction.,” said Gilroy.

“I am therefore delighted to have been appointed to the board of the Supply Chain Sustainability School, as we continue our mission to upskill and educate our supply chain partners on what it means to be a truly sustainable business and ultimately, change our industry for the better and the future.”  

As group sustainability director at Balfour Beatty, Gilroy provides focused leadership and advances the group’s achievements in this area, whilst bringing her breadth of international experience from SAB Miller in India, IKEA in Sweden, and the mining sector in Australia and New Zealand.

Prior to working at Balfour Beatty, Gilroy was responsible for Kier Group’s strategic direction on ESG and for leading Kier’s sustainability framework, ‘Building for a Sustainable World’. She has also worked closely with government and key customers in the hospitality and retail sectors to address ocean pollution from single use plastics.

In recognition of her work within the corporate sector she was Highly Commended at the 2021 Business Green Sustainability Leaders Awards, and previously won the Business Green Sustainability Executive award in 2017, and the Rising Star award 2016 at the Packaging Industry Awards.  

Shaun McCarthy OBE, chair of Supply Chain Sustainability School, said: “Along with her energy and passion, she will bring significant experience from both within and outside the construction sector and will no doubt provide valuable contributions to drive our vision forward.”

In April 2022, the School was awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development in recognition of the significant environmental, social, and economic benefits it has delivered to its Members and Partners. 

There are currently 155 Balfour Beatty employees who are active members of the Supply Chain Sustainability School.