For What Matters Lecture

Intelligent Activism: to drive real change you need multi-faceted campaigning

Chris Hines MBE
Co-Founder of Surfers Against Sewage

With over 35 years of working in the environmental sector Chris Hines will share his experiences of the challenges of driving positive change. As a Co-Founder and then lead for Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) from 1990 to 2000, he used a variety of tactics and tools to help secure a £5.5 billion clean-up of the UK coastline. From the easy first step of protest, SAS then worked through the law, science, engineering, shareholder action, medical surveys, media and politics.

SAS were Regarded as “some of the Government’s most sophisticated environmental critics” by the BBC and “Britain’s coolest pressure group” by The Independent newspaper. Chris was called to give oral evidence to House of Commons and Lords Select Committees, the Monopolies and Mergers Commission and even briefed the President of the European Parliament.

The talk will look at how we can use some of the lessons learnt to meet the biggest challenges facing us and hopefully inspire positive change in a world where we can live in harmony with the planet and all living beings on it.

Part of our For What Matters public lecture series. Guest speakers and our academic community are invited to talk about what matters to them, share knowledge and insight, spark conversations which address current critical issues and global challenges, and promote positive social impact.

Admission is free but booking is essential.