Priya Saikumar

My DPhil research explores the implementation of circular economy strategies for e-waste management, concentrating on how these strategies can promote resource sufficiency and a just transition, particularly through interventions that shift the focus from recycling to more upstream circular economy strategies.

Priya is an Industrial Engineer with a robust career spanning over a decade before her transition to academia to pursue her DPhil. She has demonstrated expertise in managing substantial project portfolios and her experience encompasses a thorough impact evaluation of projects, along with a keen assessment of the interdependencies between various industrial pathways to net-zero, including decarbonization, circular economy, and offsetting strategies.

Before embarking on her DPhil journey, she completed an MBA at the University of Cambridge, specializing in Energy and Environment.

Over the past four years, she has been deeply involved in GHG emission mapping, double materiality reporting, and compliance with frameworks such as CDP, SBTi, and CSRD-ESRS, including adapting to the newly implemented CBAM requirements for industries.

In addition to her technical skills, she is also an agile and design thinking coach and frequently employs these methodologies to facilitate cross-functional collaboration within organizations to select and map initiatives that meet the triple bottom line through innovative sustainability practices.