Professor Marcelle McManus has been recognised as one of the UK’s most influential leaders in the journey to net zero, after being named public choice winner and one of the top five academics in the 2025 Digital Leaders and Green Business Journal Net Zero Awards.

Earlier this year Marcelle was nominated and longlisted for the national awards, reaching the top 100 in October. On Friday she joined nominees from across the country at a celebration event in the House of Lords, where the final NetZero50 were announced.

While Greg Jackson of Octopus Energy won the overall prize, Marcelle secured a place in the top 50, recognised as one of the top five academics and won the public vote. The recognition highlights Marcelle’s commitment to driving practical, evidence-based change through education and research.

At the University of Bath she teaches and mentors future sustainability leaders in the Faculty of Engineering and Design and through the Centre for Doctoral Training in Green Industrial Futures.

Her research leadership spans the Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems, the Bath Institute for Sustainability and Climate Change, the Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre and the Made Smarter Innovation Centre for People-Led Net Zero.

Through these programmes Marcelle and her Bath colleagues provide independent evidence and practical insight into low-carbon technologies, resource efficiency, hydrogen infrastructure, circular-economy materials and the real-world impact of decarbonisation across homes, industry and transport.

Reflecting on the award, Marcelle said: "I was so honoured to be longlisted for the Digital Leaders Net Zero awards and be invited to the House of Lords to celebrate on Friday. I never expected to make it to the NetZero50, so to not only do this, but to make it to the top five academics and win the popular vote was thrilling!

“It was amazing to meet the other people longlisted and to hear about all the inspirational work they are doing in the net zero space. Celebrating this type of work is critically important at this time - we need action and I’m hopeful that bringing us all together will make connections and spark new opportunities for even bigger impact. Thanks to Digital Leaders, Green Business Journal and CGI for making it happen."

Professor Tim Ibell, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Design, added his congratulations: "Professor Marcelle McManus continues to sparkle in her global leadership of all aspects related to our achievement of Net Zero. This latest award for Marcelle reflects just how much respect her co-leaders in UK Net Zero have for her research, influence and insights.

"To receive the popular vote in such an important, high-profile event is simply extraordinary! My sincerest congratulations to Marcelle for her exceptional leadership, and for continually offering the rest of us the warm glow of reflected success."