I’ve found it weird reading the inevitable deluge of “that was 2011, what will 2012 have in store” articles in the press. The consensus of opinion is that the year just gone was one of the most turbulent in recent times and what will happen in the year to come is likewise extremely hard to predict. The weirdness comes from the disconnect between what I read and what I experienced – 2011 was a brilliant year for myself and Terra Infirma. Here’s just a few of the highlights:

• Launching and delivering the Green Academy on-line training system;
• The publication of my second book, The Green Executive (and getting some great reviews);
• Bringing on board a roster of fabulous new clients including BAE Systems plc, Johnson Matthey plc and the BBC;
• Maintaining our working relationships with long term clients like Business to Business Ltd and the National Industrial Symbiosis Programme (North East);
• Delivering guest lectures at Universities of Newcastle, Durham and Northumbria;
• Through all this, interacting with somewhere in the region of 1500 great individuals from across the UK and indeed around the world. This is the highlight for me as I learn as much from them as they learn from me.

Again unlike the predictions for the world economy, the future of the Eurozone or the Middle East, the year ahead for Terra Infirma seems remarkably stable:

• A number of our projects are continuing into the New Year and we are currently negotiating extensions to them and others – most involve engaging staff in sustainability;
• Kicking off the Green Academy cycle again – note there’s a free introductory session on 25 January – details here;
• I’ll be doing a webinar for my friends at BusinessGreen.com on 16 Jan – details here;
• You’ll get the usual programme of blog posts here and, of course the monthly Low Carbon Agenda Newsletter which you can subscribe to on the right.

So, I hope you’ll come with us in 2012 and together we will leave the world in 2013 a more sustainable place than we found it in 2011!