Cardiff Met boosts green credentials with gold award

Cardiff Metropolitan has further boosted its environmental credentials with the institution’s Sustainability Engagement Officer scooping gold at a major industry award.

Madalina Voicu has won the ‘emerging talent’ category at the Association of University Directors of Estates (AUDE) 2026 Awards – underpining Cardiff Met’s continued position as the most sustainable university in Wales and a UK top ten institution in the People & Planet University League 2025/26.

Madalina plays a central role in translating the University’s climate ambitions into everyday action.

Madalina has built the University’s sustainability social media channel into a community of nearly 3,000 Instagram followers, and has delivered events, community days, cycle training and litter picks that have steadily increased student and staff participation.

In 2025, she led Cardiff Met’s external ISO 14001 audit, securing full accreditation with no non-conformities.

Dr David Clubb, Head of Climate Action at Cardiff Metropolitan University, said:

“Madalina is an exceptional colleague who fully deserves this accolade. She has taken our institutional climate ambition and turned it into genuine impact, felt on a daily basis by staff, students and the wider community.

“The energy she brings to our campus programmes speaks to a combination of technical proficiency, human empathy and an understanding of academic need. Cardiff Met is very fortunate to have her on our Climate Action Team.”

The AUDE Awards are the UK higher education sector’s principal recognition programme for estates and facilities.

Its emerging talent award recognises a member of staff working in estates or facilities who is making an exceptional contribution and demonstrating great potential for the future. Gold winners also receive a dedicated contribution towards their personal and professional development.