From Waste to Resource Conference
Pay-what-you-can (£5 contribution towards lunch)
The conference will conclude with a late-night opening of the biennial.
About From Waste to Resource Conference
Join us for a dynamic conversation at the intersection of creativity, science, and sustainability. From Waste to Resource is a conference dedicated to uncovering the transformative potential of construction clay spoil – from industrial by-product to material of possibility.
This one-day event will present the research findings of British Ceramic Biennial (BCB) and Clay Researcher Claire Baily’s 19-month research initiative.
It brings together pioneering insights from across architecture, ceramics, environmental studies, and the arts to explore how waste clay can be creatively and responsibly reused.
The event will include presentations, panel discussions and keynote speeches covering topics such as policy, practice, and innovation. It will conclude with an after-hours opening of the biennial – an opportunity to experience material-led creativity in action.
Meet some of our keynote speakers and guest speakers below.
Click here to download the From Waste to Resource Conference Schedule
Keynote Speakers:
- Claire Baily – Researcher, British Ceramics Biennial
- Caroline Till – Executive Director and Co-Founder, Franklin Till
Policy & Planning:
- John Quinton – Professor of Soil Science, Lancaster University
Re-use Networks:
- Sara Howard – Circular Ceramics Designer, Sarah Howard Studio/Golden Earth Studio
- Freya Bruce – Co-Founder, Recollective
- Victor Pedrosa – Co-Founder, Rescued Clay
- Bahbak Hashemi – Nezhad – Designer
- Rafael El Baz – Designer
- Chaired by Sarah King – Founder, Earthli Projects
Practice:
- Emaad Damda – Associate Architect, Tuckey Design Studio
- Ben Bosence – Director, Local Work Studio
- Rowland Keeble – CEO, Earth Building UK and Ireland
- Chaired by Joe Jack Williams – Sustainability Specialist
Innovation:
- Apostolos Tsoumelekas – Materials Engineering Manager, SCS Railways
- Ken de Cooman – Co-Founder & Director, BC Materials
About British Ceramics Biennial (BCB)
British Ceramics Biennial (BCB) is an arts organisation that fosters innovative ceramics practice and improves lives together with artists and creative communities. We deliver year-round programmes responding to Stoke-on-Trent’s health, education and creative needs, and we feed these into the Biennial – the UK’s largest contemporary ceramics event.
- 2 Oct 2025 at 9:30am Sold out
Conference Speakers
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Claire Baily
Clay Researcher
Keynote Speaker Read more -
Caroline Till
Executive Director and Co-Founder, Franklin Till
Keynote Speaker Read more -
John Quinton
Professor of Soil Science at Lancaster University
Guest Speaker Read more -
Freya Bruce
Co-Founder of RecCollective
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Sara Howard
Circular Ceramic Designer at Sara Howard Studio / Golden Earth Studio
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Victor Pedrosa
Co-Founder of Rescued Clay
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Sarah King
Design Researcher, Earthli Projects
Guest Speaker Read more -
Bahbak Hashemi-Nezhad
Designer
Artist Read more -
Rafael El Baz
Designer
Artist Read more -
Emaad Damda
Associate Architect at Tuckey Design Studio
Guest Speaker Read more -
Ben Bosence
Director, Local Works Studio
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Rowland Keable
CEO Earth Building UK and Ireland
Guest Speaker Read more -
Joe Jack Williams
Head of Regenerative Strategy, Bywater
Guest Speaker Read more -
Apostolos Tsoumelekas
Materials Engineering Manager, Skanska Costain STRABAG joint venture
Guest Speaker Read more -
Ken De Cooman
Co-founder and Director BC Materials
Guest Speaker Read more
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Caroline Till
Executive Director and Co-Founder, Franklin Till
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Victor Pedrosa
Co-Founder of Rescued Clay
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Joe Jack Williams
Head of Regenerative Strategy, Bywater
Guest Speaker Read more -
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Ken De Cooman
Co-founder and Director BC Materials
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Associate Architect at Tuckey Design Studio
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