The FIA Institute has appointed environmental expert Even Wiger as its new Director of Sustainability.
Even has extensive experience in developing sustainable motor sport programmes and dealing with environmental challenges in rallying and racing.
Richard Woods, FIA Institute Director General, said: “I am delighted to welcome Even to the Institute and look forward to rapid progress for our sustainability projects under his management. It’s rare to find someone who shares such an in depth management knowledge and experience of motor sport as well as environmental issues.”
In recent years, as Managing Director of Rally Norway, Even has helped achieve the highest environmental standards for the event. He implemented a number of environmental initiatives to turn it into a completely carbon neutral rally and achieved environmental certification, based on rigorously established standards. Following this, the Rally was selected alongside other major sports events to join the UN’s Climate Neutral Network, an initiative led by the United Nations Environment Programme to promote global action and involvement towards low-carbon economies and societies.
In addition to this work, Even led the Environment Division of Norwegian ASN Norges Bilsportforbund and has had responsibility for all environmental, political and strategic work within every branch of motor sport in Norway. Even has also worked as an environment and climate consultant for Norway’s leading race circuit Vålerbanen and conducted consultancy work for the Norwegian Sports Association, the country’s official sports organisation and governing body.
Away from sport, Even has worked as a managing director in the steel industry, tasked with implementing ISO 14001 environmental certification programmes in the sector. More recently he has worked as an environmental consultant for Hedmark county and seven district councils in the region. The role involved dialogue with energy companies, car importers, politicians, environmental protection organisations and development communities dealing with renewable energy and other modern technologies. Over the last two years Even has been involved in the Norwegian Zero-rally, one of the world’s largest events using ‘zero-emission’ vehicles (hydrogen and electric power), which are run over an 800km course from Oslo to Stavanger.
Even will build on the work done by Gus Glover who was formerly responsible for the Institute’s Sustainability Programme. Following Even’s appointment, Gus has been promoted to a new position as the Institute’s Director of Policy. The new role will utilise Gus’s extensive background in the field of policy development and communication.
A graduate of the London School of Economics, Gus started his career in Brussels occupying a range of EU Public Policy positions both within the European Institutions and for external public affairs organisations. In 2006 he joined the FIA European Bureau focusing on road safety and environmental policy issues. Gus then moved to Paris to take on the role of Communications and Policy Manager, where amongst a number of achievements he developed and coordinated the FIA’s highly successful global environmental campaign Make Cars Green. Gus was also the Secretary of the FIA’s Environmentally Sustainable Motor Sport Commission which was tasked with the development of FIA policy for sustainable motor sport under the Chairmanship of Peter Wright.
In 2010 Gus took on the full time Institute role of Head of Sustainability, founding the Institute’s Sustainability Programme. In his new role Glover will be responsible for the FIA Institute’s policy strategy across all its programmes.
Richard Woods, FIA Institute Director General, said, “Since his recruitment to the FIA in 2006 Gus has demonstrated an impressive range of policy management skills. Gus joining the Institute in a full time capacity has immensely strengthened our management team for the future and he more than deserves the promotion to this new strategic role.”
