EcoLens Education was conceived and originally developed by Jade Blue, informed by extensive research and professional practice in visual communication, pedagogy, and the use of visuals in life skills education. In 2025, Colm Downes joined as co-founder, bringing expertise in climate education, policy, and teacher professional development, and contributing to the development of the organisation’s model and resources. Together, they lead the ongoing development and delivery of the organisation.
Jade Blue
Co-Founder
Jade is an international educational consultant and researcher specialising in visual literacy and integrating life skills into classroom practice. She has collaborated with major ELT publishers — leading the visual literacy strand in National Geographic Learning's Life Third Edition and developing the Cambridge Sustainability Framework for ELT with Cambridge University Press. As Co-founder of EcoLens Education, she focuses on strengthening the role of visual literacy in climate education and supporting educators, publishers, and institutions to develop more ethical, inclusive, and effective approaches to climate communication.
Colm Downes
Co-Founder
Colm is an international educational consultant specialising in climate education, teacher professional development, and intercultural skills development. He previously led Climate Action in Language Education at the British Council, where he developed global initiatives integrating climate and sustainability into curriculum, materials, and teacher development. As Co-founder of EcoLens Education, he focuses on strengthening the role of visual literacy in climate education and supporting educators, publishers, and institutions to develop more ethical, inclusive, and effective approaches to climate communication.
Acknowledgements
The EcoLens Education Guidance Model and Toolkit have been developed through interdisciplinary research, practitioner input, and expert consultation. We are grateful to all those who have shared feedback, ideas and perspectives throughout the development process, both through formal review and informal discussion. Their input has helped to strengthen and refine the work.
Zed Anwar, Senior AI Creative, Zedtrafficker
Kieran Donaghy, Director of Pedagogy of Film English and the School for Training
Stephen Farren, Educator & Green Action ELT (GAELT) steering committee member
Maria Alejandra Fumaroni, English Language Teacher
Phil Hazell, Portfolio Director, Executive Education, Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
Christopher Graham, ELT and Sustainability Education Consultant
Christina Kwauk, Co-Founder, Unbounded Alliance
Mina Ciobanu-Alrufei, English language teacher & EdTech Specialist
Jasmin Silver, Educational Consultant and Researcher
Arran Stibbe, Professor of Narrative Ecology, University of Gloucestershire
Anna Witcher, Owner / Creative Director, ELT ImageMakers