Panel discussion on careers in sustainability

Offshore wind turbines are pictured rising out of a blue ocean. The sky is clear blue and the turbines can be seen disappearing into the horizon.

Panel discussion on careers in sustainability

On 16 November a panel of sustainability professionals took to the stage at Weston Hall to discuss careers in sustainability.

18 November 2022

The event, which included networking sessions and the chance for questions from the audience, was organised in conjunction with the Institute for Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (ICRS) and compered by Managing Director of the Plutus Consulting Group, John Martin.

A row of blue solar panels are pictured on a green field and can be seen disappearing into the distance. The sky is clear blue.

The panel was made up of Simone Wyatt, Sustainability Manager at insurance specialists Aviva, Mari Aanesan, ESG Associate at CBRE Investment Management, Madelyn Postman, Director of Grain Sustainability, Lydia Parnell, Director of Corporate Responsibility at Turner and Townsend, alongside UWL Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Anthony Woodman. They began by discussing what led them into careers in sustainability.

For Simone, sustainability was something she discovered as part of the graduate training programme.

The social orientation was something I really enjoyed,” she explained. “I was really energised by it and knew it was something I wanted to do.”

Discussing the qualifications required, the panelists’ clear message was that candidates should not be concerned about specific qualifications. A broad range of skills are applicable such as law, science, engineering, communications and writing – and indeed every degree course has elements of sustainability included.

Volunteering is a useful way to understand the sector, and how your skills could be applied. Mari explained that for her, it was about bringing together her love of data analysis and desire to do good in the world.

I am passionate about seeing what the data I look at tells the decision makers,” she explained.

A row of wind turbines are placed over a hilly landscape. A larger mountain is visible in the distance. There are white fluffy clouds in the sky.

Looking to the future, sustainability as an area is only set to grow, with companies increasingly committed to it. According to a survey by Bupa, Generation Z is extremely vocal about its commitment to the planet, with one in three young people saying that they would turn down a job and 54% would be willing to take a pay cut because of environmental, social and corporate governance concerns.

Professor Anthony Woodman, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of UWL, said:

The future workforce wants to pursue roles they believe in. Increasingly there are more and more roles in sustainability, and it is becoming something that’s expected of every company – like HR and finance."

Candidates should take advantage of opportunities to get an understanding of sustainability – through volunteering or free courses and not necessarily worry about a formal career path. Maintain the best gift of all: flexibility, it is crucial to embrace that,” he concluded.

Go to the ICRS’ Aspire Hub to find out more about careers in sustainability.

Find out more about sustainability at UWL.