Perth, Scotland, United Kingdom
As a waste management professional of 17 years’, I have gained experience across waste strategy and policy; service design and transformation projects; capital build programs; operational oversight; public procurement and contract management. As a committed waste and resources manager I have acquired immersive experience in public sector governance; pro-active engagement with government and delivery partners on emerging policy and legislation; delivering frontline services; sourcing and planning externally funded investment programs; and managing large service budgets. Over my career, I have managed both small and large strategic and operational teams, alongside a portfolio of critical infrastructure and assets. I have gained in-depth experience of managing highly effective relationships with regulators, policy makers, elected members, trade unions and senior leadership teams. Through strategic market engagement, detailed business cases and modern contract execution, I have led on delivering multi-year savings.
As the Engagement Manager at Wastebusters, I am passionate about leading a small team to drive behavioral change and championing the circular economy in the Queenstown Lakes District. My focus is on connecting the Wānaka community to a zero-waste future by translating complex sustainability and resource recovery concepts into engaging, actionable initiatives. In my day-to-day role, I lead impactful educational programs and campaigns that promote low waste living and waste minimisation best practices. Within my role, I also build and maintain strategic partnerships and contracts with local government, businesses, schools, and community groups to align our sustainability goals and amplify the Wastebuster's vision and mission. Through designing and executing multi-channel communication campaigns and organising community events like repair cafes and activity based workshops, I work to foster a strong sense of shared environmental responsibility. Additionally, I coordinate with our internal teams to ensure that our on-the-ground waste recovery operations align seamlessly with our public-facing engagement strategies. Whether I am collaborating with local stakeholders, directing communications, managing key contracts, or leading outreach, my ultimate goal is to empower our team and community to rethink waste and lead the way to zero waste at a national level.
Leading a multi-disciplined team of strategy staff (8), with oversight for service design and strategy, tendering, contractor management and data functions: • Secured £7.1M Scottish Government funding for transformation of the kerbside waste and recycling service delivery model Highland-wide. • Appointed and directing a team to undertake the rollout of twin-stream kerbside recycling and expansion of the food waste service. • Achieved a corresponding 25%+ reduction in household residual waste arisings and delivering £2.1M per annum recurring revenue savings. • Built a Waste Procurement Program of compliant contracts, resulting in both savings and improvement in the quantity and quality of material recovered. • Held budget responsibility for a recurring revenue budget of £17M p/a. • Achieved on-time compliance with the Thermal Treatment Guidelines and the Biodegradable Municipal Waste to Landfill Ban. • Held oversight for all waste data management, performance monitoring and statutory reporting functions. • Acted as key representative on the Waste Managers Network and appointed to the UK Packaging EPR Sounding Board.
Chartered Waste Managers have demonstrated, via assessment procedures, a commitment to high standards in the wastes and resources industry and implement practices which complement and meet the professional standards of the Institution. Chartered Members benefit from the shared knowledge and best practice of a unique network and have the opportunity to contribute to and receive information from a large body of knowledge.
Assisting the CIWM Scottish Centre as a voluntary Professional Development Network Coordinator, facilitating and delivering a range of member networking and professional development opportunities, including sector relevant site visits and scheduled webinars.
Leading on a range of specialist activities, providing support to and securing commitment from delivery partners to implement circular economy approaches: • Provided expert waste and resource sector technical and professional advice, guidance and support to colleagues, customers, providers, and suppliers. • Worked pro-actively with partners to develop a pipeline of waste and resources projects from across the sector in Scotland. • Identified opportunities for engagement with clients, designers, contractors and supply chains to promote adoption of sustainability outcomes. • Acted as lead officer for stakeholder engagement with industry and green groups to inform the Circular Economy Waste Route Map to 2030. • Acted as lead officer for the development and rollout of the application process and guidance for Scottish Government’s £70M Recycling Improvement Fund (RIF). • Undertook evaluation of Local Authority submissions to the RIF, made award recommendations to the Board and mobilised grant agreements. • Diagnosed and identified business development opportunities to enhance the delivery of Zero Waste Scotland’s services.
Leading a multi-disciplined team of strategy staff (20) and frontline operatives (120) in municipal waste and recycling collections and disposal operations: • Built a Waste Procurement Program to put in place a suite of compliant best value goods and service contracts. • Held budget responsibility for a recurring revenue budget of £7.5M p/a. • Undertook pro-active contractor management for high risk and value spend. • Undertook restructuring of the Waste Strategy Team to ensure best use of existing resources to cover service improvements and statutory functions. • Drafted and presented detailed business cases and options appraisals. • Secured £2.1M of capital investment for a universal comb-bin collection model and additional funding to upgrade the primary Transfer Station. • Submitted successful bids to the Scottish Government’s Recycling Improvement Fund for improvements to the Recycling Centre Network. • Upon commencement successfully recovered relationships with regulators to maintain license approvals and permits for the Authorities’ key waste sites. • Provided responsive Elected Member engagement, produced Committee Papers and presented at Environment & Place Committee. • Developed and maintained all Health & Safety documentation for operational protocols, including Safe Systems of Work and Risk Assessments. • Worked closely with trade union representatives and undertook HR functions for the department including investigations and disciplinary hearings. • Held oversight for all waste data management, performance monitoring and statutory reporting functions.