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Posts Tagged ‘Green Collar Job’
Monday, July 26th, 2010 by Admin
 Simon Williams Our latest Green Collar Job Q&A is with Simon Williams. Now, we haven’t actually met (or interacted) with Simon (yet) but we have with Sue Coutts (from Wanaka Wastebusters) who passed on the Green Collar Job Q&A to a few of the people who work for Wastebusters and Simon is one of them. He is the Enviroschools Facilitator, Zero Waste Educator and graphic designer at Wanaka Wastebusters.
Education for sustainability is Simon’s thing. For the last 3 – 4 years he has facilitated EfS within the Lakes District of Aotearoa, New Zealand, with the local early childhood, primary, high schools, youth groups & community. He delivers the Enviroschools and Zero Waste Education programmes with passion, energy and commitment. Simon loves working at Wanaka Wastebusters, the dynamic and energetic way of working really suits. When he’s not immersed in EfS he uses his graphic design and photography skills to promote sustainable living to his community.
Simon is part of a growing number of people who are using their skills to further sustainable living ideals – thanks Simon for your answers!
1. What do you do to live more sustainably (with a low impact) in your life?
I try to minimise my waste, am conscious of home energy consumption, I buy quality products that I expect to last a long time.
2. How do you live more sustainably at work?
Print as little as possible, recycle and compost my waste, make the most of travelling, using the least amount of energy possible, promote sustainable practices to many people I work with.
3. What do you think is the biggest environmental issue we need to deal with in Christchurch/New Zealand?
That more, big and economic growth are best.
4. What makes you smile?
snowboarding, amongst many other things, and the colour yellow.
5. What is your biggest pet peeve?
People talking using only clichés and power terms, it tells me they don’t fully understand what they are talking about and it’s so ambiguous….grrrrrrrrrrrrr
6. What is your favourite colour and why?
White because it is a combination of every colour…….then yellow because it makes me smile
7. Do you have a favourite place in the world? Describe why?
2nd pipe at Treble cone……it’s so much fun
8. What’s your connection to SIFT?
I don’t have one
9. Do you remember your favourite teacher and why they were your favourite?
I’ve had many favourite teachers, the ones who inspire me to change the way I think and question my staid opinions
10. What do you want to leave behind?
Inspiration
11. What do you think the future will bring?
Fun and lots of smiles on top of many heart wrenching tears
12. Who is someone you really admire and why?
Richard Feynman – One of the world greatest thinkers with the ability to communicate amazingly complex things with everyone in a fun and engaging fashion.
13. What is happening outside your window right now?
I don’t have a window right now.
14. What is your favourite breakfast?
Full English
15. What is the best piece of advice you can give us?
Don’t talk to me in clichés
Tags: education, enviroschools, Green Collar Job, recycling, sustainability, sustainable living, Wanaka Wastebusters
Posted in Green Collar Jobs Q&A, Sustainability in Action | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 26th, 2010 by Admin
 Darren Patterson This week’s Green Collar Job Q&A is with Darren Patterson. SIFT caught up with Darren at last month’s WasteMinz Workshops and thought he would be great Green Collar Job Q&A candidate as he spends his days helping others to reduce their impact on the environment and has a wealth of experience in waste and environmental sustainability. Based in Christchurch Darren is a consultant specialising in helping businesses to operate sustainably. Darren aims to work with each client to seek pragmatic solutions that will work for both their business and the environment. You can see more of what he does at www.pattersonenvironmental.co.nz or his blog here. To make contact email him on
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or even speak to him one on one by phoning 021 440832. You can also follow him on twitter here, or Facebook here, or LinkedIn here.
1. What do you do to live more sustainably (with a low impact) in your life?
I walk or ride to work, compost at home, recycle, and reuse what I can. We have a solar hot water system and energy and water efficient appliances and monitor our energy use with a Centometer.
2. How do you live more sustainably at work?
Providing the right advice to businesses helps them reduce their impact on the environment and their liabilities. It can also reduce their operating costs.
3. What do you think is the biggest environmental issue we need to deal with in Christchurch/New Zealand?
The biggest global environmental issue would be climate change but more locally the poor management of waste and hazardous substances impacts directly on the water we drink and the air we breath.
4. What makes you smile?
My children.
5. What is your biggest pet peeve?
Apathy
6. What is your favourite colour and why?
The colour blue of the sky at sunrise and sunset. Reminds me of my travels.
7. Do you have a favourite place in the world? Describe why?
To live: Christchurch – sorry to the rest of the world buts its just right for me.
To visit: Pagan in Burma (Myanmar) amazing town with over 3000 Buddhist stupors/temples. However, it’s controlled by an oppressive regime that persecutes its people.
8. What’s your connection to Sift?
I’ve worked with Sift during my time at Environment Canterbury.
9. Do you remember your favourite teacher and why they were your favourite?
Miss Camsey: she was the deputy head of my junior school and had a very progressive approach to teaching 10 year olds.
10. What do you want to leave behind?
Two successful sons that live in a world that’s better than the one that I entered.
11. What do you think the future will bring?
Opportunities that we don’t yet know.
12. Who is someone you really admire and why?
John Campbell; I love his enthusiasm and his willingness to ask the questions that get him to the nub of the issue.
13. What is happening outside your window right now?
Leaves are falling off the tree and a bird is hunting through them for food.
14. What is your favourite breakfast?
Pancakes
15. What is the best piece of advice you can give us?
Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm. – Emerson
Tags: business, christchurch, climate change, community, environmental sustainability, Green Collar Job, landfill, Patterson Environmental, SIFT, waste
Posted in Green Collar Jobs Q&A | No Comments »
Tuesday, April 20th, 2010 by Admin
Brenda Harkin is the National Communications Manager and the Manager of the Central & Southern Regions for the Sustainable Business Network, of which SIFT is a member. The Sustainable Business Network pomotes sustainable business practices, helps businesses to become more sustainable and provides a forum for people to talk about sustainble business practices, tools and ideas. You can find out more about what they do here and become a member here. The Sustainable Business Network is a valuable organisation for a sustainable future for New Zealand. Here are Brenda’s answers to our Green Collar Job questions:
1. What do you do to live more sustainably (with a low impact) in your life?
I endeavour to incorporate sustainable living choices in all areas of my life; from choosing eco-friendly cleaning products, to growing organic vegetables with my homemade compost. During recent home renovations, I researched sustainable options with regards to hot water heating, showerheads, and insulation and so on. We have two children so we spend time educating them around sustainability and helping them to understand the potential positive and negative impacts our choices have on our environment.
2. How do you live more sustainably at work?
The whole purpose of the Sustainable Business Network, the organisation I’m employed by, is to help businesses to succeed through sustainability. Inherently, everything I do links back to this purpose. On a more personal level, SBN staff endeavour to ‘walk the talk’ at every turn and this manifests itself in managing work/life balance, office purchasing decisions, advancing sustainable action, and so on.
3. What do you think is the biggest environmental issue we need to deal with in Christchurch/New Zealand?
The biggest challenge we face around sustainability is apathy. Inaction and disinterest are the environment’s largest threat.
4. What makes you smile?
The funny things my children say in complete innocence and at top volume, for example: ‘Mum, why does that woman’s hair look like a lion’s mane?’…oh dear!
5. What is your biggest pet peeve?
People who complain about the world or their lives, but fail to take a stand and instigate the action necessary to facilitate change. Paraphrasing Mahatma Gandhi, ‘If you want to see the change, you have to be the change.’
6. What is your favourite colour and why?
Actually, its green…and surprisingly, it doesn’t relate to any green affiliations; I just like the colour!
7. Do you have a favourite place in the world? Describe why?
In New Zealand, it would have to be Matapouri Beach in Northland; one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting. My partner’s family is from Whangarei so we usually spend Christmas holidays there. If I’m thinking further afield, then I would have to say that I love returning to my hometown of Dublin, Ireland. There’s just something special about the view of Dublin Bay as you descend into the airport that makes me feel like I’ve come home. And as the youngest of seven siblings, it’s marvellous to spend time with my extended family as well.
8. What’s your connection to Sift?
One aspect of my role with the Sustainable Business Network is Southern Regional Manager. Sift is one of SBN’s members based in the Southern Region.
9. Do you remember your favourite teacher and why they were your favourite?
My favourite teacher was when I was about eight years old – her name was Miss Bergin. She wasn’t long out of teaching college from memory and she was just so LOVELY; she still had a wonderful enthusiasm which some teachers unfortunately lose over time. Added to this was the fact that since I attended a Catholic Girls School, a reasonable portion of my teachers were strict nuns!
10. What do you want to leave behind?
A life well-lived with no regrets.
11. What do you think the future will bring?
I’m an optimist by nature so I have complete faith that the human race will make the necessary changes to ensure that the world will amend its flawed ways. There is a huge groundswell evident at present and it’s only a matter of time before we reach critical mass. Then, the people who care about sustainability will outnumber those who don’t and positive change is inevitable.
12. Who is someone you really admire and why?
I really admire anyone who is willing to take a stand against wrongful activities, whether that’s where environmental issues or human rights are being concerned. As a pacifist, I don’t support violent protest, but believe that the way to instigate change is to engage in meaningful dialogue with the affected parties and present reasoned arguments in an undeniably convincing manner.
13. What is happening outside your window right now?
The sun is shining and, since its school holidays, there are lots of children around town laughing and having fun. Oh to be young and free again…
14. What is your favourite breakfast?
Despite being Irish and hating the taste of it upon my initial arrival in NZ, I’m proud to say that I’m now a ‘two slices of toast with marmite’ aficionado. Now that’s what I call black gold…
15. What is the best piece of advice you can give us?
Take a stand, embrace sustainability at home, at work and in your community, leave apathy behind…the rewards you’ll reap (environmental, social and economic) will far outweigh the efforts expended along the way.
Thanks Brenda for your wonderful, meaningful and thought provoking answers. We look forward to continuing our relationship with you into the future.
Tags: business, environment, environmental sustainability, Green Collar Job, SIFT, sustainable, Sustainable Business Network, sustainable living
Posted in Green Collar Jobs Q&A | No Comments »
Monday, March 15th, 2010 by Admin
 Tim Burnside, Deloitte This week’s Green Collar Job Q&A is with Tim Burnside from Deloitte. Again, not strictly a green collar job but Tim has helped SIFT out with financial modelling for various projects over the past couple of years. Here are his answers to our Green Collar job questions:
1. What do you do to live more sustainably (with a low impact) in your life?
I separate and recycle my rubbish. Also, I buy lots of things second hand, although my family would say that’s got more to do with me being an accountant than a greenie.
2. How do you live more sustainably at work?
I think before printing whether it is really necessary and in addition all our printers are set by default to print duplex to minimise paper usage. I turn off lights in areas not being used and when I leave my office. We also try to teleconference as much as possible, rather than travel to meetings.
3. What do you think is the biggest environmental issue we need to deal with in Christchurch/New Zealand?
How we manage our water resources more effectively. New Zealand is lucky to have a plentiful supply of water at present but I feel it needs to be managed to ensure it is put to the best possible use and also that it is not contaminated for future generations.
4. What makes you smile?
My family and in particular my youngest daughter Jyla who is 7 months old, her lovely smile is infectious.
5. What is your biggest pet peeve?
Dead cabbage tree leaves that fall and make our backyard look untidy and then the fact that they can’t be put in the green bin and therefore have to fill up our red bin (which is only emptied every second week).
6. What is your favourite colour and why?
Blue and Gold – something to do with being born and bred an Otago boy I think.
7. Do you have a favourite place in the world? Describe why?
No particular favourite comes to mind but I really enjoy the outdoors, whether it is mountain biking, walking or hiking, on the golf course, or working on the family farm.
8. What’s your connection to the Sustainable Initiatives Fund Trust?
Deloitte is SIFT’s preferred supplier for financial advisory services, particularly in relation to potential investments they are looking at making. I am responsible for managing the relationship with Linda and the team and ensuring SIFT receives the advice and service they require.
9. Do you remember your favourite teacher and why they were your favourite?
I can’t recall a favourite teacher but I do have a lot of respect for a university tutor that had a particular knack of being extremely challenging and therefore ensuring that you were always well prepared, top of your game, and striving for bigger goals. All good attributes that serve you well in life.
10. What do you want to leave behind?
A world where my children and their children can live happily and safely.
11. What do you think the future will bring?
Far greater environmental challenges than anything we currently imagine.
12. Who is someone you really admire and why?
My wife – after finding out she was pregnant in the first week of university she went on to complete a four year first class honours degree, get a great job, while bringing up a wonderful daughter, Brooke. She is extremely passionate and is currently doing a wonderful job of being a stay at home Mum for Jyla, while also setting up a home based web business and being a great support for Brooke & I.
13. What is happening outside your window right now?
Not a lot that I can see. It is dark but I can hear the wind blowing down more Cabbage Tree leaves.
14. What is your favourite breakfast?
Weetbix with Rhubarb – you can’t beat it.
15. What is the best piece of advice you can give us?
Always plan your work then work your plan.
Tags: community, Deloitte, environment, Green Collar Job, SIFT
Posted in Green Collar Jobs Q&A, SIFT | No Comments »
Monday, March 8th, 2010 by Admin
 WasteMinz CEO Marion Short Marion Short is the CEO of the Waste Management Institute of New Zealand (WasteMinz). WasteMinz are an incorporated not-for-profit organisation that seeks to bring all the different interest groups together to “enable the achievement of an environmentally and economically sustainable waste minimisation strategy for New Zealand.” You can read more about what they do here. Below are Marion’s answers to our Green Collar Job questions.
1. What do you do to live more sustainably (with a low impact) in your life?
We do all the usual good things at home and also try to buy well – a sort of smart shopping philosophy: buy quality (and environmentally friendly products) so that they last longer and also items that have less packaging.
2. How do you live more sustainably at work?
At WasteMINZ we live and breathe our environmental policy in everything we do. Plus I also try to work from home during peak travel times so I can be both more effective and minimise the time I spend driving my car and adding to Auckland’s traffic congestion. The time saving for me is slightly over an hour a day (unbelievable)!
3. What do you think is the biggest environmental issue we need to deal with in Christchurch/New Zealand?
I still believe there is a lack of understanding and action in regards to living in a more environmentally manner. This requires a significant attitude shift by individuals, communities and industry. We need to encourage people to make that change now and preserve our beautiful country and the value of New Zealand as a brand.
4. What makes you smile?
I smile and laugh alot – I guess I enjoy the little things and am an optimist by nature. I love taking my dog for a walk – he is always so thrilled. I love sitting down to a big family dinner – my husband is one of six boys and family is really important to us. I love the huge hugs from my boys who are both over 6 foot tall. And I love results – when you look around and you say – wow that is done – great job!
5. What is your biggest pet peeve?
People throwing rubbish out of their cars, or just leaving it behind – what is up with that!
6. What is your favourite colour and why?
I love orange – I think because it is so bright and happy – you can’t feel miserable wearing orange.
7. Do you have a favourite place in the world? Describe why?
My favourite place is with my family and closest friends, enjoying their company, great New Zealand food and a glass of fantastic New Zealand wine (either a chardonnay or a pinot noir). Hopefully it is a sunny day (I live in Auckland – so that doesn’t always happen) and we have a nice shady spot to sit and tell each other all our news.
8. What’s your connection to the Sustainable Initiatives Fund Trust?
Sift are members of WasteMINZ and we share linkages in a network focused on great good outcomes!
9. Do you remember your favourite teacher and why they were your favourite?
My favourite and first teacher was my Dad and to this day he remains my favourite teacher. Growing up we had a saying ‘it can’t be that hard’ which was always said as we plunged into difficult and exciting projects and journeys. I think I was only 8 years old when Dad let me paint the VW combi van that he restored – so I always felt he had so much faith in my abilities to give something a go and not completely bugger it up. I hope I am teaching my children that lesson.
10. What do you want to leave behind?
I want to leave happy memories, I want to have made a difference in people’s lives and I want my children to grow up happy, healthy and strong contributors to a positive and more improved society/world.
11. What do you think the future will bring?
I believe that collaborative operating models are the way of the future. That in order to achieve the best results it requires multiple stakeholders working together on greater good (or at least common good) outcomes.
That in the future. closer attention and value will be placed on the importance of relationships, and that we will move away from having a short term focus to being focused on longer term sustainable strategic outcomes.
I want to have faith and believe that we will get it together and make the changes necessary for a sustainable world.
I want to believe that people will recognise that being environmentally sustainable is the only way, not just a green choice.
12. Who is someone you really admire and why?
I admire many people for many different reasons. It is possible to admire someone for what they have achieved but not necessarily for who they are.
The group of people that I admire the most are the ones that make an effort to ‘pay it forward’. These people give something of themselves without expecting anything in return, in order to make a positive difference in the lives of the people around them.
A challenge – what can you do to ‘pay it forward’?
13. What is happening outside your window right now?
Sunny Auckland day – and I feel like everything is right in the world – but of course I haven’t hit the traffic yet!
14. What is your favourite breakfast?
Coffee
15. What is the best piece of advice you can give us?
Sit down and think about who are your stakeholders – then think of them in terms of high and low interest and high and low power.
Those that have both high interest and high power are really important to what you are trying to achieve. Likewise those with low interest but high power need to be actively managed and kept informed, otherwise they could be potential roadblocks.
Are you communicating with your stakeholders? How often and how? Are there other communication tools that you could use, or leverage off your stakeholders communications tools (remember we are all part of a big network – you just need to use it).
Are the relationships working? Could they work better?
Do you have a communications strategy?
Do you know what your key messages are and your key points of differentiation?
People are so often scared of communication – and for no real reason.
Communication is such a powerful tool. Reach out and start improving your communication with your stakeholders today.
That’s two challenges (pay it forward and improving your communication) – good luck.
Tags: environment, Green Collar Job, Marion Short, new zealand, sustainable future, waste, WasteMinz
Posted in Green Collar Jobs Q&A, Waste Management | No Comments »
Monday, March 1st, 2010 by Admin
 One of our key contacts is Jane Parfitt from the Christchurch City Council. She is the General Manager, City Environment Group at the Christchurch City Council. Jane is responsible for the management of 300 staff, an operating budget of $154m and a capital budget of $120m.
Jane is responsible for such things as maintining the safety and quality of Christchurch City’s infrastructure services with a long-term sustainability view, maintaining our lovely parks and gardens, helping to ensure the Long Term Council Community plan is delivered and that there are organisation strategies, plans and structure to support it and the Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) on behalf of the City.
Here are Jane’s answers to our Green Collar Job Q&A:
1. What do you do to live more sustainably (with a low impact) in your life?
Walk whenever I can, use a shopping basket instead of plastic bags and use solar heating.
2. How do you live more sustainably at work?
I don’t print emails and try not to make any more ‘copies’ than needed
3. What do you think is the biggest environmental issue we need to deal with in Christchurch/New Zealand?
Christchurch – to get people to use public transport, cycle or walk.
NZ – how and where we general energy.
4. What makes you smile?
Freddy – my new grandson
5. What is your biggest pet peeve?
Channel surfing!
6. What is your favourite colour and why?
Yellow because it’s a happy colour
7. Do you have a favourite place in the world? Describe why?
Christchurch of course! It’s a garden city by the sea, close to the mountains with an international airport which has great connections to the rest of the world.
8. What’s your connection to Sift?
Linda Norris
9. Do you remember your favourite teacher and why they were your favourite?
Miss Tait because she was an inspiring PE teacher who played music for us.
10. What do you want to leave behind?
A Scottish flavour for our family.
11. What do you think the future will bring?
This question is just too hard! – maybe pigs will fly
12. Who is someone you really admire and why?
The Queen because she’s gracious, works hard and copes with a modern, independently minded extended family.
13. What is happening outside your window right now?
Our dogs are trying to get inside!
14. What is your favourite breakfast?
Toast and avocado
15. What is the best piece of advice you can give us?
Be yourself.
Tags: Christchurch City Council, environment, Green Collar Job, infrastructure, Jane Parfitt, waste
Posted in Green Collar Jobs Q&A, SIFT, Waste Management | No Comments »
Tuesday, February 16th, 2010 by Admin
This week’s Green Collar Job Q&A is with Timaru District Council’s Senior Waste Management Officer Ruth Clarke. Ruth manages the waste contract for the Timaru District. It is a comprehensive contract covering kerbside collection, transfer station management, landfill, green waste processing and recycling processing. Ruth plans for waste minimisation activity and carries out all the administrative work associated with council. She also runs the waste exchange for Timaru and Waimate Districts.
Ruth says that her list of things to do is long and her days too short, but finds her job challenging, interesting and worthwhile.
1. What do you do to live more sustainably (with a low impact) in your life?
We built an ecohouse of mudbricks with solar water heating, solar power, composting toilet with relatively small footprint. Most labour done by ourselves with help from 157 wwoofers and counting! (see www.earthwoodwaimate.blogspot.com)
2. How do you live more sustainably at work?
We built the eco-house in Waimate and then I got the job in Timaru, so it is 100km commute but I carpool with two others. I walk to any jobs nearby or get my co-workers to pick up stuff I need if they are out and about. I duplex my printing.
3. What do you think is the biggest environmental issue we need to deal with in Canterbury/New Zealand?
Apathy-I just wonder if we are going to make the changes needed in time to make the difference for our children.
4. What makes you smile?
My girls
5. What is your biggest pet peeve?
People idling ( it doesn’t happen so much here but very common in Japan. I once crossed the lane and turned my neighbour’s car off after it had been idling for 10 minutes. Another time friends and I turned off the key of a car just sitting idling in the street with nobody about- then skedaddled!
6. What is your favourite colour and why?
Orange/russet because I like autumn, especially maples in Japan.
7. Do you have a favourite place in the world?
Kyoto-I lived there for 4 years, the old places are so otherworldly, historic and Asian.
8. What’s your connection to Sift?
Collaborating on a project.
9. Do you remember your favourite teacher and why they were your favourite?
My German teacher, strict and scary, but somehow German was my favourite subject.
10. What do you want to leave behind?
Land and the adobe house to secure a living/lifestyle for the girls; the recognition that I have worked for a better end.
11. What do you think the future will bring?
Peak Oil, stronger communities, better use of technology, maybe a rude awakening…
12. Who is someone you really admire and why?
I have a friend who left a business because she didn’t agree with the way they were heading ( more corporate) and started a business to pursue her own idealogy of business practice. I admire that she had the conviction to act on her beliefs.
13. What is happening outside your window right now?
The border collie is curled up, the steers are still eating (the one called “Stu” is getting fatter!). The pears and apple trees are loaded-bottling fruit on the agenda this weekend.
14. What is your favourite breakfast?
Bacon and eggs.
15. What is the best piece of advice you can give us?
Take one small step at a time –it is a journey.
Tags: Green Collar Job, sustainable living, Timaru District Council, waste, Waste Management, woofers
Posted in Green Collar Jobs Q&A, Sustainability in Action, Waste Management | 1 Comment »
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009 by Admin
 hairyLemon's Stuart Woodhouse boating in the Marlborough Sounds Stuart Woodhouse is our account manager at Hairy Lemon, a Christchurch web and print media design company. Thanks Stuart for helping us to communicate our key messages via the web.
1. What do you do to live more sustainably (with a low impact) in your life?
Close the curtains.
2. How do you live more sustainably at work?
With the new recycling bins it’s far easier to recycle although I am probably not as good as I should be.
3. What do you think is the biggest environmental issue we need to deal with in Christchurch/New Zealand?
Urban sprawl around the hills, one of Christchurch’s true assets. It needs to be there for future generations.
4. What makes you smile?
Rollerbladers
5. What is your biggest pet peeve?
Bad coffee
6. What is your favourite colour and why?
Green, because it’s the sign of a healthy potato plant
7. Do you have a favourite place in the world? Describe why?
Spain, the best year of my misspent 20’s
8. What’s your connection to SIFT?
hairyLemon help design and build their website
9. Do you remember your favourite teacher and why they were your favourite?
Mr Murray (Geography) Because he made everything in life the most interesting thing in the world.
10. What do you want to leave behind?
The memory that I made people smile (cheesy but true)
11. What do you think the future will bring?
Increased environmental awareness and an iphone (the two don’t really go hand in hand but you have to be selfish every once and a while).
12. Who is someone you really admire and why?
John Howard Griffin (Author of Black Like Me). Someone who really challenged how I look at life.
13. What is happening outside your window right now?
I am guessing lots of cars of Riccarton Road but as I can’t see a window that would be just a wild stab in the dark.
14. What is your favourite breakfast?
Three weetbix with green milk. It used to be six but as I get older I am learning moderation.
15. What is the best piece of advice you can give us?
What others think of me is none of my business
Tags: Green Collar Job, Hairy Lemon, low impact life, SIFT, sustainable living, web design
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Thursday, November 26th, 2009 by Admin
 Carter Price Rennie's Amy Carter Amy Carter from Carter Price Rennie is part of a great team that helps us out with our PR and media communications. Here are her answers to our Green Collar Jobs questions – she doesn’t strictly have a Green Collar Job but helps those who do – thanks Amy!
1. What do you do to live more sustainably (with a low impact) in your life?
To be honest I feel a bit guilty about not doing enough but I do try to do my best where I can. For example I drive a small and economical car, grow my own vege’s, make my own compost and have a large garden full of natives that don’t need watering. I always buy local products where I can.
I’m currently seriously considering cloth nappies for the impending arrival of our first child but have just read some interesting studies regard the water consequences of cloth nappies – so am now confused!
2. How do you live more sustainably at work?
Not enough and it’s an area that we are working on at present. One of our directors is currently working on a strategy for the company. At the moment it is limited to simple things like recycling paper and ink cartridges. We are also trying to minimise use of paper in the office for record keeping and moving towards more electronic file storage etc.
3. What do you think is the biggest environmental issue we need to deal with in Christchurch/New Zealand?
Water management is the biggest issue both here in Christchurch and across New Zealand. We need clean water and enough of it to keep our population and economy growing.
4. What makes you smile?
Sunshine, the prospect of summer holidays with friends and family. Currently baby things (but that will be the hormones).
5. What is your biggest pet peeve?
Bullies – can’t stand them.
6. What id your favourite colour and why?
Blue – it reminds me of water
7. Do you have a favourite place in the world? Describe why?
Taylors Mistake, friends, family, fun and its home.
8. What’s your connection to SIFT?
My company assists SIFT with its public relations.
9. Do you remember your favourite teacher and why they were your favourite?
Yes, Mr Lees Jefferies or L.J. as he was known. He was passionate about teaching and his students and his classroom changed from term to term depending on what they were studying.
10. What do you want to leave behind?
A smile on people’s faces.
11. What do you think the future will bring?
Opporunity. Life is full of opportunities if you want to see them.
12. Who is someone you really admire and why?
Anyone who has a goal (no matter how large or small) and makes sure they achieve it, no matter the obstacles in their way.
13. What is happening outside your window right now?
Students leaving Jazz school, people Christmas shopping and ladies doing lunch.
14. What is your favourite breakfast?
Fresh fruit, an omelette and English breakfast tea.
15. What is the best piece of advice you can give us?
Live life, laugh often!
Tags: Amy Carter, Carter Price Rennie, Green Collar Job, life, PR, SIFT, sustainable living
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