Age
26

Education
Degree in development studies from the University of East Anglia.

So, what do you actually do?
I’m an education co-ordinator at Waste Watch. We work with local authorities, schools and charities to reduce the waste they produce and increase recycling. I’m responsible for training organisations, developing resources and building partnerships.

What makes your job so ethical?
I provide young people with the resources and knowledge to make informed decisions, and to take personal action to improve the environment. I show people how they can make an immediate impact by changing how they do things. I sometimes wonder whether it’s ethical to earn as much as I do. I want to do more on the other issues I strongly believe in, but sometimes, after working hard all week, all I fancy doing is getting a take away and going to the pub.

What kind of personality is best suited to working in a job like yours?
You need to be outgoing and happy to talk in front of large groups of people. Also being flexible and able to think on your feet.

What skills and experience do you need to work in this sector?
You have to believe in what you’re doing, otherwise you’ll have a hard time getting people to take action. You have to be quite flexible, so you can respond to things that happen at short notice.

What has been the most memorable experience in this job?
Playing silly games with a group of local authority officers.

What are the best things about your job?
Getting excited about a new project, and believing this is the one that will change the world. I also really enjoy the creative side, writing new educational activities or helping to design promotional material.

And the worst things?
Doing expenses and budgets. It’s necessary, but I much prefer thinking about the aims of the project, rather than how much it costs.

Any top tips for someone wanting to get into this work?
If you haven’t worked in the education sector before, do some volunteering. Speak to as many people as possible, it is amazing what you can do just with an idea if you are prepared to talk to people about it.

Waste Watch
www.wastewatch.org.uk