ProGRESS

Em Burnip, founder of Eco Wedding Festivals

Sun, 25 Jan 2026 00:30:00 GMT

Em Burnip is passionate about nature and the environment and when her daughter Grace was born she matched her business skills with her values to create Eco Wedding Festivals.

But taking control of her own career path was less straightforward than simply setting up an eco-business while she was on maternity leave. She had developed a secure, good, if not always satisfying, career as a personal assistant and events executive for a Big 4 consulting firm for 17 years, with a special interest in sustainability.

Her efforts to get into a sustainability-led role were always thwarted, however, until she was given a nudge to find her own niche as an eco-entrepreneur. With a small child to consider she paused before making taking a leap and making the necessary sacrifices to move forward.

Em advises people who want to secure a green job or to become an eco-entrepreneur to first find out what they are good at, to put in research and start connecting with people in the field they want to work in.

From her own viewpoint, while she is passionate about nature and biodiversity, she considered where her skills and training would be best used, knowing that she didn’t want to spend the rest of her working life in a job she didn’t enjoy.

As she puts it: “At what point do I go for something that I really believe in and love?”

Having her daughter Grace put perspective around that decision, as she considered what she would say to her own child when she was making future career choices.

“I’d rather she was happy in a job and loved it than earning lots and not being happy,” says Em, who gives credit to Helen Jennings-Petz and Kerry North for the nudges and support.

Grace, now aged 10, currently wants to be a marine biologist. Em talks about the importance of teaching young children about the environment in a way that doesn’t scare them. She believes in helping people discover the green jobs they'll find in every sector and she volunteers at an eco learning charity, Greener Stourport, and completed a course in environmental studies at the Open University.

Em explains that as people are becoming more eco-conscious, they are demanding more sustainable choices to spend their own money on. But weddings are notoriously expensive and it is possible to buy cheap unsustainable alternatives online. She delivers the shocking statistic that the average UK wedding has a carbon footprint similar to the annual footprint of a UK family of four – and there are around a quarter of a million weddings in the UK alone.

Em encourages couples who want to put the planet on their guest list to come to one of her Eco Wedding Festivals to speak to eco-friendly, ethical businesses as they showcase their offerings. Done right, it makes for a music-filled fun day out with sample food from caterers, displays from florists, and a chance to meet sustainable suppliers in beautiful venues.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Eco Wedding Festivals

Greener Stourport

You might also like to listen to:

Dr Jess Tipton, head of the National Education Nature Park S6 E1

Beccy Dickson, co-founder of Branded Bio and eco entrepreneur S3 E12

Don Weatherbee, CEO RegenX S3 E7

Shaheer Hafeez, Director of sustainability advisory at KPMG S3 E2

Lydia Carrington, sustainability manager at Edgbaston Stadium S2 E1

About ProGRESS:

Host Sandra Fraser invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible jobs, courses or activities and asks for real-world insights into the pathways and careers that led to them.

Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast

Original content © Sandra Fraser

Original music © Lyze Kessell

Email: hello@mypro-gress.co.uk

Expect revelations, lightbulb moments and an informative listen on ProGRESS, with plenty of insights as guests explain how and why got into their Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially Responsible career or course (the GRESS of ProGRESS) with plenty of tips if you want to do the same.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Holly Westgarth-Graham, Masters student at Edinburgh Futures Institute

Sat, 17 Jan 2026 01:44:52 GMT

Holly Westgarth-Graham has returned to her studies after a spell working as an intern for sustainable travel company Byway, the flight-free holiday platform. She explains how her course is helping her carve out her own future, bringing ethical and eco-storytelling together with ethical innovation and strategic foresight, which she is specialising in, along with AI implementation, at Edinburgh Futures Institute.

Influenced by Byway Travel colleagues such as Kurt Henderson, a polymath designer, musician and eco-traveller, and business founder and CEO Cat Jones, plus COO Holly Clarke and CTO Richard Levy, (as well as many others), Holly talks about learning to call on interdisciplinary skills, artistic and scientific, when she started her internship. She also explains more about expanding her knowledge with a Masters, with the help of mentors such as Joshua Ryan Saha, plus her expectations of future employers.

Holly thinks back to when her eyes were opened to greenwashing by a trip to Tanzania as a 16-year-old, and discusses the benefits of travel, plus finding her core values as she has studied and grown.

Influenced by wisdom from her dad, who says there's no such thing as time wasted seeking knowledge, Holly teaches music, and finds that, plus art and connecting with nature, help her retain her optimism and energy.

Holly's progress will definitely be one to watch as her career unfolds.

Mentioned in this podcast

University of York literature

University of Edinburgh MSc Narrative futures, art, data and society

Byway Travel

Visit Aarhus

Aarhus University

You might also like to listen to:

Johnathon Miller-McCall, science communicator and conservationist S5 E6

Kurt Henderson, senior product designer, Byway Travel S2 E4

Connor Cashell, campaigns officer Cycling UK S5 E5

Stuart Mabbutt, nature, learning campaigner and teacher Part 1 S3 E3

About ProGRESS:

Host Sandra Fraser discusses pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible jobs, courses or activities with her guests and asks for their real-world insights into the pathways and careers that led to their purposeful life.

Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast

LinkedIn: ProGRESS, the green, values-led careers podcast

Original content © Sandra Fraser

Original music © Lyze Kessell

Email: hello [@] mypro-gress.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elspeth Yates, career coach at Happier Humans and head of people at Change Agents

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 00:01:00 GMT

This episode drops in January, traditionally the month when people quit their jobs or evaluate whether what they are doing is the right thing for them.

As an independent career coach alongside working as head of Change Agents UK's People and Placements team, Elspeth Yates helps people find their purpose in green careers.

She encourages them to look at their existing skills and examine how they might use them in a company more in line with their values, or enables them to bring their values to the workplace they're already in.

In this episode, Elspeth talks about the importance of not ignoring those values, because we spend so much of our time working and deserve to be happy there. She remembers how a chance meeting at a careers fair boosted her own start in working life when she was fresh out of university and her surprising path to a role that now does so much for sustainability professionals.

Elspeth reveals how her own happy nature and positive outlook were labelled a negative because it made her look less professional and why she’s an optimist.

Find out how Elspeth came to recognise the new opportunities she could bring to other people by delivering talks, and combining working at Change Agents with one-to-one coaching and business workshops.

Passionate about the environment and sustainability, Elspeth shares how she maintains her own energy when she's juggling all her different roles and whizzing around the country and internationally.

Listen out for key tips for finding your way if you're looking for a change of direction and job.

Even if you’re not seeking change, there’s plenty in Elspeth’s experience to leave you feeling uplifted and positive about making a difference, however small.

Mentioned in this podcast

Elspeth Yates Coaching Happy Humans

Change Agents UK

University of Leicester Geology

Time Team

Simon Sinek – Start with Why

Group GTI graduate careers hub

You might also like to listen to:

Shaheer Hafeez, ACA, Director of ESG and Climate Risk, KPMG S3 E2

Sarah Flynn, psychologist, author and human sustainability coach S5 E8

Matteo Menapace, serious ethical games designer S5 E7

Glen Burrows, photographer, disrupter, regenerative food entrepreneur S2 E5

Duncan Goose, founder of Global Ethics and One Water S1 E10

About ProGRESS:

Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast

LinkedIn: ProGRESS, the green, values-led careers podcast

Original content © Sandra Fraser

Original music © Lyze Kessell

Email: hello [@] mypro-gress.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Whitni Thomas, Head of Corporate Finance, Triodos Bank UK

Sat, 03 Jan 2026 00:36:44 GMT

How do you land a job at a bank that creates positive social, environmental and cultural change? And how do you get to hear about banks like Triodos in the first place?

Whitni Thomas, the daughter of missionaries (her father is a vicar), says that she never meant to go into banking.

Yet she landed a plum (and highly sought-after) graduate role at JP Morgan, despite telling her careers advisor at university that she did not want a corporate career and she didn't want to work in New York.

But one day, stopping and pausing, she realised her job wasn't fulfilling and Whitni set about finding something that aligned with her values - the values she was brought up with.

She pivoted, thinking her future lay in development work, took on a role in Mexico with two grassroots organisations that provided microcredit to marginalised women and from there went on to work with fair trade organisations.

From there, she went to study for a masters in development studies at London School of Economics and Political Science, gaining a distinction.

So what's different about Triodos and why has Whitni been there for two decades?

At the time, it was a small organisation, based in the Netherlands. Though it's still not a mainstream name in the UK, it is well-known as a 'green' bank there, offering complete transparency so there are no nasty surprises if you're an investor or choose to bank with the organisation. Now there are 100,000 customers who want to put their money into an organisation with values-led guiding principles.

On top of her day job, Whitni believes in putting something back into society, locally and further afield and says she has learned so much from being a trustee at several foundations, including those with Quaker-based principles such as the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

Whitni says it is difficult to give advice to young people who want to find careers with genuine, authentic values, because the job market has changed so much recently. But she says challenging oneself, and challenging organisations from within is key and considers B Corps which don't just pay lip service to 'green' values to be a good place to start.

Triodos Bank UK

Better Society Capital

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation

Paces Sheffield

London School of Economics and Political Sciences

You might also like to listen to:

David Kohnstamm, Chief sustainability officer, Leafcloud S4 E3

Justin Kelly, CEO of Glass Futures, chair of Sustainable Ventures S4 E1

Shaheer Hafeez, ACA, Director of ESG and Climate Risk, KPMG S3 E2

Sarah Daly, sustainability consultant and climate champion S3 E1

About ProGRESS:

Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast

LinkedIn: ProGRESS, the green, values-led careers podcast

Original content © Sandra Fraser

Original music © Lyze Kessell

Email: hello [@] mypro-gress.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Carlos Terol, changemaker, responsible entrepreneur

Sat, 27 Dec 2025 00:57:13 GMT

Carlos Terol is a founder at Good Ripple, a community of change-makers who want to make a difference in the world.

He describes his fascinating journey to find meaning and purpose in his work life over the last 10 years, and how he is enabling others to make positive, ethical social impact through their own jobs.

To wind the clock back to his early career, Carlos's love of maths, problem solving and science led him into a civil engineering degree, but he became downhearted after applying for hundreds of jobs and getting nowhere. Then a friend suggested a leap of faith to set up a business in Western Sahara.

Despite its proximity to where he'd grown up in Gran Canaria, Western Sahara, gave Carlos a whole new different perspective. Seeing how other people were living, he reassessed his own life, resolving to try to be a better person and live more sustainably.

Now, when he's not meeting change-makers through Good Ripple, Carlos runs educational workshops through Climate Fresk, and he's also a co-founder of The Ecstatic Collective.

As an ambassador for Responsible Entrepreneurship at the Tomorrow University of applied Sciences, he seems like a human dynamo, but there are few things Carlos loves more than taking time out for meditation - though he confesses he has taken up the didgeridoo and that's a current passion that helps with his breath work.

Links mentioned in the podcast

Good Ripple

Climate Fresk

Ecstatic Dance

Shake it off! Raphael Santandreu

El arte de no amargarse la vida Raphael Santandreu

Dan Pink books

Tomorrow University

You might also like to listen to:

Matteo Menapace, Serious, ethical, cooperative games designer S5 E7

Connor Cashell, Campaigns officer, Cycling UK, ethical campaigner S5 E5

Dr Bushra Schuitemaker, Zoologist, microbiologist and award winning communicator S4 E2

About ProGRESS:

Host Sandra Fraser invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially Responsible jobs, courses or activities and asks for real-world insights into the pathways and careers that led to them.

Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast

Original content © Sandra Fraser

Original music © Lyze Kessell

Email: hello@mypro-gress.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Jessica Tipton Head of the National Education Nature Park at the Natural History Museum

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 16:49:25 GMT

Dr Jessica Tipton, or Jess as she is known, is head of the National Education Nature Park at the Natural History Museum, a project commissioned by the Department for Education as part of its Sustainability and Climate Strategy.

In 2020 Jess founded the UK Schools Sustainability Network (UKSSN) as head of youth networks at Global Action Plan. She led a delegation of students to the COP26 global climate summit and instigated the annual online Youth Climate Summit.

In addition to all of the above, Jess has worked as a policy adviser at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and has researched Russia and international climate policy.

But Jess didn’t set out for a career in sustainability. She studied Russian and French, and played the clarinet to a high standard. The common theme running through everything she has done is contributing to events, society and positive things. That’s what the National Education Nature Park project is all about – introducing children of all ages and young people to their outdoor spaces and connecting them to the power and pleasure of nature.

In this episode Jess explains how she landed her high profile job (the project was visited by the Prince and Princess of Wales in the summer of 2025) and why she considers languages an subject choice through which to launch yourself into anything.

Jess thinks of herself as a Jack of all trades - and as explained, has enjoyed a portfolio career – but she has never had a plan for her career, and that means she’s never been bored either. In fact, at the time the recording she was about to embark on a role researching and translating Russian literature – particularly environmental and feminist themes – at the University of East Anglia.

A key career tip from Jess is to enjoy what you are really good at and go and study that rather than targeting an environmental science degree at university - then take your values into other areas of work and spread the word.

Mentioned in this podcast

National Education Nature Park

Natural History Museum garden visit

DEFRA careers

How Bad Are Bananas? Mike Berners-Lee

You might also like to listen to:

Johnathon Miller-McCall S5 E6

Divya Kumar S4 E4

Katie Goldsbrough S5 E1

Rachel Warren S1 E7

About ProGRESS:

Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast

LinkedIn: ProGRESS, the green, values-led careers podcast

Original content © Sandra Fraser

Original music © Lyze Kessell

Email: hello@mypro-gress.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The big five-zero. Season five finale and round-up

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 23:40:07 GMT

Here's the Series 5 grand finale, featuring the best bits of the latest guests on ProGRESS, the podcast promoting green, ethical, sustainable and socially responsible careers.

The podcast was set up with the notion that listeners might like tips and ideas for how to follow in guests’ footsteps if they wanted to do something similar. As time has gone on, and 50 episodes in, it’s apparent that many of the guests have good human interest stories to tell about making a difference to the planet so win-win!

Everyone on the show has brought something special - and usually more than one single thing - to their episode, so here’s a round up of some, by no means all, of the best bits from Season 5.

Featuring:

Reena Mahajan

Connor Cashell

Matthew Payne

Dr Fernanda da Silva Tatley

Stuart Goldsmith

Matteo Menapace

Sarah Flynn

Johnathon Miller-McCall

Katie Goldsbrough

If you enjoy this little meander through some of Season 5 subscribe to the podcast wherever you usually listen so you don’t miss out.

And please share the link to the podcast, here on Acast, through or our webpage, LinkedIn group or wherever you usually listen.

Keep listening for more career insights. Season 6 will start dropping in September.

About ProGRESS:

Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible jobs, courses or activities and asks for real-world insights into the pathways and careers that led to them.

Subscribe and find out how they got there and how you can too.

Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast

Original content © Sandra Kessell

Original music © Lyze Kessell

Email: hello@mypro-gress.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reena Mahajan, Urban planner, designer and advocate for sustainable development

Sat, 02 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Drawn to both science and the arts when she was at school, Reena Mahajan’s studies and work took her to three continents. She studied architecture in New Delhi before moving to Paris to study urban planning and sustainable development. When she moved to Uruguay, she broadened her horizons and studies into gender responsive design and children-friendly planning.

Now a strong advocate for sustainable development, women’s mobility, social impact and gender equality – among other things – Reena founded Studio Divercity, with a mission to transform car-dominated urban areas into people-centric spaces. She recently set up StreetSmart, a digital platform that enables communities to reimagine their streets and environment, and she has joined the contributors to Lab of Thought, a Netherlands-based organisation set to transform urban environments.

So far so stellar – so what's next? She has some brilliant advice for anyone searching for values-led employment and says optimism comes from action, even if it's small.

Sarah Flynn, Psychologist, author and human sustainability coach

Sat, 26 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Sarah Flynn is a career coach who works with purpose-led, empathic leaders making a difference to the world. In addition, Sarah teaches resilience for sustainability leaders on the Cambridge sustainability leaders masters.

Discussing her own squiggly career journey, Sarah explains how she felt when she discovered psychology as a teenager and then became inspired to study it in depth, thinking she’d work in clinical psychology.

She talks about moving to Italy to teach English as a foreign language, what led her into working in psychotherapy and how she became first a research psychologist and then a corporate career coach.

Listen in to hear Sarah's tips for developing a career in psychology, her co-authored book Climate Change Coaching: The Power of Connection to Create Climate Action, and how to introduce resilience and empowerment into life.

Mentioned in this podcast

Association of Sustainability Practitioners

Climate Change Coaches

Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL)

Ikigai

Books

Parenting out loud – Elliott Rae

Find your zone of genius – Laura Garnett

You might also like to listen to:

Shaheer Hafeez Director ESG strategy and climate risk KPMG S3 E2

Jonathan Mearns OBE careers coach, sustainability entrepreneur and adventurer S3 E9

Lydia Carrington Sustainability manager, Edgbaston cricket stadium S2 E1

Stuart Mabbutt Wildman environmental learning S3 E3

Dr Matthew C. Halteman Professor of philosophy S3 E10

About ProGRESS:

Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast

Original content © Sandra Kessell

Original music © Lyze Kessell

Email: hello@mypro-gress.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matteo Menapace, Serious, ethical, cooperative games designer

Sat, 19 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

When he was young Matteo Menapace spent many afternoons playing video games and learnt to code so he could hack his first game.

So how does a kid playing video games (with a Saturday job making pizzas) turn his hobby into a professional career that challenges people to think about the most pressing issues of the era, including climate change?

Listen to hear the philosophy and ethics behind serious games design, why you don’t need to have studied graphics, games design or even to have a degree to be a successful games designer and what Matteo does in a typical week.

Johnathon Miller-McCall, Science communicator, conservationist and nature nerd

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 23:01:07 GMT

Johnathon Miller-McCall grew up in South London, seemingly an unpromising location for wildlife observation and a career as a conservationist, science communicator and storyteller.

Yet, Johnathon reveals, there are more than 14,000 species in the city, and it’s one of the world’s largest urban forests – you just need to know where to look.

Now Johnathan wears three hats, working as a comms and engagement officer for Synchronicity Earth, as a presenter and content executive for Earth Minutes and creating content for his own feeds.

So how does a shy boy go from keeping his (slightly uncool) interests to himself at school to finding a course that suits his knowledge and satisfying his calling to spread a love of nature, especially when there was little guidance at school and nobody like him on television?

Johnathon explains how he forged his own career path as a nature nerd, rather than in finance, how he found a community at London Wildlife Trust (LWT) and what keeps him resilient.

Mentioned in this podcast

Synchronicity Earth

Earth Minutes

Natural History Museum Generation Hope

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan – 10 year water clean-up plan

London Wildlife Trust

Flock Together

Johnathon Miller-McCall Linktree (J Talks Nature)

Hamza Yassin Photography

You might also like to listen to:

Sarah Kessell, CEO of The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales S1 E5

Stuart Mabbutt, Wildman environmental learning S3 E3

Divya Kumar, Community engagement manager, Earthwatch Europe S4 E4

About ProGRESS:

Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast

Original content © Sandra Kessell

Original music © Lyze Kessell

Email: hello@mypro-gress.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Connor Cashell, Campaigns officer, Cycling UK

Sat, 05 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Connor Cashell combines his socially responsible and ethical values with a push for sustainability and a job campaigning for Cycling UK.

After university Connor worked in Belgium where he facilitated meetings between European leaders and the people who really understood what was going on in exploited mining communities, particularly in South America.

From there, it wasn’t a huge step to move to Peru to work for a partner organisation, Grufides, among the people being affected by the mining.

When Connor returned to England, he found his role at Cycling UK, where he supports and connects campaigning groups seeking to improve cycle networks in the UK. That includes making cycling more child- and woman-friendly, improving cycle paths and lobbying for better cycling facilities, such as improved lighting and safer parking.

Connor shares good advice about avoiding overwhelm at university, and insights into how he found his role at Cycling UK – searching for an organisation that matched his values was key.

Mentioned in this podcast

Links

University of Sheffield

Charity Job (job board)

You might like to listen to:

Don Weatherbee CEO of RegenX Tech, S3 E7

Jo Faulkner-Harvey Head of income generation at Shakespeare Hospice S3 E5

Duncan Goose founder of Global Ethics and One Water S1 E10

Lydia Carrington Sustainability manager, Edgbaston cricket stadium S2 E1

About ProGRESS:

Subscribe and find out how they got there and how you can too.

Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast

Original content © Sandra Kessell

Original music © Lyze Kessell

Email: hello@mypro-gress.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Fernanda da Silva Tatley, Scientist, entrepreneur and Reiki Master

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 23:30:00 GMT

There's no doubt that Dr Fernanda da Silva Tatley's scientific career has been one of purpose. A medical molecular microbiologist, she’s researched tuberculosis (TB), listeria and cancer, working with Glaxo Wellcome, then enabled other researchers as an account manager for Roche Diagnostics.

Delve a little deeper and there’s a tale of a thwarted career however – she’d have liked to be an archaeologist but her father wanted her to go into medicine, so she compromised and studied sciences.

Alongside her career path, Fernanda has embraced many different experiences and roles, from Reiki Master and reconnective healing practitioner, to orienteer and photographic model.

The inspiration behind Fernanda’s business actually started in the 1980s and was parked.

Find out what took Fernanda so long to follow her dream, and why.

Listen out for Fernanda’s insights into managing parental expectations, changing career and why freeing your mind can open up a wealth of possibilities and opportunities.

Mentioned in this podcast

Links

Azurlis

Anita Roddick (Wikipedia entry)

University of Otago, New Zealand

University of Cape Town, South Africa

You might also like to listen to:

Sarah Ashworth, Researcher developer at University of Manchester S1 E11

Dr Bushra Schuitemaker, Zoologist, microbiologist and award winning communicator S4 E2

Duncan Goose, Founder of Global Ethics and One Water S1 E10

Maddie Booth, Sustainability consultant, educator and speaker S4 E6

About ProGRESS:

Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible careers, courses and activities and asks for real-world insights into the paths and decisions that led to them.

Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast

Original content © Sandra Kessell

Original music © Lyze Kessell

Email: hello@mypro-gress.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matthew Payne, Catalyst at Healthtech-1, NHS Youth Board member

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 23:30:00 GMT

Still in his early twenties Matthew Payne parked his career plans and degree course to work for a tech start-up to try, as he puts it, to fix the National Health Service.

Matthew was due to finish his final undergraduate year and had ticked all the boxes to make himself a good candidate for a well-paid traineeship in corporate law.

So what drives a person to work in a tech start-up facing such a tricky task – risky even if you believe in its products, the founders and can see that it might be going places?

The answer, in part, lies in Matthew’s strong ethical values, his sense of social responsibility and his push for sustainability.

With more than 1000+ GP practices in England signed up for Healthtech-1’s support, the firm is already making a difference and is looking to expand and improve its offerings.

Listen to the podcast to hear Matthew’s thoughts on taking on voluntary roles, the benefits of part-time work and of getting involved in new things at university. He runs through ideas for what might happen later in his career and emphasises the importance of getting young people's voices into the places that matter.

Mentioned in this podcast

Links

Healthtech-1

Sustainable Recruitment Alliance

Y Combinator

Science and Tech investment to ignite UK Growth

Do you need a degree to work in tech? (BBC)

Student Minds

Worcester University

Reading University

Other episodes you might like to listen to

Laura Yeates and Leora Schlasko – Sustainable recruitment alliance S1 E3

James Adeleke – Founder and CEO of Generation Success. Equality champion S4 E5

Maddie Booth – Sustainability consultant, educator and speaker S4 E6

Stuart Goldsmith – Climate comedian and podcaster S5 E2

About ProGRESS:

Subscribe and find out how they got there and how you can too.

Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast

Original content © Sandra Kessell

Original music © Lyze Kessell

Email: hello@mypro-gress.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stuart Goldsmith, Climate comedian and podcaster

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 23:30:00 GMT

What’s funny about climate change, you might think if you spot comedian Stuart Goldsmith’s job title.

The answer is, of course, nothing, but after a long and successful career as a performer and stand-up comedian Stuart found himself wanting to talk about just one thing - climate change.

So how does that pan out when you need to be paid for laughs? And who is in the audience when Stuart is delivering his message?

How do you even start a career like Stuart’s? And if you’re young, how do you sell the idea to your parents and teachers, who might think you should go out and get a ‘proper’ job?

Stuart answers all these questions and more, plus he explains why he started his podcast interviewing comedians and what to do if you want to have a values-led career.

Mentioned in this podcast

Stuart Goldsmith's website

Stuart Goldsmith on Instagram

The Comedian's Comedian podcast

Glastonbury 2025 Instagram

BBC News: The lack of working class actors

Atomic Habits - James Clear

You might also enjoy listening to:

Shaheer Hafeez, Director of ESG and climate risk at KPMG S3 E2

Divya Kumar, Community engagement manager, Earthwatch Europe S4 E4

Jo Faulkner-Harvey, Head of charity fundraising S3 E5

Rachel Warren, Professor of global change and environmental biology S1 E7

Duncan Goose, founder of Global Ethics and One Water S1 E10 and S4 E8

About ProGRESS:

Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast

Original content © Sandra Kessell

Original music © Lyze Kessell

Email: hello@mypro-gress.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Katie Goldsbrough, Woodland officer, ecologist, conservationist and bat carer

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 23:30:00 GMT

Katie Goldsbrough is a woodland officer, ecologist, conservationist and bat carer. She’s passionate about the outdoors, something that started in childhood and guided her through university, where she studied for a degree in zoology.

Aware of the masses of plastic tree guards used when planting saplings, which are rarely documented or removed when the trees start growing and which degrade and fragment, Katie founded the Plot That Plastic app. It's something every listener can use to document plastic guards in woodland.

In addition to her passion for trees, Katie has a great fondness for bats and explains that in the UK we have micro-bats, tiny in comparison to the types found elsewhere in the world.

Katie advocates enjoying your job rather than enduring it and explains why recent parenthood has added to her motivation to do her bit for conservation.

Duncan Goose, CEO and founder of One Water. One year on...

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 23:30:00 GMT

Duncan Goose, the founder of Global Ethics and the brand One Water, returned to ProGRESS to talk about what has happened in the 12 months since we last spoke, including why he undertook a round Britain road trip to echo the world tour he was on more than 20 years ago that changed his career direction.

Duncan also speaks about tracking down the girl (now woman) who sparked his mission to bring water projects to communities living in extreme poverty around the world, and you can see the story of that in the link below.

One Water gives away its profits to projects that provide clean drinking water to communities. With 5 million lives changed and more standpipes planned for the future, it is definitely a success story.

Read about One Water here and watch the story of 'the girl at the standpipe' here (link to YouTube).

Read more and find extra links on the ProGRESS website show notes page here

Listen to the first episode with Duncan in 2024 here.

Duncan Goose, founder of Global Ethics and One Water S1 E10

You might also like to listen to:

James Adeleke, Generation Success founder, equality champion, social entrepreneur S4 E5

Divya Kumar, Community engagement manager at Earthwatch Europe S4 E4

About ProGRESS:

Original content © Sandra Kessell

Original music © Lyze Kessell

Follow ProGRESS on LinkedIn

Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast

Email us: hello [@] mypro-gress.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rae Wilkinson, Award-winning garden designer. One year on...

Sat, 12 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

In this wide-reaching discussion, ProGRESS's first-ever guest Rae Wilkinson rejoins the podcast to tell Sandra more about her career as an award-winning sustainable landscape and garden designer.

Recording from her studio at the Knepp Estate in Sussex, Rae talks about introducing her clients to sustainable design and the notion of reducing carbon footprint as well as managing the budget when creating a garden for them.

Rae also discusses giving back to the next generation of designers who want to benefit from her wisdom and experience and how much value there is in giving back to your community through volunteering.

Click here to listen to Rae on the first-ever ProGRESS podcast

Rae Wilkinson, award-winning sustainable garden designer S1 E1

Links mentioned in this episode

Rae Wilkinson MSGLD, garden and landscape designer

The Knepp Estate

The Conservation Volunteers

Hear more of our guests talk about their values-led careers. How they got there and how you can too.

Shaheer Hafeez ACA, Director ESG and climate risk KPMG S3 E2

Sarah Kessell, CEO of The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales S1 E5

Divya Kumar, Community engagement manager at Earthwatch Europe S4 E4

David Kohnstamm, Chief sustainability officer, Leafcloud S4 E3

About ProGRESS:

Original content © Sandra Kessell

Original music © Lyze Kessell

Follow ProGRESS on LinkedIn

Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast

Email us: hello [@] mypro-gress.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Maddie Booth, Sustainability consultant, educator and speaker

Sat, 05 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Sustainability consultant and environmental educator Maddie Booth started her first enterprise while at the University of Warwick, where she was studying for a Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) in global sustainable development and politics.

In the spirit of no experience is wasted, Maddie says being an entrepreneur has been the biggest talking point in every job interview she’s had since exiting her business. Having worked in several jobs since graduating, Maddie has just taken up a newly created role as digital learning and development specialist at the Science Based Targets Initiative.

Despite all the success and progress she’s made following her degree, Maddie says if she were 15 now she would consider further education and apprenticeships rather than university. In fact, she is helping her younger brother as he makes course choices.

She urges older generations not to overburden Gen Z with the woes of the world, but is optimistic about their determination to find greener, more ethical, sustainable and socially responsible jobs.

You might also like to listen to:

Shaheer Hafeez , ACA, director of ESG and climate risk at KPMG S3 E2

Divya Kumar, Community engagement manager at Earthwatch Europe S4 E4

Beccy Dickson, Co-founder of Branded Bio and eco-entrepreneur S3 E12

Sarah Daly, Sustainability consultant and climate champion S3 E 1

About ProGRESS:

Original content © Sandra Kessell

Original music © Lyze Kessell

Follow ProGRESS on

Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast

Email us: hello [@] mypro-gress.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Adeleke, Generation Success founder, equality champion, social entrepreneur

Sat, 29 Mar 2025 00:30:00 GMT

James Adeleke thought his future lay in football, but a serious injury meant he had to rethink his plans (much to his mum's relief) and study law instead.

In this episode James talks about how meeting a homeless man after the London Riots affected his thinking, what turned his society at law school into the social enterprise Generation Success and why his mum has forgiven him for not following a legal career.

Generation Success empowers young people from all backgrounds across the UK reach their career aspirations, regardless of their circumstances. Hear what James has to say about social mobility, diversity, and inclusion and why his work is more important than ever.

Read more about James's career and find extra links on the ProGRESS website show notes page here

Divya Kumar, Community engagement manager at Earthwatch Europe

Sat, 22 Mar 2025 00:30:00 GMT

An absolute livewire, Divya Kumar is a community engagement manager for Earthwatch Europe, responsible for overseeing Tiny Forests around the UK. She aims to hit the 300 mark by the end of 2025 and now describes herself as a socio-environmentalist. But when Divya was younger, though she had dreams of becoming a veterinarian or an animator, her parents encouraged her towards a corporate career.

Divya describes how and why she stepped off her parents' ideal career path and how life changed again when, supporting her husband's career, Divya moved to the UK. You'll also hear how Divya's parents feel now about her career.

Read more and find extra links on the ProGRESS website show notes here…

Also mentioned in the podcast

Not The End of the World by Hannah Ritchie

University of Oxford

You might also enjoy listening to:

Dr Bushra Schuitemaker, Zoologist, microbiologist and award winning communicator S4 E2

Helen Walsh, designer, writer and conservation sector communicator S3 E11

Jo Faulkner-Harvey, head of charity fundraising S3 E5

Rachel Warren, Professor of global change and environmental biology S1 E7

About ProGRESS:

Original content © Sandra Kessell

Original music © Lyze Kessell

Follow ProGRESS

On LinkedIn

Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast

Email us: hello [@] mypro-gress.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Kohnstamm, Chief sustainability officer

Sat, 15 Mar 2025 00:30:00 GMT

David Kohnstamm is a thermal engineer and the chief sustainability officer and co–founder of Leafcloud, which offers its clients a truly green alternative to energy-hungry traditional data centres.

David is scathing about the misleading use of the word ‘cloud’ to describe most data centres, since they are not the nebulous things that the word conjures up. The reality is much more solid – huge computers located in large buildings in the middle of an open space, requiring vast amounts of energy, air conditioning and water to cool down the resulting heat.

Despite calling himself an introvert-extrovert nerd David, who is based in Amsterdam in the Netherlands, didn’t dream of becoming an IT entrepreneur. For a number of years he worked as a bicycle mechanic...

Read more and find extra links on the ProGRESS website show notes page here

You might also like to listen to:

Nick Molden, CEO and founder of Emissions Analytics S1 E4

Don Weatherbee, CEO of RegenX Tech S3 E7

Beccy Dickson, co-founder of Branded Bio and eco-entrepreneur S3 E12

About ProGRESS:

Original content © Sandra Kessell

Original music © Lyze Kessell

Follow ProGRESS on LinkedIn

Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast

Email us: hello [@] mypro-gress.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Bushra Schuitemaker, Zoologist, microbiologist and award winning communicator

Sat, 08 Mar 2025 00:30:00 GMT

Zoologist, microbiologist and science champion Dr Bushra Schuitemaker has carved out a career in research and is determined to ensure young people from disadvantaged backgrounds know that science is for them too.

Bushra’s stella science career is all the more remarkable because her local secondary school offered pupils no opportunities at all to take science A level courses. Now the school has full physics, chemistry and biology classes.

Read more and find extra links on the ProGRESS website show notes page here

Dr Mark Sumner, textiles programme lead at WRAP

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 01:00:00 GMT

Dr Mark Sumner was one of ProGRESS's earliest guests, so his 2025 return to the podcast to talk about the latest developments in his career feels like a seal of approval.

Mark talks about leaving Leeds University's School of Design at the end of the 2024 academic year in favour of a new role at WRAP, the Waste and Resources Action Programme.

WRAP is a not-for profit, non-governmental organisation (NGO) and for 20 years it has been pushing for global environmental action and circular living.

Read more and find extra links on the ProGRESS website show notes page here

Listen to Mark's original Season 1 interview here

You might also like to listen to:

Nicki Black, fashion and creative director S2 E3

Glen Burrows, photographer, disrupter, regenerative food entrepreneur S2 E5

Beccy Dickson, co-founder of Branded Bio and eco-entrepreneur S3 E12

About ProGRESS:

Original content © Sandra Kessell

Original music © Lyze Kessell

Follow ProGRESS on LinkedIn

Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast

Email us: hello [@] mypro-gress.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Justin Kelly CEO of Glass Futures, Chair of Sustainable Ventures

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 00:30:00 GMT

Business leader Justin Kelly stepped away from his C-suite role at the international engineering and technology company Siemens in 2022 and is now chief executive at Glass Futures, a not-for-profit tech membership organisation.

Glass Futures researches more sustainable glass manufacture across the globe, so this role fits well with Justin’s other recent appointment, chair of Sustainable Ventures North, a hub for climate tech business start-ups and entrepreneurs, building on the success of its London beginnings.

In this episode, Justin explains how he secured a university place, sponsored by Siemens, and how he rose to the top of the organisation.

As a business leader with a valued voice, particularly in England’s North-West region, Justin also discusses using his experience and knowledge to influence, guide and support organisations and programmes in manufacturing, technology, transport, skills and education…

Read more and find additional links on the ProGRESS website show notes page here

You might also like to listen to:

Sarah Ashworth, Researcher developer, University of Manchester S1 E 11

Don Weatherbee, CEO of RegenX Tech S3 E7

Shaheer Hafeez ACA, Director ESG and climate risk KPMG S3 E2

About ProGRESS:

Original content © Sandra Kessell

Original music © Lyze Kessell

Follow ProGRESS on LinkedIn

Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast

Email us: hello [@] mypro-gress.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Season 3 round-up: The lightbulb moment

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 00:07:45 GMT

Season 3 round-up: The lightbulb moment

Featuring all 11 guests, this end-of-season episode highlights guests' explanations of how, when and why they got into their career. For some, it was a natural progression from a childhood interest or obsession, while others had a lightbulb or lightning bolt moment that made them reassess their courses or careers.

About ProGRESS:

Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcast

Original content © Sandra Kessell

Original music © Lyze Kessell

Email: hello@mypro-gress.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beccy Dickson, co-founder of Branded Bio and eco entrepreneur,

Sat, 18 Jan 2025 00:30:00 GMT

In spite of business liquidation and a divorce, award-winning f:Entrepreneur Beccy Dickson and now ex-husband Macey Mitchell decided to remain business partners, founding Branded Bio, which supplies sustainable walls and backdrops full of living green plants and flowers for events, to interior designers and even to cover electric vehicle chargers and furniture. In fact it was a living plant-covered bus touring round Westminster in London that sparked Beccy's appearance on the podcast.

Stuck on holiday on the island of Madeira during an enforced extended Covid lockdown, Beccy and Macey spent time talking about where and what next, and settling a future path. But if that makes being a female entrepreneur sound a bed of roses, Beccy is quick to point out the graft behind the spectacular living walls that now make up the mainstay of their business.

Beccy didn't have a clear route to becoming an award-winning small business owner. She left full-time education aged 15, with few formal qualifications. Through family connections, Macey helped her land a job with a small wine branding business, where a mentor believed in her potential and encouraged her further.

It wasn't until she was a mum that Beccy returned to college to study for her GCSEs, initially thinking she'd like to train as a teacher. Across the years she has worked variously in sales, marketing and as a creative director, but it was a chance commission that led Beccy to find her passion. The print production agency she and Macey were running was asked to quote to brand a living wall and suddenly her interest was sparked and her outlook on life changed.

Beccy is candid that her cousin, a long-time champion of sustainability, now teases her about being green and the awards she has won for it. Beccy jokes she may be an accidental sustainability passionista.

Creating living green backdrops can use 1000 plants, all of which have to be looked after and watered to remain looking good. It's hard physical work that requires high energy levels on top of all the usual business worries. When she's not juggling family demands in a multi-generational house alongside the business office in the back garden, Beccy goes to the gym and swims to stay strong.

She wants to pass on sustainability lessons to the next gen, including her children. And Beccy urges everyone to try to make a difference to the planet's future.

"We all have to do our little bit," she says.

Links mentioned in the podcast

Branded Bio website

Branded Bio Instagram

f:Entrepreneur

Small Business Britain

SME business population (Table C)

You might also like to listen to:

Mark Sumner, Leeds School of Design at Leeds University S1 E6

Rachel Warren, professor of global change and environmental biology S1 E7

Content © Sandra Kessell

Original music © Lyze Kessell

Email Hello@myPro-GRESS.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Helen Walsh, Designer, writer and conservation sector communications expert

Sat, 11 Jan 2025 00:30:55 GMT

A creative child who was also interested in science, Helen Walsh was encouraged by her teacher parents to explore all her interests, something that stood her in good stead for her future career.

Helen was fascinated by sharks as a child – though growing up in Stoke she was about as far away from the sea as it is possible to be in the UK. An animal lover and budding conservationist, even then, Helen was also a keen fan of The Really Wild Show, a BBC children's programme. Back then it was presented by Michaela Strachan, Terry Nutkins and conservation campaigner Chris Packham, someone she later met through her work.

Helen gained a first-class BSc in Zoology at the University of Nottingham, then an unexpected phone call led to her enrolling in a Masters in biological photography and imaging, something that resulted in the career she still does.

From the time she left university and stepped into the world of communication and public engagement, Helen has been encouraging people to learn about wildlife conservation, the countryside and their natural surroundings. From starting work for the West Midlands Biodiversity Partnership. She went on to work in media and communications for Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust, (fondly known as BBOWT to local supporters), before setting up as a freelance.

Today, Helen splits her time between her own business, Lonely Cottage Productions, and a publications business, Nature Bureau, designing, photographing and writing for scientific, environmental and wildlife-themed projects. In that time she has supported many projects and campaigns and helped organisations raise their profile with the public.

Now a parent, Helen starts and ends her day with walking her children to school, who help her retain her optimism for the world's future too, since they often come home with information and suggestions about better ways to live.

Links mentioned in the podcast

Lonely Cottage Productions

Nature Bureau

University of Nottingham MSc in biological photography and imaging.

You might also like to listen to:

Jake Fiennes, National nature reserve director and general manager, conservation, Holkham Estate S1 E8

Sarah Kessell CEO of The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales S1 E5

About ProGRESS:

Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially Responsible jobs, courses or activities and asks for real-world insights into the pathways and careers that led to them.

Content © Sandra Kessell

Original music © Lyze Kessell

Email: Hello@myPro-GRESS.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matthew Halteman, philosophy professor, animal and food ethicist, Arsenal football fan

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:30:46 GMT

Dr Matthew C Halteman is a professor of philosophy at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan and a fellow at the Oxford Centre of Animal Ethics. Beside his academic work, Matthew is on the board of directors for The Better Food Foundation and Creature Kind, and he's the author of Hungry Beautiful Animals: The Joyful Case for Going Vegan.

Matt urges us to stop looking for moral perfectionism and accept mistakes and dead ends are part of being human. He encourages listeners to look for light coming through the cracks, and he advocates shifting from scarcity mode to an abundance mindset to stay positive. His career and veganism comes from finding his way, rather than a particular plan, shaped by being an anxious young person at a time when there was less support and understanding. He thought he'd train for a career in law but instead turned to philosophy, which opened his mind and made better sense of the world.

The story of Matt's first meeting with his then-girlfriend's scary father, a successful businessman, is poignant and personal. To Matthew's surprise and relief, his now father-in-law was a strong advocate of philosophy studies among young executives.

A bulldog called Gus, and friend and fellow philosopher Nathan Nobis, of Morehouse College, Atlanta, and Matt's wife Susan, helped him change his omnivorous eating habits. And while veganism is his own ethical and philosophical choice, it's not something Matt would insist his children followed throughout adulthood (though he'd be pleased if they did).

Finally, and curiously, Matthew is an avid follower of Arsenal Football Club – the English Premiership (soccer) team also known as The Gunners. He's also interested the vegan football team Forest Green Rovers, which is supported by planet and plant advocate, Dale Vince.

Links

Matthew C. Halteman

Arsenal Football Club

Forest Green Rovers

Nathan Nobis

You might also like to listen to:

Imogen Overy S2 E6

Lydia Carrington S2 E1

Glen Burrows S2 E5

About ProGRESS:

Instagram ProGRESS

Content © Sandra Kessell

Original music © Lyze Kessell

Email: Hello@myPro-GRESS.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jonathan Mearns OBE, careers coach, sustainability entrepreneur and adventurer

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 01:00:18 GMT

Jonathan Mearns OBE, has a job role topical to the festive season.

Jonathan is a founder of London Christmas Tree Rental. The company rents out living Norway Spruce trees in England's capital city over the Christmas period. Trees are picked up by their temporary owners, then returned to their nursery after a brief encounter with the indoors. The idea of renting out Christmas trees sprang to life when, one January, Jonathan saw dozens of desiccated and discarded trees awaiting refuse collection on London's streets and thought 'There's got to be a better way than this.' Research showed that seven million trees were chucked, cast off or chipped every year and Jonathan's new business plan began.

But that's not where Jonathan's career story starts, or even where it’s going to end. A former police officer, who was awarded an OBE for services to international counter-terrorism in the King's New Years Honours 2023, Jonathan is now a life and career coach, an ambassador for IAfrika children’s home in Nairobi, where he promotes and financially supports children’s education in Kenya. And when he's not doing all of that he's an adventurer and mountaineer. In fact, it was an encounter with his own mortality on a mountain that prompted him to write a book, One Mountain, Two Minds: Taking the Mountain Metaphor to the Next Level.

Jonathan is open about his lack of glowing school reports and still recalls one parents' evening when his primary school teacher made dire predictions about his future. Instead he has had an exciting, challenging, life affirming career. He maintains a positivity that is palpable – even on a screen via Zoom connection – and he's not done yet.

Mentioned in this podcast

Jonathan Mearns

The Earthshot Prize

IAfrika children’s home in Nairobi, Kenya

London Christmas Tree Rental

You might also like to listen to:

Jo Faulkner-Harvey, head of charity fundraising S3 E5

Duncan Goose, founder of Global Ethics and One Water S1 E10

Kurt Henderson, senior product designer Byway Travel S2 E4

Rachel Johnson, student mental health social worker S3 E8

About ProGRESS:

Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their pro-Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially Responsible jobs, courses or activities and asks them to share real-world insights into the pathways and careers they've experienced.

Instagram: @theProGRESS_podcast

Original content © Sandra Kessell

Original music © Lyze Kessell

Email: hello@mypro-gress.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rachel Johnson, student mental health social worker

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 00:30:46 GMT

Rachel Johnson's career was going swimmingly. In the two decades since graduating from University of Leeds, she had worked her way up through various early careers and student research organisations, such as Milkround, Not Going to Uni, UCAS and Cibyl at Group GTI, an independent market research agency specialising in student research projects across the UK and Ireland. She was a business director, owned her own flat and when holidays came around, Rachel was ticking off a bucket list of places to see. Rachel was continuing with the running she had taken up during the pandemic and quietly, in her spare time, she volunteered at Samaritans, the charity that offers 24/7 listening support to people struggling to cope.

Then in 2024, Rachel handed in her notice to take up a place as a trainee mental health social worker. And while that might have been a mic-drop moment for people she worked with, it was something Rachel had been considering for some time.

In this episode Rachel explains:

• why she took such a momentous decision

• what it's been like to return to tutorials 20 years after graduating from the University of Leeds

• how it has been to re-learn essay writing

• the reflective practices in place that help social workers cope with case work

• how she feels about going on placements at the front line as a trainee mental health social worker.

Rachel offers advice for anyone considering treading the same path as her to become a social worker, whether they are fresh out of university or, like her, making a career change. She also talks about what happens next, after summer 2025, when she receives her postgraduate diploma and masters degree.

Mentioned in this podcast

Links

Think Ahead

Cibyl, Group GTI

Samaritans

Don Weatherbee, CPA, CMA, CITP and CEO of RegenX

Sat, 14 Dec 2024 00:30:42 GMT

A decade ago Canadian Don Weatherbee moved from his long career crunching the numbers in mining to join a gold recovery company. From there, it wasn't such a big leap to start working with the pioneering technology business RegenX, innovating the way precious metals are recycled, particularly those in end-of-life catalytic converters. As part of the circular economy, reusing materials that have already been processed, Don reflects on a career that has seen massive changes in environmental impact and his sense of optimism.

In this episode Don talks about:

• choosing to study for a Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of Alberta

• why accountancy and technology are a good foundations for business leadership

• the benefits of being "the numbers guy" in the executive team

• the circular economy

• why people are at the heart of innovation and how that will conserve natural resources.

In addition Don discusses:

• the power of asking "Why?" in meetings

• good reasons to find out what other people in a company do.

An avid sports fan Don signs off by revealing:

• how he chooses to relax

• the privileges of living close to the Canadian Rocky Mountains

• reasons to remain optimistic about the future.

Mentioned in this podcast

RegenX

(RGX Tech Corps)

The American Institute of CPAs and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)

The circular economy

You might also like to listen to:

Shaheer Hafeez ACA, Director ESG and climate risk KPMG S3 E2

Sarah Daly, sustainability consultant and climate champion S3 E1

Nick Molden, CEO Emissions Analytics S1 E4

Lydia Carrington, sustainability manager Edgbaston Stadium S2 E1

Kurt Henderson, senior product designer Byway Travel S2 E4

About ProGRESS:

Instagram: @theProGRESS_podcast

Original content © Sandra Kessell

Original music © Lyze Kessell

Email: hello@mypro-gress.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Danielle Neal

Sat, 07 Dec 2024 00:21:32 GMT

Danielle Neal is a procurement officer for Norwich City Council. They gained a first class honours degree in Environmental Sciences from the University of East Anglia, (UEA), studying a course that included a year in industry.

Initially, and because of their strong background in business studies, Dani thought their future would be lie in accounting and finance, but because of their interest in conservation and a desire to do something about climate change they switched courses.

Since graduating in 2018, Dani has been working in local government, and dovetailing environmental and conservation with hobbies that include biological recording, crafting and knitting, cinema and occasional travel.

When Dani attended university open days, they were drawn to the campus and community at UEA, as well as the strong reputation of both its business and environmental departments. And while there, they found lots of benefits to joining societies and volunteering, all of which helped them build connections and gain experience while also boosting wellbeing.

Dani talks of their view of Gens Y and Z, how they see their working life and purpose, how they find optimism through their faith in humans building community and the continued advancements in science and technology.

Top green, ethical, sustainable and socially responsible advice from Dani:

• Use your free time while studying to volunteer, engage with work shadowing and find what you enjoy. Ask questions – the people in the field you want to work in are the best to advise you.

• Do something that inspires you. We can all do something positive in EVERY role.

• Read up on your employers' environmental policy. Check for volunteering opportunities at work and see what you can do in your everyday life.

Mentioned in this podcast

University of East Anglia Environmental Sciences

RSPB volunteering

Norfolk Wildlife Trust volunteering

Shop Local

Jo Faulkner-Harvey, head of charity fundraising

Sat, 30 Nov 2024 01:00:27 GMT

Jo Faulkner-Harvey studied theatre design but left her degree early when she was offered an amazing internship. It meant working on productions and prop-making behind the scenes on such classic films as Alien. But a twist of fate a few years later found her back in Northamptonshire, working at Silverstone racing circuit before she landed a job at Oxfordshire's hospice, Katharine House.

In this episode Jo talks about switching from her first love, art, and developing a passion for charity fundraising. She explains what she looks for when she's recruiting for her own teams, transferable skills and experience and the importance of downtime away from her all-consuming job.

Jo gives her opinion on the benefits of working in the third sector versus a big-money big-business career and her personal views on charity CEOs receiving decent salary packages. She also reveals why The Shakespeare Hospice in South Warwickshire is having to find an extra £50,000 this year. In this episode we discuss why charity donors and supporters are like investors in a business and the power of celebrity endorsements for charities.

Jo retains her optimism for the future, and talks of her respect for Gens Y and Z values and discernment and how they are already making a difference to businesses' and charities' outlooks.

And in common with all our episodes, this podcast is full of tips for what you can do if you want a career like our guest's.

Mentioned in this podcast

The Shakespeare Hospice

Katharine House Hospice

Macmillan Cancer Support

Homeless Oxfordshire

Retina UK

Chris McCausland on BBC Strictly Come Dancing

Enjoyed this episode? You may also like:

Nicki Black, fashion and creative director S2 E3

Duncan Goose, founder of Global Ethics and One Water S1 E10

Rae Wilkinson, award-winning sustainable garden designer S1 E1

Dr Mark Sumner, sustainable fashion lecturer S1 E6

About ProGRESS:

Instagram theprogress_podcast

Web: https://www.mypro-gress.co.uk

Original content © Sandra Kessell

Original music © Lyze Kessell Insta @lyzetheartist

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stuart Mabbutt aka The Wildman Part 2

Sat, 23 Nov 2024 01:00:19 GMT

Part 2

If you've heard of Stuart Mabbutt, it's likely to be through his podcast or his business Wildman Environmental Learning.

His sensory nature workshops enable people to connect with the natural world, and sometimes an unlikely beginning leads to a life revelation.

When he’s not doing that, Stuart is a wildlife sound recordist and producer, an author, public speaker, radio host and a wildlife gardening consultant.

He's also a campaigner, heading The Genuine Disabled Countryside Access Task Force, which highlights the issues encountered by people of different abilities. His YouTube videos are enlightening and revelatory, as he invites a film crew to join him trying to access the countryside in his wheelchair.

Stuart Mabbutt aka The Wildman Part 1

Sat, 16 Nov 2024 00:30:46 GMT

Part 1

Stuart Mabbutt can recall the first time he engaged with the natural world and wanted to know more. He was in primary school, came across a dead magpie, and wondered why someone had ringed it. His teacher, meanwhile, was trying to persuade Stuart to leave it alone.

And so began a lifelong involvement, not only in nature, but in being something of a contrarian.

If you've heard of Stuart, it's likely to be through his podcast or Wildman Environmental Learning.

His sensory nature workshops enable people to connect with the natural world, sometimes an unlikely beginning leads to a life revelation.

And when he’s not doing that, Stuart is a wildlife sound recordist and producer, an author, public speaker, radio host and a wildlife gardening consultant.

After years helping other people find themselves through the great outdoors, a decline in Stuart's health and a need to use a wheelchair prompted him to lead the Oxfordshire campaign The Genuine Disabled Countryside Access Task Force. His YouTube videos are eye-opening, highlighting the issues encountered by people with different disabilities. These include how to get a wheelchair through a kissing gate, how to read a map with vision impairments and many other barriers.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Wildman Environmental Workshops

The People’s Countryside Podcast:

YouTube @WildmanEnvironmentalLearning

Shaheer Hafeez ACA

Sat, 09 Nov 2024 00:42:03 GMT

Shaheer Hafeez left university and started studying for his accountancy exams with a view to going into a career in audit.

But volunteering with the social enterprise Generation Success, and meeting its founder James Adeleke showed Shaheer just how far a can-do attitude can take you.

He shifted his focus to work in Environmental Social and Governance and climate risk, applied for a job with Big 4 consultancy firm KPMG and has risen to be a director.

Not only does Shaheer now head up a team advising companies about their own ESG and climate strategy, he also mentors social enterprises on scale up. Earlier this year Shaheer become a member of Generation Success's advisory board. The social enterprise empowers young professionals and drives the principles of social mobility, equality, and diversity.

At a panel discussion when he was asked ‘What truly defines a green job?’ Shaheer pointed out the complex nature of the answer, something he goes on to explain more about in the podcast.

Useful links

The ICAEW audit qualifications

Generation Success

St Mungos

KPMG careers

You might also like to listen to:

Lydia Carrington, sustainability manager, Edgbaston Stadium (S2 Ep 1)

Sanjukta Jitendhar, architect, Mikhail Riches (S1 Ep 9)

Sarah Daly, Climate champion and sustainability expert (S3 Ep 1)

About ProGRESS

Instagram ProGRESS

Content © Sandra Kessell

Original music © Lyze Kessell

Email: hello[at]mypro-gress.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah Daly, sustainability consultant and climate champion

Sat, 02 Nov 2024 00:30:25 GMT

Sarah Daly is a climate champion and independent sustainability consultant who advises organisations, businesses and agencies. A TEDx speaker, Sarah is a leading LinkedIn sustainability influencer, and is named in the 2023 Unlock Net Zero Climate Champions' Power List.

Sarah's varied workload includes discussing responsible supply chains and procurement, or advising City of London businesses on decarbonising offices, or talking to local government about social housing, or lecturing at universities, or advocating sustainability strategies with charities and overseas development agencies…

Originally in marketing and communications, Sarah found herself working with former miners who had bought a disused coalfield for £1 with plans to turn it into an energy efficient village. Sarah dubs it her Al Gore moment.

Listen in to hear why Sarah:

• makes an effort to lead by example

• sold her car in favour of an e-bike (and how she's getting on with that choice)

• has swapped long-haul flights for rail-accessible holidays

• has given up meat and fish.

A friend of hugely respected climate change activist Jonathan Porritt, Sarah offers tips for finding and creating a job role that meets your ethical and green values, and emphasises the importance of hiring next generation employees to ensure fresh thoughts and young voices shape future company success.

"I think you can be respectfully vocal," she says.

Follow Sarah on LinkedIn and see what's been happening since her six-week summer break.

You might also like to listen to:

Lydia Carrington, sustainability manager, Edgbaston Stadium (S2 Ep 1)

Sanjukta Jitendhar, architect, Mikhail Riches (S1 Ep 9)

Jamie Osborn, the Green Party and MCS Foundation (S1 Ep2)

Kurt Henderson, senior product designer, Byway Travel (S2 Ep 5)

About ProGRESS

Instagram ProGRESS

Content © Sandra Kessell

Original music © Lyze Kessell

Email: hello[at]mypro-gress.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Imogen Overy, classics graduate, personal trainer, vegan, pro-wrestler

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 23:30:18 GMT

Imogen Overy is a personal trainer (PT) at the UK’s first carbon neutral gym chain. As a vegan, she chooses a plant-based diet, but she encourages clients to eat to be healthy, meat included if they want it.

Imogen was studying classical civilisations at the University of Warwick, with a view to going into law, when she decided in her second year that she didn't want an office job.

Working in a café, Imogen reconsidered her options – she had achieved academic success but she liked being active, variety in her day and meeting different people. Then she hit on a career as a personal trainer (PT) even though she was not an avid gym goer at the time. Her parents fully backed her decision, partly, Imogen says, because her dad worked for years in a job he didn't love.

After gaining an accredited level 3 PT qualification, studying modules such as anatomy, writing gym programmes and teaching people how to perform the exercises, Imogen joined her first gym. Now she works as a self-employed PT, Imogen points out that she's running a small business. She's in charge of marketing, scheduling and managing everything that brings in clients and income.

There's plenty of variety in her life now, but another of Imogen's jobs is next level excitement. Her alter ego, Lady Bella Van der Velt, is a professional wrestler with the World Association of Wrestling – that's entertainment wrestling not the Greco-Roman style recently seen at the Olympic Games – and despite her small size, Imogen has loved it since her first day.

Imogen's advice if you want to follow in her footsteps:

Commit to the job
Be adaptable, because you will be working with all kinds of people
Invest in your knowledge, whether that's how to improve a squat technique, or expanding your business knowledge
Be your authentic self, with clients, at work and on social media.

Useful links

Personal trainer apprenticeships

The Gym Group

World Association of Wrestling

Greco-Roman Wrestling

Imogen on Instagram

Glen Burrows, photographer, disrupter, regenerative food entrepreneur

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 00:00:03 GMT

He shelved his ambition to be a chef, went to university and for 25 years ate no meat. Then Glen Burrows became an omnivore.

Glen discusses his high-octane, interesting and hugely successful career as a globally sought-after professional photographer and videographer, and his very intriguing personal choices around food.

Having been the 'awkward veggie one' among his meat-eating friends, Glen found himself having to square his change of heart with his long-standing community of vegetarians, which he admits wasn't easy. And then Glen took everything a step further by co-founding The Ethical Butcher, selling regeneratively farmed, ethical, high quality meat direct to consumers. He also founded Regenuary, a January campaign to encourage sustainable food choices.

Glen's latest venture is as head of knowledge exchange for New Foundation Farms, a radical natural food and farming enterprise based in Devon. The foundation aims to democratise access to affordable food without compromising quality or depleting the environment.

In the podcast Glen discusses:

• a career in photography

• the lessons he learned leaving his 'tribe' of vegetarians

• food, farming, and marketing

• maintaining optimism about the planet and the people within it.

Mentioned in this podcast

New Foundation Farms

The Ethical Butcher

George Monbiot

Not the end of the world by Hannah Ritchie

Glen Burrows portfolio

You might also like to listen to:

S1 E8 Jake Fiennes director of the Holkham Nature Reserve and general manager, conservation, at Holkham Estate in Norfolk

S1 E7 Rachel Warren professor of global change and environmental biology

S2 E2 Mark Harvey managing director of Fielden Whisky

About ProGRESS:

Instagram ProGRESS

Email: hello[at]mypro-gress.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kurt Henderson, senior product designer at Byway Travel

Wed, 24 Jul 2024 23:04:21 GMT

Kurt Henderson is a polymath. Before Kurt landed at the B-Corps certified company Byway Travel he was an entrepreneur, starting his first venture while at school. He began studying architectural technology at Brighton University but switched to digital media and design, a move he describes as "one of the best decisions I've ever made."

Now he's a senior product designer at Byway, which coordinates 100% flight-free options for customers who want to travel sustainably and enjoy the journey as much as the destination.

A year into working for Byway Kurt talks about the company's sustainable, ethical approach to travelling and working within a company culture that is respectful and inclusive. He goes on to talk about about "tech for good" and "it's important to give back while you are still growing yourself."

But there's so much more to Kurt besides work and true to the 'giving back' ethos Kurt serves on the advisory board of ERIC, and guest lectures at Brighton University. He has been involved in youth businesses schemes and he advocates for diversity practices and policies. To unwind he plays tag rugby and basketball and music is still a big thing in his life.

In this episode Kurt discusses:

• working in a role you feel passionate about

• freelancing and corporate culture vs start-ups

• being patient and not expecting change instantly

• consistency

• finding time for yourself.

• giving back.

Mentioned in this podcast

Byway Travel

Eric ceative careers app

B Corps UK

University of Brighton

You might also like to listen to:

Lydia Carrington, sustainability manager at Edgbaston Stadium S2 E1

Sanjukta Jitendhar, architect, Mikhail Riches, S1 E9

Duncan Goose, CEO and founder of One Water and Global Ethics S1 E10

ABOUT

Host Sandra Kessell and her guests talk about how they progressed into their Green, Ethical, Sustainable or Socially responsible jobs and offer real-world insights into courses and pathways for following in their footsteps.

Instagram ProGRESS

Twitter ProGRESS Careers

Email: Hello[at]myPro-GRESS.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nicki Black, fashion and creative director

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 23:30:37 GMT

After leaving school and studying fashion design Nicki Black joined a PR firm. She hated it.

But a friendly stylist took Nicki under her wing and helped her navigate into the world of fashion shoots. Over the last 20-plus years she has carved out a stellar career as a fashion and creative director, working on campaigns for big-name brands such as Adidas, Under Armour and Next, as well as in-house for glossy magazines.

A pivotal moment came in the quiet days of lockdown, when Nicki had time to explore her growing interest in sustainability. She started studying MOOC modules in sustainable fashion management with Future Learn, and this year (2024) she gained a Masters in the subject, an achievement over three years of juggling assignments with long working hours and family commitments.

In the podcast Nicki talks about

securing a career in the world of creative direction
the challenges associated with sustainability in fashion
changing attitudes to waste on shoots.

Nicki also reveals some of the big name stars she has styled over the years and her hopes for a new venture that brings a greener outlook to creative direction.

Also mentioned in this podcast:

FutureLearn

The Sustainability Management School (SUMAS)

The Great British Sewing Bee

You might also like to listen to:

Mark Sumner, Leeds School of Design at Leeds University S1 E6

Jamie Osborn of The Green Party and MCS Foundation S1 E2

Glen Burrows S2

Instagram ProGRESS

Twitter ProGRESS Careers

Email: Hello@myPro-GRESS.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Harvey, managing director of Fielden Whisky of England

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 23:10:22 GMT

Mark Harvey is the managing director of Fielden Whisky of England. Fielden puts emphasis on the heart of its whisky, ancient grains grown on chemical-free land, planted with an under-storey of white clover. Everything starts from this point of regenerative farming and the grain is grown across England, from Cornwall to Norfolk. But as Mark says in the podcast, if the whisky didn't taste good the methods would only be interesting and Mark assures listeners it's delicious!

Mark's career story started out in luxury brands, including Cartier and LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy) allowing him to grow his experience and knowledge in different countries.

But after a number of years Mark could see that his job would start to become repetitive and before long found himself meeting the board of English wine producer Chapel Down and being appointed its managing director.

Leaving corporate life and working for a smaller organisation came with its own challenges, but Mark highlights the impact a smaller company can have on the environment. Following a seven year stint at Chapel Down, during which the wines won acclaim and the brand thrived, Mark joined Fielden Whisky, at the time still known under its Oxford Artisan Distillery label.

It's not hard to see how sustainable a product like Fielden is, but Mark retains an interest in luxury goods as a board member of Walpole, the membership body for over 200 UK luxury brands. Mark also talks about how those companies are developing sustainable practices and mentions one in particular that offers a repair service*.

Listen in for more tips about finding a green career and Mark's thoughts on working for a small producer versus a job for a corporate organisation. Mark also shares the best piece of career advice he's ever received.

Mentioned in this podcast

Fielden Whisky of England

Fielden Whisky on Instagram

*The business Mark highlights that repairs and revitalises luxury goods is no longer operational but its founders have started Circulo making tech repair accessible and universal.

Other episodes you may find interesting

Jake Fiennes - Holkham Estate S1 E8

Rae Wilkinson sustainable garden designer S1 E1

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lydia Carrington, sustainability manager, Edgbaston Stadium

Thu, 04 Jul 2024 01:13:53 GMT

Lydia Carrington works as the sustainability manager for the iconic cricket stadium Edgbaston, which is something of a beacon when it comes to promoting green sporting events. Edgbaston Stadium's commitment to changing its carbon emissions for the better is particularly noticable on match days, when as many as 25,000 people watch from the stadium and hundreds of thousands (if not millions) more watch or listen through media channels.

By encouraging spectators – and staff – to be greener about how they travel, what they eat and even by simply bringing along a refillable water bottle, Lydia and the team have seen huge reductions in Edgbaston's CO2 emissions.

But Lydia admits she had no clear career plan when leaving college and wasn't sure she wanted to go to university. She loved geography but was clear on one thing – she didn't want to to be a teacher.

Despite those reservations Lydia studied for a degree in geography and enjoyed taking modules in international development and Scope 3 greenhouse gas tracking.

Her first job after graduating was as a project controller assisting with documentation – nothing to do with sustainability but she knew there were environmental roles within the company and one day asked her boss if she could write environmental management plans for a couple of the sites within her own job and her career took off from there.

Her second job used more of her training, and she came across her current role at Edgbaston Stadium through her network on LinkedIn. Interview rounds successfully completed, the job was hers.

Lydia emphasises that she has been able to make her own mark on what was a brand new role. And to anyone wanting to follow in her footsteps Lydia says:

• stay open-minded about where you'll work at first – provided it meets your values

• the number of sustainability jobs is rising

• green opportunities lay in all sectors

Mentioned in this podcast:

Scope 3 Greenhouse Gas protocols

ABOUT

Instagram ProGRESS

Email: Hello(at)myPro-GRESS.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Green tips, ethical stories and some of the best bits from Season 1

Fri, 10 May 2024 09:37:00 GMT

Host Sandra recaps on some of the best bits since the show was launched at the beginning of 2024 and picks out a highlight from each of the 12 guests featured in series 1. She reflects on the amazing insights they've shared, the actions they took along their career pathway and there are some funny stories in there too.

All the episodes, along with shownote links to the materials, sites, books and organisations mentioned by guests are available wherever you get your podcasts.

Thank you for being part of our own progress by listening to Season 1.

Season 2 is the perfect place to catch more brilliant stories, hints, tips and key takeaways from people who are living, working and studying in greener, ethical, sustainable and socially responsible ways.

About ProGRESS:

Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss jobs, courses and activities and asks for real-world insights into the pathways and career choices that led to their current point in life. Every story features a pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and/or Socially Responsible takes on working, living, training and studying.

Instagram ProGRESS

Email: hello[at]mypro-gress.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah Ashworth, researcher developer at University of Manchester

Wed, 01 May 2024 23:30:52 GMT

Sarah Ashworth was the first in her family to go to university after receiving a contextualised offer in recognition of her achievement. She studied pathology and microbiology at Bristol University and remembers the benefits she gained from a Nuffield Foundation placement. She also talks about working in water quality control for AstraZeneca in her industrial placement year and her PhD research work on 'plastic eating fungi' which has been back in the news very recently.

Interested in environmental science and environmental consulting, Sarah volunteered with Groundwork UK before taking what she thought would be a temporary post as a careers advisor for the University of Manchester. After recognising this was her niche, Sarah has been using her knowledge as a researcher, supervisor and scientist throughout the last two decades as she helps postgraduate students and PhD researchers - as well as others - fulfil their aims and find their own pathways to a satisying career.

More information:

University of Manchester

Groundwork UK

Nuffield Foundation Placements

Also mentioned:

UK Government study in the UK

The Life Scientific podcast with Jim Al-Khalili

Fungi in concrete at Chernobyl

Plastic eating fungi

About ProGRESS

Each episode of ProGRESS features podcast host and long-time journalist Sandra Kessell in conversation with people working, teaching and learning in Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially Responsible sectors (the GRESS of ProGRESS). Guests talk about how they got where they are and pass on their ideas for following in their footsteps.

But young, old, or in mid-career you don’t have to be looking for a new direction to enjoy a good story and ProGRESS aims to inspire and entertain while offering greener, more ethical, sustainable and socially responsible ways of thinking, working, studying, training and living.

Instagram ProGRESS

Email: hello@my-progress.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duncan Goose, founder of Global Ethics and One Water

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 23:30:41 GMT

Duncan's career change from advertising and marketing executive to social entrepreneur and charity head was instigated after a life changing six-month world motorbiking trip. He returned to the UK with a vision: selling bottled water for good causes and using the profits to bring clean water projects to the one billion people worldwide who lived without access to it.

Duncan explains why he went into marketing rather than medicine, what made him leave a job he enjoyed and how he ended up running an ethical organisation, based on values instilled by his grandparents and parents.

He also discusses:

• the importance of One being carbon neutral

• why One opted for green energy from the get-go

• using recycled plastic for bottles before it became 'the right thing' to do.

• why One was among the first UK organisations to get B Corp certification.

Mentioned in this podcast

One Water

B Corporations

The Co-op water security programmes

World Duty Free

One Water and Starbucks

Polytag packaging tracing technology

Jupiter's Travels by Ted Simon

Sanjukta Jitendhar, architect, Mikhail Riches

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 23:30:27 GMT

Sanjukta Jitendhar is an architect working at Mikhail Riches. In this episode she discusses her professional philosophy and aspirations, and her views on rent affordability and home ownership, particularly for her generation. She also talks about refurbishing and repurposing existing homes and buildings, rather than demolishing and rebuilding them.

Sanju (as she's known) started to develop an interest in sustainable and equitable living for all as she was child in Bangalore, southern India. As the city enjoyed an extraordinary tech boom, millions of workers moved to Bangalore to service the tech pros' needs. Her grandparents also moved to look after Sanju while her parents, computer scientists, worked long hours, six days a week. Watching a developing inequitable housing situation gave Sanju the motivation to move to the UK and study architecture as a young adult. It also gave her the impetus to seek employment with a company that met her values of sustainable and equitable living across generations and societies.

Mentioned in this episode

Sanjukta Jitendhar professional profile

Mikhail Riches architects

RIBA Stirling Prize 2019 winner Goldsmith Street

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)

Bangalore: India’s high-growth tech hub

University of Sheffield School of Architecture

University of Westminster Master of Architecture

About ProGRESS

Instagram ProGRESS

Email: hello@my-progress.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jake Fiennes, director of Holkham National Nature Reserve and general manager, conservation, Holkham Estate

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 23:30:54 GMT

Jake Fiennes is director of the Holkham Nature Reserve and general manager, conservation, at Holkham Estate in Norfolk. But he left school aged 16 to move to London and work at a nightclub and from there, his career path involved a few twists and turns before he became a hugely respected and listened-to conservationist and advisor.

Jake credits his parents with enabling their children to become interesting individuals (his siblings include actors Ralph and Joseph, composer Magnus and film-makers Martha and Sophie), and he personally inherited their attention to detail and observation. It's those attributes, together with his willingness to take on hard graft, that have shaped his life. Jake also acknowledges that his enlightened 'bosses' have encouraged him in his practices to promote wildlife within agriculture.

The resultant biodiversity, including hares, birds, insects and wildflowers at the estate and nature reserve where he now works and lives, is a joy to the farmworkers, the Earl and Countess of Leicester, Jake himself, and the millions of visitors to this stunning part of North Norfolk. Jake believes current generations should be passing on their experience while encouraging the next generation to have a voice and shape a positive future for our changing climate.

Mentioned in this episode

Jake's book: Land Healer, How Farming Can Save Britain’s Countryside

The National Parks (Glover) Review

The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) (East)

The National Farmers’ Union (NFU)

The Holkham Estate conservation

The Raveningham Estate

The Knepp Estate

Turnip Townshend

Other episodes you might like:

Season 1, Episode 7: UEA climate change and biodiversity scientist Rachel Warren

Season 1, Episode 1: RHS award-winning garden landscaper Rae Wilkinson, whose office is based on the Knepp Estate.

About:

Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible jobs, courses or activities and asks for real-world insights into the pathways and careers that led to them.

Instagram ProGRESS

Email: hello@my-progress.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rachel Warren professor of global change and environmental biology

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 20:07:41 GMT

Global climate change scientist Professor Rachel Warren is internationally respected for her research but she could probably walk down any street in any country without people realising the scale and reach of her work. In this episode Rachel explains how an early interest in bird conservation marked the start of her awareness of the environment. While studying physics and the natural sciences at Cambridge University, the global scale of environmental problems and her growing appreciation of the need to conserve the atmosphere – the air that we breathe – drove her to join research projects examining harmful CFCs and acid rain.

Jump forward to the present day and Rachel's research papers are trusted by world governments and the United Nations, and have been cited by fellow academics more than 27,000 times worldwide. Her work helps formulate international agreements and policies. Today she is focussed on quantifying the risks we would all avoid through climate change mitigation and the risks climate change poses to biodiversity and as a professor at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, University of East Anglia (UEA), Rachel is encouraging the next generation of climate scientists to join her. She emphasises the opportunities the Tyndall Centre offers young scientists as they build networks within the research community and the advantages the UEA's long-standing commitment to the environment provides students and academics interested in this field.

And for those of us not immersed in acadaemia, Rachel points out that any one of us can modify our behaviour by thinking about how much, where and how we travel, for example, how we use our gardens, and by reducing our own carbon footprint.

Mentioned in this podcast:

• Professor Rachel Warren's career biography

• Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, University of East Anglia, UK

• The Montreal Protocol

• The Kyoto Protocol

Other episodes mentioned in this podcast

Nick Molden (Episode 4)

Laura Yeates and Leora Schlasko (Episode 3).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Mark Sumner sustainable fashion lecturer at Leeds University

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 01:00:39 GMT

Dr Mark Sumner is well placed to share his knowledge and expertise on the podcast, and to offer advice to anyone with a passion for fashion, who wants to ensure they are putting sustainable and ethical practices at the heart of their chosen profession.

Mark's own career has taken him from training as a quantity surveyor to studying first physics, then a doctorate in textile engineering. He joined renowned retailer Marks & Spencer, where he worked as a textile technologist and while he was there, studied for an Open University degree in environmental science, becoming a leading sustainability specialist for the firm.

He left retail to join the University of Leeds School of Design and became the lead lecturer focussing on sustainability, textile, clothing and the fashion industry. Despite a busy life, he still publishes research papers, most recently on the influence of yarn characteristics on microfibre release from knitted fabrics during laundering.

"We can't talk about sustainability in a vacuum," Mark says.

In this episode, Mark discusses:

the ethics of fashion
its impact on the environment
global supply chains
and how at least 400 million workers across the globe depend on fashion being bought and sold.

These are topics covered on the Sustainable Fashion BA, but Mark is just as keen for students to bring their own questions to the course and challenge current thinking as they become the future of fashion.

Mentioned in this podcast

University of Leeds School of Design BA Sustainable Fashion Programme

United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals and (SDG) 8

Marks & Spencer sustainability practices

University of Leeds School of Design

The Leeds Institute of Textiles and Colour

About ProGRESS

Instagram ProGRESS

Email: hello@my-progress.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah Kessell CEO of The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 22:08:37 GMT

This week's episode features Sarah Kessell, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales.

Sarah reveals the early story behind her green career, before the word conservation became part of her vocabulary and how, when she was younger, she associated her dream job with 'saving the green bits of the planet'. Her lightbulb moment came when she read The Last Chance to See while backpacking around the world. Then a careers advisor in Reading, UK, made all the difference to her path.

Sarah has some really useful tips for listeners who want to follow in her career footsteps and praises younger generations and teachers for their interest and growing knowledge of conservation. She also reminds us that as consumers and voters, we all have the power to make green choices.

Mentioned in this episode of the ProGRESS podcast:

The Last Chance to See by Douglas Adams and zoologist Mark Carwardine

Doughnut Economics by Kate Raworth

Sir David Attenborough visits Skomer Island as part of the BBC's Wild Isles series

Volunteering opportunities at the South and West Wales Wildlife Trust

You might also like to listen to:

Jamie Osborn Green Party councillor and communications manager for the MCS foundation S1 E2

Jo Faulkner-Harvey, head of charity fundraising S3 E5

About:

Instagram ProGRESS

Email: hello@mypro-gress.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nick Molden of Emissions Analytics talks vehicle pollution policy and climate change

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 21:43:30 GMT

By his own admission, Nick Molden, founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Emissions Analytics has had 'a random walk' of a career. His business (and Nick) came to prominence during 'dieselgate' when huge discrepancies were uncovered between diesel car manufacturers' published emissions data, and data collected through independent real-world testing. He's become a go-to voice when road vehicle pollution is under scrutiny and has clear views on electric and hybrid cars, tyre and tail-pipe pollution. He's also clear we need open and honest conversations about what we are prepared to give up to combat climate change and who we are passing the risks of global warming on to.

Also in this episode of the ProGRESS podcast:

Why Nick thinks a total ban on new diesel cars may be a step too far.
How studying for a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at University of Oxford equipped Nick to deal with policy makers, stakeholders and decision makers.
The benefit of taking risks when planning your career.

Instagram ProGRESS

Email: hello@my-progress.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leora Shlasko, Laura Yeates and the Sustainable Recruitment Alliance

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 17:08:37 GMT

This week’s guests are Laura Yeates and Leora Shlasko of the Sustainable Recruitment Alliance.

Laura is the senior manager overseeing Global Professional Staff Diversity & Inclusion at City law firm Latham & Watkins. Laura has changed the face of recruitment for early careers not just in the legal world, but across the city and really shone a spotlight on unconscious bias and untapped talent. During lockdown Laura founded the Sustainable Recruitment Alliance (SRA), which is driving eco-friendly change to early recruitment by encouraging early career recruiters to decrease their emissions.

Leora is the newest team member at the Sustainable Recruitment Alliance and is its Sustainability Impact Advisor. After studying at Vassar College in New York, Leora completed a masters in environmental governance at the University of Oxford, where, among other studies, she researched the social impact of environmental policies on Bluefin Tuna in Mediterranean and Japan.

Discover more about the SRA, which companies and organisations are signed up to the pledge and what they are doing to reduce their carbon impact in the course of the recruitment here.

Journalist and host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible jobs, courses or activities and asks for real-world insights into the pathways and careers that led to them.

Instagram ProGRESS

Email: Hello@myPro-GRESS.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jamie Osborn Green Party councillor

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 09:45:32 GMT

After graduating from the University of Cambridge with a degree in English literature, climate activist Jamie Osborn started studying for a Masters in sustainability and behaviour change at the Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales.

But he points out a degree is not the only route into a green career and suggests looking at apprenticeships as a way to get trained and paid at the same time. In fact, apprenticeships are actively promoted by the organisation Jamie works for as a media and communications manager, The MCS Foundation. The foundation has a mission driving postive change towards decarbonising homes, heat and energy.

If that sounds like enough to do, (Jamie's also a dad), at just 24 years old he was elected as a Green Party councillor for Norwich City Council, a role he extended two years later when he also became a Norfolk County councillor.

At the time of recording (January 2024)* Jamie was preparing to stand for The Green Party in the forthcoming general election, aiming to be the member of parliament (MP) for Norwich South. In the ProGRESS podcast he urges younger people to register to vote and says a postal vote is the easiest way to exercise voting rights once registered - it's also free.

*Post-July general election update - Jamie Osborn (Green Party) polled 8,245 votes, second to Clive Lewis (Labour) who polled 21,484 votes in Norwich South.

Link to official result here

Instagram ProGRESS

Email: Hello@myPro-GRESS.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rae Wilkinson, award-winning sustainable garden designer

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 18:58:15 GMT

Award-winning garden designer Rae Wilkinson puts sustainability at the core of her approach to garden design and the beautiful results speak volumes. In this episode she discusses how sustainability plays a part in her everyday life as well as her career, and how she went from studying art and three-dimensional design to environmental conservation before becoming a horticultural expert and celebrated garden and landscape designer.

Rae Wilkinson has an impressive portfolio that ranges from contemporary to traditional, from urban courtyards to large country gardens and landscaped schemes. Besides private residential projects, Rae also creates sensory care gardens, including the Eternal Garden for palliative care patients at Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals. Her design studio is on the Knepp Estate in Sussex, famed for its trailblazing 3,500-acre rewilding project.

Find out more about Rae's work here

Link to The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) UK courses

You might also like to listen to:

Sarah Kessell Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales. S1 E5

Dani Neal City council procurement officer and environmental sciences graduate. S3 E6

Sarah Daly Climate champion and independent sustainability consultant, TEDx speaker, and leading LinkedIn sustainability influencer. S3 Ep 1

About

Instagram ProGRESS

Email: Hello@myPro-GRESS.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ProGRESS

Em Burnip, founder of Eco Wedding Festivals

Holly Westgarth-Graham, Masters student at Edinburgh Futures Institute

Elspeth Yates, career coach at Happier Humans and head of people at Change Agents

Whitni Thomas, Head of Corporate Finance, Triodos Bank UK

Carlos Terol, changemaker, responsible entrepreneur

Dr Jessica Tipton Head of the National Education Nature Park at the Natural History Museum

The big five-zero. Season five finale and round-up

Reena Mahajan, Urban planner, designer and advocate for sustainable development

Sarah Flynn, Psychologist, author and human sustainability coach

Matteo Menapace, Serious, ethical, cooperative games designer

Johnathon Miller-McCall, Science communicator, conservationist and nature nerd

Connor Cashell, Campaigns officer, Cycling UK

Dr Fernanda da Silva Tatley, Scientist, entrepreneur and Reiki Master

Matthew Payne, Catalyst at Healthtech-1, NHS Youth Board member

Stuart Goldsmith, Climate comedian and podcaster

Katie Goldsbrough, Woodland officer, ecologist, conservationist and bat carer

Duncan Goose, CEO and founder of One Water. One year on...

Rae Wilkinson, Award-winning garden designer. One year on...

Maddie Booth, Sustainability consultant, educator and speaker

James Adeleke, Generation Success founder, equality champion, social entrepreneur

Divya Kumar, Community engagement manager at Earthwatch Europe

About ProGRESS:

David Kohnstamm, Chief sustainability officer

About ProGRESS:

Dr Bushra Schuitemaker, Zoologist, microbiologist and award winning communicator

Dr Mark Sumner, textiles programme lead at WRAP

Justin Kelly CEO of Glass Futures, Chair of Sustainable Ventures

Season 3 round-up: The lightbulb moment

Beccy Dickson, co-founder of Branded Bio and eco entrepreneur,

Helen Walsh, Designer, writer and conservation sector communications expert

Matthew Halteman, philosophy professor, animal and food ethicist, Arsenal football fan

Jonathan Mearns OBE, careers coach, sustainability entrepreneur and adventurer

Rachel Johnson, student mental health social worker

Don Weatherbee, CPA, CMA, CITP and CEO of RegenX

Danielle Neal

Jo Faulkner-Harvey, head of charity fundraising

Stuart Mabbutt aka The Wildman Part 2

Stuart Mabbutt aka The Wildman Part 1

Shaheer Hafeez ACA

Sarah Daly, sustainability consultant and climate champion

Imogen Overy, classics graduate, personal trainer, vegan, pro-wrestler

Glen Burrows, photographer, disrupter, regenerative food entrepreneur

Kurt Henderson, senior product designer at Byway Travel

ABOUT

Nicki Black, fashion and creative director

Mark Harvey, managing director of Fielden Whisky of England

Mentioned in this podcast

Lydia Carrington, sustainability manager, Edgbaston Stadium

ABOUT

Green tips, ethical stories and some of the best bits from Season 1

Sarah Ashworth, researcher developer at University of Manchester

About ProGRESS

Duncan Goose, founder of Global Ethics and One Water

Mentioned in this podcast

Sanjukta Jitendhar​​​​, architect, Mikhail Riches

About ProGRESS

Jake Fiennes, director of Holkham National Nature Reserve and general manager, conservation, Holkham Estate

Mentioned in this episode

Rachel Warren professor of global change and environmental biology

Dr Mark Sumner sustainable fashion lecturer at Leeds University

"We can't talk about sustainability in a vacuum," Mark says.

Mentioned in this podcast

About ProGRESS

Sarah Kessell CEO of The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales

Nick Molden of Emissions Analytics talks vehicle pollution policy and climate change

Leora Shlasko, Laura Yeates and the Sustainable Recruitment Alliance

Jamie Osborn Green Party councillor

Rae Wilkinson, award-winning sustainable garden designer

Sanjukta Jitendhar, architect, Mikhail Riches