Inspiring thinking for a more sustainable future

Could you tell us a little more about your role in supporting the MD on sustainability?

Michael Brooks, Managing Director of Australia and New Zealand, and I are always thinking about ways we can give back to our environment and community and it’s my role to follow up on our ideas to check their feasibility and bring them to life. Currently, we’ve implemented a recycling system in the office, and replaced the old lighting with energy efficient units.

In addition, we are ISO certified to the environmental standard here in Australia. That requires we take action to implement more sustainable practices across the business in order to retain our certification, so it is a business priority to engage in environmental practices.

How did you hear about the Yarra Yarra project and what made it so inspiring?

Michael and I had discussed ways we could reach beyond the business and make a positive difference. We both decided that direct action in rebuilding biodiversity would be a great way to contribute to the company’s mission. However, it wasn’t as easy as you would think to find the right partner that supported our goals. Many organisations offered carbon offset through tree planting schemes but were out of reach or seemed out of line with our intent to encourage biodiversity.

When I discovered Carbon Neutral, I knew it was the right organisation to work with. Its system was simple, and the transparent approach made it clear it was delivering on its promise to plant trees for habitat creation rather than future harvesting – something not always clear with other schemes we looked at.

The Plant a Tree Program felt the perfect fit and being involved in the Yarra Yarra Biodviersity Corridor project to create a 200km green corridor that reconnects remnant vegetation with 12 nature reserves over a 50,000km2 area, was really exciting. Plus, the Plant-a-tree scheme’s entry was also achievable for us: there was no minimum quantity, you purchased individual trees at a fixed cost and our missions aligned perfectly.

Our involvement of planting 700 trees in the Yarra Yarra Biodiversity Corridor isn’t a one-off and we’ll continue to contribute to this really important restorative environmental project. With more than 90% of the current area previously cleared for farming but no longer suitable for agriculture it’s crucial work and it will take a huge effort to bring nature back. Such is the scale that the project started back in 2008 and has seen more than 30million trees planted already and there’s still a long way to go.

Of course, environmental action is hugely important, but what about other activities, can you share other sustainable actions with us?

Something I think a lot of people don’t realise when it comes to sustainability there is more than the environmental piece. The environment is only one piece to the puzzle – social equity also plays a big part in being a sustainable business, and that includes diversity.

Gunnebo Australia are national sponsors of ASIS International, but I’m also an individual member and sit on the committee for the New South Wales Chapter as the Vice Chair and Women in Security Lead. It’s my role to help attract more women into the security industry and provide a place for networking, knowledge sharing and collaboration in what is traditionally a male-dominated industry, while getting the males of the industry onboard to support and uplift women also.

In the two years I’ve been lead, we’ve hosted a luncheon for International Women’s Day 23 with an international guest speaker and hosted a social networking event for International Women’s Day 24 with three guest speakers from completely different realms of security. We’ve also hosted a collaboration lunch and learn style event with Empowered Women in Trades, another not-for-profit organisation trying to get women into another male-dominated industry of trades. There’s also been an online webinar in collaboration with Women Rising, a training group who provide short courses designed for both men and women, which can elevate women in the workplace and provide men with the understanding of challenges women may face.

Through my involvement in ASIS, and also in my role at Gunnebo Entrance Control, I pride myself on providing everyone with an opportunity to encourage all – no matter your gender –to recognise that a diverse team comprised of men and women should be what we are striving for everyday. It provides varied perspectives, enhances strategic planning, promotes effective decision making, plus so much more.