Sustainability
Gef’s 30 Under 30 2024 Winners: Q&A with Emma Sayle
Ten categories. Thirty young visionaries making their mark on the Isle of Man. Introducing the 2024 #Gef30Under30 winners: the next generation of our island’s leaders.
The UNESCO Biosphere Isle of Man and Net Zero Isle of Man Sustainability category winners are taking care of the planet and taking names. They are optimistic about our island’s future, as long as we all start with small positive changes.
What is your name and age?
Emma Sayle, age 26.
Job title or role in the community?
Sustainability Officer at Hansard Global.
How did you start your career or role in the community?
Although sustainability wasn’t as big of a topic when I was growing up as it is now, I think there was always an undertone or an awareness of it in school and the clubs I was in.
During my A-levels, for my final Product Design project I redesigned the traditional box recycling bins. The sustainability theme stuck with me throughout my study, with my undergraduate degree dissertation focusing on the barriers of implementing sustainable practices within SMEs on the Island.
Jo from the Biosphere team helped with the research that went into my dissertation, so when I decided I wanted to do a Masters, choosing do it on Island and work with UNESCO Biosphere Isle of Man seemed like the perfect fit. Post-degree, I now have a role where I can apply what I’ve learnt during my study.
In one sentence, summarise your journey so far as a young and successful person under 30.
A lot of hard work, late nights, and feeling a bit lost sometimes, but everything always turns out in the way it should.
Tell us about your business/industry, is there something interesting about it that most people wouldn’t expect?
I think people have a pre-conceived idea that everyone who works within the sustainability field looks or acts a certain way, but there are so many people doing a variety of different things to support a better future. The diversity across the different aspects of sustainability make it such an interesting field to work in.
Tell us about why you think you won the category you did?
Sustainability really takes up a large part of my life, but because much of it is habit now I don’t really think about it!
The work I undertook for UNESCO Biosphere to create the Sustainable Mann toolkit is a great resource, and really contextualises how businesses on the Isle of Man can implement more sustainable practices and try to influence their employees. I hope to continue to work with them well into the future, and think being a Biosphere nation is something we should be proud of and something we should protect.
Who are your role models, either on-island or off, in your sector or outside of it?
I don’t think I have a specific role model! There are so many people driving sustainability who inspire me, whether it’s ideas I can use in a personal capacity or professionally. I am also lucky enough to be surrounded by exceptionally hard working people, who all work in different sectors but are all doing equally rewarding work and inspire me in different ways, so it would be difficult to name them all.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Do what makes you happy, in whatever context that applies to you.
What do you wish you knew when you were getting started in your career?
You probably won’t know what you are doing most of the time, but talking through things with people and getting different points of view and ideas will help to grow your understanding. Not everyone has the same viewpoint as you!
What changes do you hope to see in your sector or community in the coming years?
Although there has been progress over the last few years around sustainability, I’m hoping there is a bigger push for change. Although we are a little Island, and this presents its own challenges, we have such an opportunity to become an example. There are a lot of perception changes that need to happen but I think the generations to come will help to drive this change.
What, for you, are the benefits of staying on or moving back to the island for young people under 30?
For my role in particular, it’s a growing field and hopefully there will be more jobs centred around sustainability. The biggest benefit for me is the work-life balance, especially in the summer when I can finish work and head to Peel or Port Erin and watch a sunset or head out and about at the weekend. I’ve always preferred the hills to a city so it suits being able to go for a hike at the weekend.
What does being a Gef’s 30 Under 30 winner mean to you?
Being recognised for what you are doing or what you are passionate about feels amazing, and has driven me to continue to keep working and pushing beyond just in my role at work.
You must be logged in to post a comment.