Rebecca Pagnucco
Bachelor of Science Bachelor of International Studies
Environmental Consultant
I get to work with and learn from a diverse team of scientists and engineers who are the experts in...
What was your course?
Bachelor of Science (Environmental Biology), Bachelor of Arts in International Studies (Switzerland).
What exactly does your work/job entail?
As an Environmental Consultant, my general role is to provide specialist advice on best-practice waste management through strategic planning for public and private sector clients Australia-wide. This can involve working on a wide variety of projects, including waste management strategies, business cases, technology assessments, infrastructure approvals & planning, community engagement & education programs, public consultation, business recycling action plans and compliance audits.
One of my main activities has been preparing grant funding applications for submission to the NSW EPA ‘Waste Less, Recycle More’ initiative, which is set to transform the waste and recycling industry by providing $465.7 million in funding for programs across NSW. One example of this is the Bin Trim Business Grants Program, which funds approved assessors to provide waste assessments for small and medium sized businesses.
What part of your work inspires you the most? Why do you find it interesting?
I get to work with and learn from a diverse team of scientists and engineers who are the experts in their field, as well as make a lot of industry contacts in my day to day work. The diversity of projects means that there are always new opportunities and experiences lying ahead, with some of the most exciting times being when I work on grant funding applications that allow new and innovative projects to go from being a creative idea to an actual tangible project.
Do you find the skills you learnt during your degree useful and versatile? If so how?
I have gained a vast range of transferrable skills from my science degree, such as research and report writing, which have been useful and versatile in all my work.
While an environmental science degree is a pre-requisite to be qualified for my current role, waste management wasn't covered in the Environmental Biology course (at least not in the time that I studied it). Surprisingly, my first 'foot in the door' of waste management actually came from the research project that I did as part of my International Studies course, which got me into working casually for a recycling company whilst still at university.
