Our Roadmap to 2030I am hugely privileged to have been in the position of CEO at Sustainability West Midlands for 10 years, a role in which I couldn’t be happier.
I am hugely privileged to have been in the position of CEO at Sustainability West Midlands for 10 years, a role in which I couldn’t be happier.
Across this period, sustainability has moved from being niche and passion driven to necessary, and is now front and centre in board meetings, regulations and investor decisions. 10 years ago, when talking to organisations about the need to be more sustainable, the response was sometimes ‘why?’ or ‘maybe for others, but not for me’. Now the response is always ‘how can we do more and tell our story better’. There is a strategic imperative for sustainability, and the business benefits are well understood.
We’ve moved to a place where data and evidence on sustainability are essential in building stakeholder and customer confidence.
Climate change has become the principle connecting energy, nature, finance, fairness and health. Whilst significant progress has been made in reducing emissions, there is now recognition that adaptation and resilience to the impacts of climate change need to go together with mitigation efforts. Our work in this area has grown hugely and is now a focus area for us, working with national and local organisations with a sense of urgency.
In response to these changes SWM has grown our team to include those with experience in authentic communications, as well as data analysis and reporting, and covering all areas of climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Real impact is now driven by collaborative action involving partnerships between national and local government, businesses, civil society and communities, academia and the health sector. This is why our 200+ strong cross-sector membership community is so important. We can build on the lessons of the past and learn from each other. There is a need for honest communication and transparency, and we see this from our members frequently.
Personally, my 10 years in the role have changed me hugely. There have been many moments of frustration where it felt like progress was too slow and that action hasn’t happened at the pace needed. Having worked in the sustainability sector for over 25 years, we are still having conversations about waste and energy management that started decades ago and have been hampered by policy changes and lack of prioritisation by Government. However, the inspiring stories from our members and the genuine passion amongst the individuals that I work with are the things that drive me on. Thanks to lived experience and to some excellent leadership training, I have grown to understand my own areas of strength, but also where it is about creating conditions for others to lead.
As we move into a period where significant political change is expected, there has never been a more important time for strong leadership on sustainability at the local and organisational level. SWM will continue to push for this using our independent, evidence-based and stakeholder led approach, and building on our 24 years of experience within the region.
If I could go back in time and give myself a pep talk on my first day in the role, I would encourage myself to have quiet conviction in my knowledge and style, and to always be authentic to myself; to take time each week to celebrate achievements and reflect on what could have been done better; and to know that it is as much about enabling others as it is about doing it all yourself.
I’d like to say a huge and heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported me in this role. I couldn’t have done it without this support and will be eternally grateful for the faith that has been put in me.
Anna Bright, CEO SWM
