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Sustainability

We’d like to welcome Sara Aziz to our team. Sara is our new Transport Coordinator and she introduces herself below.

1.            Name: Sara Aziz

 

2.            Position: Transport Coordinator

 

3.            What does this position entail? I am going to be working on implementing the activities set out in the travel plans at both the University and North West Cambridge Development (NWCD) to promote sustainable travel.  

 

4.            What is your (education/qualifications) background and how did you get here?

I have a BSc in Geography and an MSc in Geographical Science, both of which I got at the University of Manchester. My research for my Masters focused largely on sustainable transport and, in particular, cycle-logistics (deliveries by bike) which is really where my interest in sustainable transport began.

 

5.            What were you doing before joining the Environment and Energy section?

I worked for two years at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) in the sustainability team where I was leading on sustainable transport, working with both students and staff to increase sustainable travel. I then briefly worked at the cycling and walking charity Sustrans for around 6 months where I was working on the development of Quietways in London with Transport for London and local London boroughs before starting my new role here.

 

6.            What is your proudest professional achievement?

I applied for a number of Green Gown Awards during my time at Queen Mary University London on various projects I worked on with colleagues in our small sustainability team which were shortlisted, including for Employability and Sustainability Reporting which was highly commended.

 

7.            What are you most looking forward to getting your teeth into in the coming year?

I’m looking forward to meeting staff from across the university to promote sustainable travel. I’m also looking forward to working on the North West Cambridge Development - the fact that it is a brand new development is new to me and very exciting!

 

8.            What gets you out of bed (and into work) in the morning?

The fact that I am working towards making our environment better and healthier J

 

9.            What is your environment related pet hate?

Driving unnecessarily for really short journeys…or when people don’t recycle!

 

10.          What is your favourite green gadget?

It’s not a gadget but I love my reusable bottle, I don’t think I go anywhere without it now.

 

11.          What do you think is the biggest environmental challenge?

So many to choose from but at the moment, I’d say plastic. I just read that over a million plastic bottles are bought across the world every minute which is pretty horrific. I recently watched ‘A Plastic Ocean’ on Netflix which is well worth a watch if you haven’t seen it yet.

 

12.          Tell us one little known fact about yourself.

In my spare time I help out a social enterprise called Recycle your Cycle who collect abandoned bicycles and train prisoners to refurbish them. The bikes are then sold at universities and at charity shops to fund the prison workshops which support prisoner rehabilitation.

 

13.          Who is your inspirational figure (real or fictional)?

David Attenborough!

 

14.          Do you have any hobbies?

I enjoy playing netball although I am yet to join a team here in Cambridge. I also enjoy yoga, travelling and cooking.

 

15.          First impressions of Cambridge?

Very different to London! I’m very much enjoying all of the green space.