Meet the Class of 2024!
Aine Murray
Building Performance Prediction Ltd
I am a sustainability engineer
at BPP Energy, since joining I have lodged over 2000 Energy performance
Certificates for newly built homes. I believe that my role help minimise the
carbon impact Buildings have and contribute towards the end fuel poverty. I
also have a podcast called Carbon Cli-mates, which focuses on exploring
different careers in the Energy, environmental and construction sector, with
the aim of inspiring the next generation to pursue a career in this
ever-growing field. I am delighted to join the 30 under 30 programme and
cannot wait to work with the rest of the cohort.
Ansu Alex
Moore Concrete Products Ltd
I am a concrete technologist
and a KTP associate in Queens University of Belfast partnered with Moore
Concrete Products Ltd. Having my background in Chemistry, and Material Science
and Engineering, I am deeply involved in researching carbon reduction
strategies within the construction industry. My primary focus is on developing
innovative approaches to reduce embodied carbon in precast solutions. Driven by my passion for
environmental activism and education, I actively engage in cross-sectoral
discussions aimed at addressing the climate crisis. I firmly believe in the
power of collaboration and knowledge-sharing to drive meaningful change. With
the support of Moore Concrete's forward-thinking team, I am empowered to
contribute to our collective effort in combatting climate change. In addition to my
professional responsibilities, I am committed to promoting environmental
awareness and sustainability practices, I strive to be a catalyst for positive
environmental impact and advocate for a more sustainable future. Through this programme, I am
excited about the opportunities ahead and remain dedicated to leveraging my
skills and knowledge to advance sustainability in the construction industry and
beyond.
Bailie Wilson
Ulster University
I am 23 years
old and currently a second year PhD student at Ulster University Belfast
studying low-energy design homes and passive home construction. I decided to
apply and participate in ’30 under 30’ as I was keen to participate in a
movement promoting sustainability. I feel I can contribute knowledge in terms
of energy efficiency in the residential sector which is a vital factor to
consider for our future. I am hopeful
that this programme will allow me to work and meet with like-minded people who
share the same goals; to work towards a cleaner, more sustainable environment.
Catherine Campbell
Business in the Community
I am an Environmental Advisor for BITCNI, managing the NI
Environmental Benchmarking Survey and currently training to deliver CLT. Previously,
I worked as a Sustainability & Quality Engineer in concrete manufacturing,
responsible for all aspects sustainability, from calculating carbon footprint
to exploring eco-friendly materials/processes for low GHG emissions. I have a
BEng(Hons) in Civil Engineering, and a MSc in Environmental Engineering. I have
also successfully completed a 3-year KTP with QUB and AG.
I’m excited to embark on the 30 under 30 journey with
like-minded peers, broadening my sustainability network and working together to
gain the skills and knowledge to become top Climate Champions.
Catherine McGinn
The Carbon Literacy Project
I'm a Digital Communications Officer at The
Carbon Literacy Project, a UN-recognised climate education and action charity.
I graduated from Ulster University with a degree in Marketing in 2019, and
shortly after was confronted with the severity of the climate crisis. Ever
since, I knew I wanted to use my degree and digital communications skills as a
force for good, so I could translate environmental issues to a range of
audiences. Through the 30U30 programme, I look forward
to building connections and being part of an inspiring network of climate
change makers who will advocate and lead the way for a safer, greener Northern
Ireland.
Cenka Drayne
JANS Group
My role as
ESG and Sustainability Lead at JANS Group is to collect, manage and report ESG
data across six companies, focussing on our scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions and our
social parameters. This enables me to take a data-driven approach on
improvement projects, working with various teams to improve our environmental
and social impact internally and externally. As a Physical Geography graduate
(UOM & CU Boulder) and a lover of the outdoors, I am passionate about
working together to make credible sustainable change and am therefore excited
to connect, engage and work with my cohort.
Clare Bankhead
Dale Farm Ltd
My BSc in Geography and MSc in Climate Change led me to
work as an environmental analyst at Dale Farm, where I am dedicated to reducing
carbon emissions to meet targets. I see the dairy industry's role in
sustainability, as well as its representation in initiatives such as the 30U30,
as crucial. As a major emitter in Northern Ireland, the agri-food sector
presents challenges, but also huge potential for significant emission
reduction. Through the 30U30 programme I aim to expand my knowledge and
collaborate with like-minded individuals. I aspire to be a leader in reducing
emissions in local industries, leaving a legacy of resilience, and guiding
Northern Ireland’s agri-food sector to be a pivotal element of Northern
Ireland’s sustainable future.
Daniel Perry
Belfast International Airport
I am a
graduate of Geography and an MSc in Leadership for Sustainable Development from
QUB. I currently work at Belfast International Airport as an Environment and
Sustainability Officer working on energy and resource management,
decarbonisation of operations and sustainability reporting. I want to learn
more about sustainability and engage with other young people to gain a better
understanding of local sustainability issues and opportunities. I’m excited to
expand my network, gain new skills and learn more about how me and my
organisation can get involved in driving sustainable change!
Donna Harkin
TetraTech
I am a Senior Sustainability Consultant with experience working in the foundation industries. My passion lies with
developing sustainable strategies for heavy carbon-emitting industries, paving
the way for reducing carbon emissions and creating a sustainable future for
manufacturing companies. I completed my masters degree in chemical
engineering from the University of Hull in 2020, and has since completed a
Postgraduate Certificate in the Engineering of Energy, Economics and the
Environment from Queen’s University in the last year. Throughout the programme, I am looking forward to working within the cohort, making positive changes,
creating a more sustainable future for Northern Ireland.
Emer Duffy
Catagen
I am a
mechanical engineer working at CATAGEN in titanic quarter. I have been
fortunate to work across a number of climate technology innovative projects
there including: hydrogen compression, bio-hydrogen, green hydrogen, carbon
capture and now I get to focus all my energy on the development of our e-fuels
technology. I’m excited to be able
to learn from and collaborate with other passionate people from various
different backgrounds, to enable me to gain a broader perspective on the
problems we face and more importantly more insight into how to solve them.
Emma Taylor
Outscape
After graduating in
geography, I took up my current role as a GIS Technician, collaborating with
colleagues to develop and launch GreenspaceNI – a comprehensive map of
Greenspaces and Off-Road Trails in NI with the aim of measuring household
proximity to these spaces, informing strategic policies and resource allocation
in NI. Previous
volunteering with the National Trust enhanced my interest in nature and
conservation. Alongside my passion for sport and the outdoors, I aspire to
champion the health of both the planet and its inhabitants. Through the
programme, I want to learn effective climate advocacy and network with
like-minded individuals.
Euan Carroll
Catagen
I’m a Development
Engineer at CATAGEN, a Net Zero Technology Company. My job mainly consists of
research and development activities within our BIOHGEN Project. I have a
background in Mechanical Engineering and Manufacturing having studied a Masters
at Trinity College Dublin. Alongside my
passion for engineering, I have a great interest in the socioeconomic
challenges we face and I look forward to collaborating with a diverse range of
people, exchanging ideas, and developing my skillset so I can better contribute
to accelerating the transition to Net Zero within Northern Ireland and beyond.
Greta Delfino
Business in the Community
I am the Advisory Manager at Business in the Community NI and I work with
companies to help them reach their environmental and social ambitions. I hold a
BA from the University of Warwick in Philosophy, Politics and Economics.
Previously I worked as the Sustainability Manager at a food company and as a
Sustainability Analyst for an agri-food start-up. I am passionate about nature
and the environment and people’s responsibility towards for the planet. I am thrilled to join this year’s cohort and connect with other like-minded
individuals to further drive climate action across a range of industries in
Northern Ireland.
Hanna Miskimmin
Northstone Materials Ltd
Coming from an
agricultural background, I’ve always had a connection to the natural world and
am passionate about protecting it for future generations. A recent QUB graduate
with a first-class honours in Environmental Management, I have managed to turn
this passion into a career by securing a new role with Northstone Materials
(Northern Ireland’s leading mineral products supplier) as their Sustainability
Graduate. I’m excited to get stuck into this programme, not only to forge
lasting connections with likeminded people but to also understand how I can
effectively advocate for change within our industry and meet Northstone’s ambitious
decarbonisation targets.
Jacky Chu
AMIE
My
name is Jacky, the Founder and CEO of AMIE, formerly with Rolls-Royce Motor
Cars in DevOps and HP Wolf Security Cambridge Lab in Software Engineering. AMIE
is a platform tailored for sustainability advocates. With a solid foundation in
environmental advocates and a track record in spearheading green initiatives,
I've created AMIE to serve as a catalyst for actionable change in environmental
advocacy. Joining the '30 Under 30 Climate Change Leader' program, I aim to
elevate public awareness about climate change and implement sustainable
practices across sectors, using the platform to enhance community engagement
and policy influence. This opportunity is key to amplifying my efforts,
contributing to a sustainable future, and leaving a lasting impact on our
planet through enhanced leadership and collaboration.
Jamie Hamilton
The Odyssey Trust
I work for the Odyssey Trust, which includes the SSE Arena,
Belfast Giants, W5 & W5 LIFE. Here I lead our NOW (Nurture Our World) Team,
which is a diverse team from the across the organisation with one common goal,
to improve sustainability performance. My passion for the environment and
sustainability stemmed from studying BSc Hons Environmental Health at Ulster
University, which I graduated from with first class honours. I am looking forward to
learning and connecting with likeminded professionals on the 30 under 30
programme, to help deliver safe and sustainable events, entertainment and
education on the Odyssey site for the people of Northern Ireland.
Joe Murray
Outscape
As a Place Shaping Executive at
Outscape, I specialise in providing sustainable access to the outdoors. With a
background as the Environmental Officer at Queen's University Belfast, I led
initiatives and programmes to drive climate action at a personal to
organisational scale. I am currently pursuing a Masters in Planning and
Development where I am focusing on urban rewilding, wildlife corridors, and
biophilic design. I have observed a lack of environmental priority in Northern
Ireland's planning and development sector so I have joined this year's cohort
to be a more effective advocate for the natural environment. I will use the
experiences and skills gained from the programme to connect with others,
inspire advocates across more sectors, and contribute to a more sustainable and
resilient future.
Katie Hughes
DHL Supply Chain
I’m currently working as a sustainability specialist for
DHL supply chain, with a background in astrophysics and a masters in
sustainable development. My day to day focus is making changes to the
supply chain to transition towards a more sustainable logistics sector. In the future, I’d love to combine my
physics and environmental interests and work in raising awareness of light
pollution and its varied impacts. I’m hoping to take inspiration from the
30under30 programme to figure out how to achieve this!
Katie Ni Chleire
Stamp Out Poverty
I'm the Campaigns and Communications Manager for Stamp Out Poverty, an
organisation committed to achieving climate justice. My work primarily
involves leading the Make
Polluters Pay campaign, which advocates for the polluter pays
principle to be central in climate finance commitments at a national
and multi-lateral level, and my work involves representing the
campaign at international conferences including COP28 in Dubai. I was the
President of Queen's Students' Union from 2021-2022, where I campaigned on a
broad range of issues impacting university students. I also work for
Student Minds, a charity focused on student mental health. I am a board member for
the Second-level Students' Union of Northern Ireland, and I was a member of the
Washington Ireland Programme Class of 2022.
Luc Kelly
Queen's University
I'm
Luc! I
am currently studying Politics, Philosophy and Economics at QUB, undertaking a
placement at the Department for the Economy NI working in R&D policy. Through
the Mitacs internship, I had the opportunity to conduct research on the
environmental and societal impacts of an iron ore mine planned to be built in
Minas Gerais, Brazil. My
work with Prof. Alex Mallett at Carleton University, has focused on analysing
the long history of exploitative extractive industries in the area and the
future consequences of a new mine being built at this scale. I
am eager to continue researching the Bloco 8 mine and its impacts on the local
Geraizeiro community, while also learning from this year's 30u30 cohort.
Malachy Morgan
CAFRE
Passionate about sustainability and agricultural innovation, I am
Malachy, an Agricultural Lecturer with a background in both education and
practical farming. I graduated from Queen’s University Belfast with a Master’s
in Business and a Degree in Agricultural Technology. Joining the 30 Under 30
program, I aim to deepen my understanding of climate change solutions,
collaborate with like-minded leaders, and gain diverse perspectives from fellow
participants. Through this program, I aspire to contribute in shaping a more
sustainable future, addressing the social, economic, and environmental challenges
we face.
Michael MacKenzie
Department for the Economy
I work for the
Department for the Economy, in the Geothermal and Heat Networks Branch of the
Energy Group, as the Project Manager for GeoEnergy NI, Northern Ireland’s
geothermal energy demonstrator project. My background is in
geoscience, having graduated from my undergraduate degree in Geology in 2016.
After a few years working in finance, I returned to university where I did a
Master’s by Research in GeoEnergy, modelling thermal flows of abandoned mines. As part of 30 Under 30,
I hope to build connections and better understand how different system actors
can collaborate in efforts to achieve a sustainable future.
Naomi Martin
Queen's University
My name is Naomi and I’m passionate about the
environment. This passion has been developed through my time at school,
university, and within my role at Queen’s University. I have worked within
Queen’s Sustainability Team since November 2021, coordinating training courses
and events for staff and students to help increase their environmental awareness
and passion to address the climate emergency. I’m excited to learn from my
30U30 peers who also want to create positive environmental change in Northern
Ireland and look forward to working collaboratively towards the common goal of
ensuring Northern Ireland has a sustainable, clean future.
Niamh Haughian
Martin Property Group
My name is Niamh, I'm 26 and my background is in Real
Estate Finance. I graduated from Queen's in 2020 (BSc. Finance) and began my
career in Debt Financing at a Global Investment Management firm. Appreciating
the impact the built environment has on climate change, I returned to Queen's in
2022 to undertake a Master's in Construction Project Management to explore ways
I can drive positive change. I currently work for a property development firm,
and am excited to be in the process of attaining LEED and WELL sustainability
accreditations. I believe collaboration will be key in creating climate
solutions, and I am thrilled to be joining this diverse network of
change-makers.
Polly Garnett
The Belfast Hills Partnership
As an artist and educator, I use storytelling
as a way to connect with communities and to discuss topics such as climate
justice.
I had worked within the voluntary and arts
sector for many years before deciding to change career paths. This led me to my
current role at the Belfast Hills Partnership, bringing together my passion for
storytelling, nature and the arts into our youth engagement projects. Driven to make a positive change in my local community, I hope that the 30
under 30 programme will bring about opportunities to collaborate and learn from
others.
Robyn Kelly
Lightsource BP
I am a Project Developer for
Lightsource bp who are one of the largest solar developers across Europe. I
originally completed my undergraduate degree in Business and International
Development before undertaking a Masters in Climate Change. I then spent 2
years working as an Environmental Consultant focusing on largescale,
international solar and wind projects before returning closer to home for my
current position. As part of the 30 under 30, I am excited to engage with people from
diverse disciplines in the sustainability sector. By learning from fellow
participants as well as the experts and mentors involved in this programme, I
hope to broaden my perspective, develop my leadership skillset, and position
myself to make a meaningful impact on Northern Ireland’s journey towards a more
sustainable and climate-friendly future.
Rory Quinn
Queen's University
I am a final year undergrad student studying Environmental
Management at QUB. I am interested in all aspects of ecology and ecological
enhancement. My research project examines NI district councils' opinions and
thoughts on biodiversity and compares this to how biodiversity net gain is
implemented in England. I have experience within the nature and environment team at
Arup and look forward to returning there once I graduate. I applied to this programme to learn more about the climate
crisis and biodiversity crisis and how they are interlinked. I look
forward to meeting others passionate about the environment on this course.
Shane Brady
SmartWorkPlus
My name is Shane
Brady I am COO of SmartWorkPlus.
I’ve been working in the Facilities Management industry for nearly a decade and
studied IoT to help create a product called SmartTEC.
SmartTEC allowed facility managers to focus cleaning resources on areas that
had been occupied but the product grew after our sensors showed many unoccupied
rooms were still being heated and lit artificially. There are no winners for
energy waste. It’s a quick, easy and significant step towards creating more
sustainable facilities and preventing this pervasive waste of energy across our
built environment has become a mission for me.
Thomas Lyttle
Catagen
I work as a software developer at CATAGEN, a Net Zero
Technologies Centre where our mission statement is to clean and decarbonise the
air, most of my work there consists of building automated analysis tools,
control code for our test machines and integrating hardware components into
these same machines. I graduated from Queens University Belfast with a Bachelors
in International Politics and Conflict Studies, and I am currently doing a
Part-time Masters in Software Development. Both my time at Catagen and undergraduate
degree have fuelled my innate passion for nature and conservation. I hope that on this programme I can work closely with a
network of like-minded, passionate individuals and that as a collective we can
use the leadership skills and knowledge imparted upon us to make significant
change.
