My background is quite scientific, focusing on biology and maths, but my work has always centred on environmental science. I realised I wanted to expand my technical background and had heard of ERM from a number of friends. Once I had my interview, I knew this is where I wanted to work.
Prior to joining ERM I had spent four years working for the Australian Antarctic Division, I knew that I wanted to expand my technical background because research work wasn’t fulfilling me professionally any more.
Finding a technical career niche
I didn’t have any consulting experience, so I was pretty open to what role I would take on at ERM. I initially joined the Sydney office in Australia, where a colleague, who would become one of my key mentors, asked me to consider focusing on human health risk assessments. I’m so glad I accepted this offer because, as he said at the very start, it has helped me carve out a really nice career for myself with ERM.
Thinking about the key projects I have been involved in, what really stands out is the opportunity to work for the Hong Kong Government. I was able to make full use of my scientific background to develop risk-based remediation goals, which will apply to the clean-up of sites in Hong Kong. In contrast, I have also been fortunate to use ground-breaking methods to assess the ecological risks posed to marine life by an oil refinery.
Supports professional and personal interests
The people here have pushed and challenged me ever since I joined the company. My supervisors have been amazing in supporting my career development and I spent a month in the US on a knowledge gathering trip, where I met other ERMers who provided ecological risk assessment services, and learned from them first-hand about ERM’s capabilities outside of my own country. I’ve put a lot of hard work and focus in developing my career, but what I have found, is that if you have an idea and the company thinks it has value, then ERM will support you in realising it.
After three years in Sydney, ERM was happy to support my request to transfer to our Kuala Lumpur office, where my husband was working as a Marine Scientist. While my move was recent, I am already setting up a risk assessment team in Southeast Asia that will involve consultants from India, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia to provide similar services being offered in the US and UK.