This year, we are pleased to be celebrating the 20th anniversary of the LARAC Conference & Awards Scholarship Programme. Thanks to all of our previous scholars and sponsors who have made the programme a success over the last 20 years, and hopefully for many more to come!
More information on the LARAC Scholarship is available here.
Lets take a look at what our previous scholars have gotten up to since then:
Natasha Epstein - 2004
Being a LARAC scholar has given my career a huge boost. As most environmentalists I wanted to save the world and fell into the world of recycling communications in Local Government. I had only been in post for just over a year and not long out of university so the opportunity to go to a conference and meet other likeminded people was amazing. It solidified my waste management obsession and gave me the confidence to flourish locally, regionally, and nationally.
I followed a path through local government into senior management and then diversifying to cover other services (parking highways etc). Subsequently moving into partnership working (although it was always part of my ethos and approach) with South London Waste Partnership mobilising a harmonised four Borough contract. I survived (just about) numerous service changes, each coming with new trials and tribulations, giving me the experience to deliver them repeatedly. I thought I would try out the private sector and ran the Hammersmith and Fulham contract for Serco. It was an eye opener! I built my network but learnt the challenges of getting a service out every day with ageing vehicles and staff some of which weren’t ready for a female manager. However, I am grateful I was a key worker in the pandemic so I could pack the kids off to school. Plus, now I love trucks as well as bins.
Alongside my day job I focussed on regional and national strategy development, always involved with LARAC as chair of Association of London Cleaning Officers and then Waste Network Chairs. I did my CIWM interview whilst 7 months pregnant and have been a member ever since.
My current role is Director of Waste and Street Cleansing at London Borough of Richmond and Wandsworth which I’m still enjoying after 18 months, new vehicles and food waste roll out to 80,000 houses! I have a great team and there is huge opportunity to strive to be more efficient in both boroughs, bringing more harmonisation and sharing best practise. I’m also working with two statutory waste disposal authorities (that are very different) developing long term strategies and exciting new opportunities. My next aim is focusing on promoting women in local government and the wider waste industry. Thank you LARAC for giving me the opportunity and believing in me!
James Hendry - 2007
Since attending the LARAC conference, I’ve enjoyed many roles within local government, although I’ve always kept waste and recycling close to my heart.
During my time in local government I’ve gained a Masters in Wastes Management, a transport operator’s license, Certificate of technical competence and ensured that health and safety remain at the forefront of our operations. I’ve taken on a number of roles and am now the Assistant Director for Environmental Services. The grounding I had in waste and recycling services gave me the skills to be able to think on my feet and understand the importance our services have to our communities, no matter what they are.
I’ve been most proud of the works we have undertaken to introduce the first fully-electric food waste service in the country, and to take the Borough’s recycling rate above 50% on more than one occasion. Throughout my journey, there have been lots of people I’ve helped to train, develop and grow to be the future of our sector, and I am sure that others will carry this on and build upon the great works already started.
Cindy Gardener - 2008
I can’t quite believe the journey I have been on since I was part of the LARAC scholarship programme in 2008. Excited to hear I’d won a LARAC scholarship as a new Waste and Recycling officer I joined a fantastic group of people on a busy 3 days of all things waste and recycling at the annual conference. Being part of a group, helped us navigate our way through the conference schedule from listening to guest speakers to attending workshops, the whole event was inspiring.
Since being part of this scholarship programme, my career as progressed to a senior level as a Contract Manager, Head of Service and now Assistant Director for London Boroughs of Richmond and Wandsworth. Being responsible for managing waste contracts and leading teams to support a change in how we collect, handle and transfer waste and recycling including implementing service changes to increase recycling has been very rewarding. In 2020 I was lucky to be able to join the LARAC Executive as the London Regional Rep working with a passionate group of people representing all areas of the country, we’ve supported LA’s through the recent legislative changes. I’m looking forward to meeting the new scholars this year at the welcome event!
Joanna Dixon - 2010
Back in 2010 I applied to be a scholar at the LARAC conference and was delighted to represent the London region. Attending the conference really opened my eyes to policy issues that I wasn’t exposed to in my day-to-day role and spiked my curiosity for all things policy related. Little did I know this was just the start. I had the opportunity to join the Exec some years later which really broadened my understanding and engagement with policy issues – something I probably wouldn’t have considered doing were it not for being a LARAC scholar.
After 13 years I left the world of local authority waste and recycling last year to take up a role at Defra supporting the delivery of Extended Producer Responsibility within the Scheme Administrator Establishment Team – a role which has probably been the most interesting, challenging and exciting of my whole career. I find myself depending on my previous experience almost every day, and I think one of the reasons why I was selected was due to my range of experience and knowledge, and the starting point of it all was being a LARAC scholar. To anyone considering applying to be a scholar I highly recommend it, you never know where it could lead.
Rachel Melvin - 2017
Achieving a LARAC Scholarship in 2017 was a really proud moment for me. I was one year into my career in waste and was struggling with imposter syndrome as a new manager and was trying to develop expertise in the field. The LARAC Scholarship provided me with a network of colleagues around the UK; enhanced my knowledge and expertise; and gave me a burst of confidence.
I continued in my role as Waste Strategy and Sustainability Manager at Staffordshire County Council until 2021 when I joined South Staffordshire Council to lead their Waste Team and have recently expanded my portfolio to include Customer Services. Over the past 7 years I have improved the County’s Recycling Centre services; delivered a range of service changes which have generated financial benefits and improved recycling performance; and engaged our residents with a range of environmental initiatives
Following the Scholarship, I also undertook a post graduate degree in Environmental Management and Sustainability as I was keen to continue building my technical knowledge. I was elected as a Policy and Advisory Committee Member of NAWDO in 2020/21 and am currently serving as a National Representative at LARAC. The journey really has come full circle since I was a Scholar myself in 2017 and I look forward to meeting and working with our future Scholars.
Joseph Kenny - 2018
I attended the LARAC Scholarship programme in 2018 as a Contracts officer for North Norfolk District Council. I found the event an expansive experience, broadening my knowledge of the industry, having great opportunities for networking, and discussions on the innovative developments within the industry.
Reflecting now I have developed much in my career since that initial conference. I undertook an MSc in Sustainability and Environmental Studies alongside my fulltime employment. My degree culminated in my MSc dissertation which undertook a case study for NNDC, investigating the environmental impact of them offering a food waste collection service whilst also providing a policy package for NNDC to utilise when implementing the service to achieve the best environmental outcomes.
I was recognised for my MSc work, having been awarded the Sam Thorburn award for both Best Student and Best Dissertation. During my degree I was also promoted to the Environmental Services team Leader at NNDC. More recently I have begun a new role, as the Senior Recycling and Partnership Manager at Broadland and South Norfolk Councils, leading on recycling strategies for both councils, designing the way forward for them to achieve their recycling aspirations.
Solomon Ede - 2021
Since being awarded the LARAC Scholarship in 2021 to attend the LARAC National Conference, I am pleased to say that my networking and knowledge base in the sector has grown immensely as I was barely through the door prior to being awarded the scholarship.
Reflecting on activities in the past 3 years, I can confidently say that being involved with LARAC has had a very positive impact in my professional and personal development as LARAC remains a household name in the waste and sustainability sector.
I have continued to engage with LARAC officials, attended workshops and added comments to consultations all leading to the improvement of the Waste industry in Scotland and the UK at large.
In light of my contribution to the waste sector in Scotland, I was approached by the then LARAC Scotland rep who asked if I would be interested in representing LARAC in Scotland as he was suddenly retiring.
In 2022, I became the LARAC Scotland rep which now makes me the first contact for LARAC in Scotland. I now have to organise and chair a LARAC Scotland conference in May of every year. This has definitely brought more traction my way and unlocked opportunities for me to contribute to shaping the waste industry in Scotland and the UK at large through engagement with decision making bodies and policy responses.
