Green Gown Awards 2015 – Sustainability Professional Award - Nicola Hogan - Finalist

Space, Environmental & Sustainable Officer - Goldsmiths, University of London

Nicola’s “green wins” since starting at Goldsmiths in September of 2012 include reaching the gold standard in Green Impact for the Estates & Facilities Department three years in a row, ensuring Goldsmiths became a Fairtrade University in 2013, being secretary of 4 working groups at Goldsmiths (Fairtrade, Space Management, Environmental & Sustainable and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)) and drafting and updating all environmentally related policies as needed.

Nicola also manages Greening Goldsmiths social media and oversees the reuse, donation and recycling of all good quality reusable items on campus. She has more recently taken charge of the installation of smoking shelters and will combine this with a “kick-the-habit” campaign to promote wellbeing amongst staff and students.

Nicola has also organised several events to raise awareness of various forms of waste reduction including with a local waste management department to run a Love Food Hate Waste workshop, and Swishing Event.

Top 3 learnings

1 Be consistent: When you start a project, see it through to the end or ensure it is “on-going” where possible

2 Report “green-wins” regularly, incorporate and reward others while doing it. Use #Hashtag’s and highlight people on Facebook when reporting good news (people love that)

3 Use every opportunity to ask staff and students to get involved. (This often works best after you’ve sourced them new furniture or helped with an office clear out etc.)