Skip to content
Skip to navigation menu

 

Katrina Henderson

As well as being the Eco Champion in Occupational, Safety, Health and Environment, Katrina Henderson also shares this with the role of Environmental Safety Advisor for the University. Here Katrina explains what her roles involve and how the University is moving towards implementation of ISO14001 for the whole campus.

Katrina Henderson, Eco Champion for Occupational, Safety Health and Environment Unit

I started my career as Environmental Advisor at the University of Wales College of Medicine in 1996, so I felt I was well equipped to carry on my role as Environmental Advisor at the University following merger. 

One of the main aspects of my job currently is to oversee the roll out of an Environmental Management System (EMS) across the Cathays Park campus, and it is great to see so many people committed to implementing it. 

The aim of this system is to help the University to understand and manage its environmental impacts, thus driving sustainability in every function of the University. There has been an accredited EMS for the Heath Park campus jointly with Cardiff and Vale Local Health Board since 2003, and we were the first teaching hospital in the country to achieve ISO14001.  We are currently seeking the same accreditation for the Cathays Park site.

I have also been instrumental in the development of the University Travel Plan. This is where we encourage more active travel such as walking and cycling, or more frequent use of public transport. A revised Travel Plan is due to be launch in the next few months which will set out how ways the University community can reduce its carbon footprint through the use of more sustainable travel methods 

Since the Eco Champion system has been set up, I’ve been able to use it as a way to discuss relevant issues and get feedback from people across the University estate about better environmental management.  There has most definitely been a change in people’s attitudes towards the environment and an increased awareness of the issues. So much so, that people also seem to be increasing the things they do at home to maintain sustainability which is great news.

Recycling, reducing waste and saving energy are the key messages we aim to get across. People can start saving energy straightway by simply by switching off lights and computers when they are not in use.  We try to encourage people to realise that it is the little things like this that we can all do easily, that will add up to a huge step forward for the University as a whole becoming more environmentally sustainable.

It is an ongoing challenge due to the sheer size of the University, but it’s one I take on whole heartedly. The University has made good progress, and the implementation of ISO 14001 will help to raise general awareness. From this, we can only move forward.