Ciaran Duffy, Project Officer (Sustainable Resource Management), Belfast City Council
What subjects did you enjoy at school that supported your career path?
GCSE Geography, GCSE ICT, GCSE History, A-Level Programming, A-Level History
Did you study at university or higher education?
Yes
What course did you study?
Irish Language
What does a typical day or week in your role look like?
I work on Projects that try progress towards the objectives Belfast City Council and the country have around Circular Economy, Sustainable Resource Management, and Waste Management. In my role no two weeks are the same. Sustainable Resource Management and Circular Economy are similar that they try to get people to re-use things before they recycle or dispose of them. Waste Management ties into that a bit with ‘What do we do if we can’t re-use or recycle this thing?’.
What part of your job do you find most interesting or exciting?
Variety, it is the spice of life.
What advice would you give to pupils who are interested in a career in sustainability?
I would say there’s no pressure, sustainability relates to so many roles and it’s likely you’ll come across it eventually. For those genuinely seeking a career in it I’d say Sustainability is increasingly becoming a part of every single job that’s out there, and by equipping yourself with the knowledge you are getting a step-up for any role you’ll get into.