In conversation with Katherine Rolfe, Head of Sustainability, Wickes

Katherine has over 25 years’ experience working in the sustainability and environmental management profession. Her passion to do something about environmental issues was sparked from a young age when the ozone layer and acid rain were top of the agenda, and climate change was an emerging issue. She soon understood that to make an impact, sustainability needs to be integrated into business-as-usual, balancing economic prosperity with supporting everyone in society and reducing environmental impact.

She worked for Heathrow for many years, and has advised many companies across different sectors how to integrate sustainability into their business. Now as Head of Sustainability for Wickes she is leading the delivery of their sustainability strategy - Built to Last - across the business by inspiring colleagues to lead with sustainability at the heart of their thinking and decision making.

When she is not at work, she is trying to improve the sustainability of her own home ... including getting her two teenagers to turn the lights off when they leave a room!

We had a great chat with Katherine about translating sustainability into the language of the business you're working with, when (and why) you might want to be involved in ALL of the conversations and the difference between Sustainability with a Big S and sustainability with a little s.

The reminder that sustainability professionals can’t become bored of their own message is always worth hearing and we had get another mention of the importance of finding a supporting and cheerleading crew.

We are sharing our conversations about sustainability to help you start your own.