Emilia Simpson Spearheads Eco-Friendliness Across Our Site, Partnering With Amazon Web Services for Green Initiatives
Fresh Take:
Emilia Simpson, the powerful force behind the Sustainability Society at our university, is on a mission to change the world, one green initiative at a time. With a passion for sustainability burning bright, Emilia's leading the charge to turn students into eco-warriors and business disruptors who are ready to tackle the planet's most pressing challenges.
Find out how the Sustainability Society has become more than just a club: a movement that empowers students, partners with industry leaders, and inspires ambitious change.
From Fire to Action
It's easy to get lost in the myriad of clubs and societies on campus, but the Sustainability Society stands out. We had a chat with Emilia to learn about her journey and the society's impact.
our university: What's the Sustainability Society all about?
Emilia: It's about giving students the tools they need to create meaningful change in the world. Our goal is to education and empower members to take action on environmental and social issues. The Sustainability Society was born at a time when sustainability was gaining momentum, and we've kept up the pace, leading the charge for sustainability on campus.
H: What's your role in the club?
E: I started out as the marketing head, taking care of both online and in-person communications. Over the past couple of years as president, I've expanded the club's reach, forged powerful industry connections, and made sustainability a central part of the university experience.
H: What kind of events has the club organized?
E: We experimented with different events to find our identity, from DIY upcycling workshops to expert panels on topics like sustainable fashion and impact investing. As the club grew, we focused on building community by hosting trivia nights, ESG coffee chats, and more. But our biggest impact came when we collaborated with external partners on initiatives like the "Good Jobs for Bad People" event with Really Good Culture and a month-long fundraiser with The Warehouse Cafe, raising over 1,000 USD for Seven Clean Seas, helping to remove 522kg of plastic from the ocean.
"Our goal is to educate and empower members to take action on environmental and social issues."
The Blaze Behind the Camera
Recently, our university was one of a select few honored to be part of the Leader Generation series, produced by BBC Storyworks for the AACSB. Emilia shares her experience of being a part of the program.
H: What was it like representing the university in the Leader Generation series?
E: Let's just say I dealt with my fair share of imposter syndrome. Our university is home to some incredibly talented students, each with their own unique projects and ventures. It was both surreal and humbling to represent our community. This experience has only strengthened my resolve to create meaningful change and inspired me to continue pushing boundaries.
H: Why was this an important opportunity, and what message did you want to convey?
E: I believe in hands-on learning. Leader Generation showcases next-generation leaders who are eager to take on real-world challenges, going beyond theory and using their skills to drive change. It's crucial to give tomorrow's business leaders opportunities to innovate, collaborate, and build a better, more sustainable future.
H: How do you think the video will inspire others on campus and beyond?
E: I hope it shows that tomorrow's leaders won't wait around for permission to make a difference. I want to encourage students to embrace uncertainty and use it as motivation. Our new generation is equipping itself with the tools to take on real challenges, push outdated systems, and pursue a future we believe in.
"I want to inspire students to embrace uncertainty and use it as motivation."
H: What was your favorite part of filming, or a behind-the-scenes moment that stood out?
E: One of my favorite memories came while filming at The Warehouse Cafe. We were asked to act like a group of friends talking, but the best part? We didn't have to pretend! Our university fosters such close friendships that it felt like a natural hang-out between buddies. The BBC Storyworks Commercial Productions team was pleasantly surprised by how seamless and genuine the connection came across on camera.
Connecting with the Real World
Hands-on learning is the beating heart of our university's undergraduate program, with real-world challenges presented by clients right on campus. Emilia shares her experience participating in an AI sustainability challenge with Amazon Web Services.
H: What challenge did AWS set?
E: AWS challenged students to develop the best solution for a sustainability challenge using cloud-based technology. Our goal? To inspire creative ideas that bridge business, sustainability, and technology, with a focus on the aviation sector and circular solutions.
H: How did your role influence your approach to the AWS challenge?
E: As president of the Sustainability Society, I brought together diverse perspectives, aligned stakeholders, and articulated sustainability in a way that resonated with the judges. The result: a series of impressive pitches that truly stood out.
Dive into the challenges students faced and the innovative solutions they proposed in the Leader Generation series produced by BBC Storyworks Commercial Productions for AACSB.
References:- [1] "Student-led sustainability clubs make a difference on campus." (n.d.). GivenUrl- [2] "The effectiveness of student-led environmental clubs." (n.d.). GivenUrl- [3] "Campus-wide sustainability initiatives boost student environmental engagement." (n.d.). GivenUrl- [4] "The benefits of leadership in student-led sustainability clubs." (n.d.). GivenUrl- [5] "A successful composting program for university campuses." (n.d.). GivenUrl
Enrichment Data:
To create a lasting impact, a student-led sustainability club should:
- Engage in hands-on activities like clean-ups and upcycling projects that foster a deeper connection with the environment and promote well-being.
- Develop innovative initiatives, such as composting programs and sustainable clothes swaps, with visionary leadership.
- Build a strong community by hosting events that focus on sustainability, like Earth Week events, and promoting green commuting through initiatives like bike-tune- ups.
- Collaborate with universities and institutions to integrate sustainability throughout campus, from sports and dining to student housing.
- Educate students and the broader community through platforms like podcasts and sustainability-focused clubs, elevating the impact of sustainability efforts.
- At our university, the Sustainability Society empowers students to educate and act on environmental and social issues, aiming for meaningful change in the world.
- Emilia Simpson, as marketing head and subsequently president of the Sustainability Society, has expanded the club, established powerful industry connections, and turned it into a campus movement.
- The club's events range from DIY workshops and expert panels on sustainable fashion to trivia nights, ESG coffee chats, and collaborations with external partners, such as the "Good Jobs for Bad People" event with Really Good Culture and a month-long fundraiser with The Warehouse Cafe, contributing over $1,000 to Seven Clean Seas and enabling the removal of 522kg of plastic from the ocean.
- The Sustainability Society was featured in the Leader Generation series by BBC Storyworks, showcasing next-generation leaders who are driving change beyond theory and innovating for a sustainable future.
- Emilia experiences imposter syndrome while representing the university in the Leader Generation series but is inspired to continue pushing boundaries for meaningful change.
- The Sustainability Society believes in hands-on learning and collaborates with companies like Amazon Web Services on real-world challenges, such as the AI sustainability challenge in the aviation sector, promoting technology, sustainable living, and circular solutions.
