Helping clients navigate complexities in the compliance lifecycle

Q: Could you tell us more about yourself and what your role in Ramboll is?

VP: I am a lead consultant at Ramboll, where I have worked for 7.5 years in the Compliance, Strategy and Transactions (CST) team and work closely with the Site Solutions team. At Ramboll I am involved in Independent Environmental Audits (IEAs); environment, health and safety (EHS) compliance audits; contamination site assessments; vendor and acquisition due diligence reviews, waste management and permitting compliance reviews.

Recently, I have been certified as a lead auditor with Exemplar Global for conducting EMS audits, Site Contamination Assessment and Regulatory Compliance Audits.

Q: How do you see the future of IEA auditing evolving in Australia and what prompted your interest to become a certified environmental auditor and to conduct IEAs?

VP: Independent Environmental Audits (IEAs) have been established to ensure compliance with environmental regulations, identifying areas for improvement, and promoting sustainable practices within organisations and major development projects. IEAs are currently required by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) as part of a development approval or State Significant Development/Infrastructure approval in New South Wales.

As the number of development projects continues to grow, and since the update of the Independent Audit Post Approval Requirements in 2020, audits have been required on a continued basis for significant development projects, and the requirement for IEAs will continue into the future.

Our team in Sydney has the capability of providing these audits to help our clients maintain compliance with their project approvals. Currently, we have three Exemplar Global certified Lead Auditors in Environmental Management Systems, Site Contamination Assessment and Regulatory Compliance Audits who can assist our clients with such audits. I have been fortunate to work with and be mentored by these auditors to develop my capabilities and experience to become a lead auditor.

Ramboll has been working on various interesting and large-scale development projects, such as the remediation of Walka Water Works , Barangaroo and Health Translation Hub in Randwick. Our work enables sustainable developments that are good for society, the economy and developing iconic resilient and liveable urban spaces.

Q: Can you share a project that you find most interesting, challenging or rewarding?

VP: The most engaging IEA projects for me are typically those related to construction developments. For these projects, we conduct audits at six-month intervals, allowing us to observe the progress of large-scale developments over time.

As part of the audits, we perform site inspections to support our document reviews and interviews, and it’s interesting to see how the development evolves throughout the process. We have recently worked on the Darling Harbour Precinct Redevelopment project which involves conducting IEAs on the construction occuring within the precinct.

Q: What would you say to aspiring colleagues who are interested in developing a career path in IEA?

VP: Working on IEAs has provided me with extensive experience collaborating with a wide range of clients and regulatory agencies. This work has helped me develop strong communication and interpersonal skills, particularly when engaging with stakeholders from diverse backgrounds and sectors.

For someone who is interested in this area, the projects can expand your understanding of regulatory requirements, stakeholder expectations, and the importance of clear, transparent dialogue throughout the audit process. These experiences have significantly contributed to my professional growth and have equipped me to navigate complex, multi-stakeholder environments with confidence and adaptability.

Q: What attracted you to work at Ramboll?

VP: The values and culture at Ramboll originally attracted me to the role. Being able to come to a company which puts sustainability first and to work with like-minded people helped in making the choice. Our commitment to being a partner in sustainable change is clearly reflected in the way we collaborate with our clients, partners, and stakeholders. We are provided with opportunities for upskilling to develop our competencies and project management skills through training and education. I was able to shape the focus and pace of my career with Ramboll’s development dialogue programme.