Working with clients to strengthen social performance
Catherine is our Senior Social Consultant in Ramboll’s Environment and Health division based in Perth. Read on as she shares how her team helps organizations strengthen the social aspects of sustainability - supporting the creation of social value, managing social risks, and helping create liveable places and inclusive societies.
Q: How are you partnering with clients to create sustainable change?
CG: One example that comes to mind is the ASEAN Australia Smart Cities Trust Fund program, for which I fulfilled the role of gender equality, disability and social inclusion specialist. In this multi-market project, Ramboll was engaged by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Asian Development Bank. We've developed training on smart and inclusive cities that is freely available, hosted on the Asian Development Bank e-Learning site.
Q: Can you share one of the interesting projects you worked on?
CG: I am part of Ramboll’s impact assessment spearhead, where I’m working on a mining project that is being developed on land used by Indigenous peoples for herding as part of their traditional livelihoods. It’s an interesting and challenging project on many levels. It engages with issues at the forefront of the global business landscape - the intersection of politics with minority and indigenous rights and navigating commitments to human rights in the context of the green transition. The work is really fulfilling, but also very challenging.
“We are seeing a need for greater awareness and consideration of EDI aspects across business. ”
Q: What are the trends you see and how can Ramboll help in these areas?
CG: One of the key trends I see is an increasing focus on equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) at multiple levels, including legislation, international best practice standards, and also in terms of voluntary commitments made by organisation. We are seeing a need for greater awareness and consideration of EDI aspects across business. For our clients and projects this means EDI is considered and addressed both internally within their organisation and externally in terms of impacts on affected communities and their ability to contribute to more equitable and inclusive development outcomes.
Ramboll is working to ensure that we effectively consider EDI throughout our services.
Q: What is the one achievement in your career you are most proud of?
CG: It's nice to find those moments in all our projects, no matter whether they're big or small. I love it when I can see how our recommendations are helping clients deliver social value for their communities.
On a lighter note, I am also proud of the way that I juggle 3 small children and quite a demanding consulting job. Sometimes that feels like quite an achievement!
Q: Lastly, what do you enjoy most working at Ramboll?
CG: Two things: The first is working with an energized and passionate team of people at Ramboll. And the second is the variety of projects that I get to work on as a social consultant from projects in Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia, and Europe, and from renewables to mining and everything in between.
Ramboll is quite unique. Being a foundation-owned organisation, it is very strongly driven by its core values. Through the multitude of works and expertise Ramboll has, we are collectively leaving a legacy behind. I am certainly proud to contribute my share of the impact by creating a more diverse, equal and inclusive society through the projects I am involved in.
Contact
Catherine Grant
Senior Social Consultant
+61 450 140 043