Women in Sustainability: Q&A with Alexandra Ismay

Alexandra Ismay has been with Jacobs for just over a year working as a sustainability consultant in our Peterborough office in the U.K. Alexandra helps her clients measure, calculate and track the carbon footprint of projects, as well as leading project volunteering, social value and diversity and inclusion ambitions.

What sparked your passion for sustainability?

Moving from a larger city and closer to the countryside opened my eyes to looking after and preserving our wonderful environment. I’ve always cared about helping people make informed decisions so they’re in a better place than where they started, and my work in social value helps me achieve this.

How are you creating a more connected, sustainable future for our clients and communities?

By collaborating and making sure we consider legacy, it means our work will be resilient and make a long-lasting positive change for the future of our clients and communities.

Why do you think it’s important for Jacobs to embed sustainability into our culture and strategy and how do you achieve this?

It’s important for Jacobs to embed sustainability into our culture and strategy as it keeps it at the forefront of our minds. I believe it can be achieved by making sure everyone at every level understands what sustainability is, why it’s important to the business and how it's relevant to them and their work.

Do you have any advice on how others can incorporate sustainability and climate response into their work, regardless of their role?

Take more steps to talk about sustainability and your carbon footprint. When you talk to colleagues mention the things you are doing outside of work that relate to sustainability. This will help create more sustainable solutions.

What has been your proudest moment or project?

My proudest moment so far was being a finalist and highly commended for the CIWEM Young Environmentalist of the Year 2022. Despite not taking a traditional route into my role my hard work to make a difference was recognized. It’s also opened up further opportunities to me like being a judge on the UK Junior Water Prize Competition, which recognizes students engaged in STEAM, and their ideas for solving environmental and water challenges.

Tell us about how you discuss sustainability and sustainable solutions with our clients?

We organize carbon footprint workshops and neurodiversity awareness sessions, as well as e presentations, events and meetings around specific sustainability days, weeks and months so that we celebrate and draw client's attention to them.

What do you enjoy most about being part of #OurJacobs?

I love that Jacobs is a large global company where there’s so many different people to work with and learn from diverse backgrounds. It means there’s so many opportunities and ways to grow.

What are your top tips for having a career in sustainability?

1. Broaden your knowledge – stay informed about sustainability.
2. Creative thinking – there is a lot of room for out-of-the-box thinking in sustainability.
3. Networking – sustainability can be broad so the more people you talk to you might find out what exactly your interest or passion is.

How are you being more sustainable in your day-to-day life?

After recently purchasing my first home, I have been using charity shops and getting second-hand furniture. One day I would love to switch to an electric car.

Outside of work, what do you enjoy doing?

Outside of work I enjoy being in nature, whether it’s hiking, running or trying to live more sustainably by planting vegetable and kitchen herbs seeds in the garden and looking after plants around the house.