Hayley Potter (26), United Kingdom
Background: Zoo-keeper & Bird of Prey Trainer, Colchester Zoo. Since joining the College, Hayley has been promoted to Senior Zoo-keeper and is now studying for a MSC.
The Project: Hayley worked on a communication campaign to raise awareness on climate change solutions. The campaign centred around a pledge card to encourage consumers to cut carbon emissions in the home, from walking instead of driving to washing clothes at 30° instead of 40°.
Hayley attended festivals to sign up campaigners and shared her Arctic experience through a series of speaking engagements at schools, & private clubs such as Bird Societies. Hayley was interviewed on International TV through BBC World and on regional TV with Anglia TV and in local newspapers. Hayley, helped set up the first green committee and green initiative at work, making many steps to reduce the businesses and the employees’ carbon footprints. Some of the project included reinstating a recycling system; recycling cooking oil from canteen to use as bio-fuel for on-site vehicles; reducing water use through new hose fittings and cistern fittings.
Target: The target was 500, and Hayley recruited 2,700.
Hayley Shares Her Experience:
Q. What was the most important lesson you learnt at the College?
Hayley: That being inspired makes you inspirational. The experiences I had with all of the other students out in the Arctic inspired me to take action, more action in my own life, and action in campaigning for national and global changes. Through the lectures I have given and the campaigning I have done, my one aim has been to inspire people. Inspired people not only make vital changes to their own lifestyles but take it further and inspire others- creating a tidal wave of change!
Q.What did you gain personally from being part of the College?
Hayley: I gained a huge amount of knowledge from the variety of scientists that were willing to speak to us. Probably more invaluable than the scientific knowledge they gave us was guidance on how to simplify the knowledge to make it more accessible for my peers. I gained the confidence to stand on a stage and speak to hundreds of people about climate change issues. What’s more my growing confidence at work and with the Green Team helped my elevation to Senior Zoo Keeper.
Q. How are you using those skills now?
Hayley: Even though I have graduated from the college, I still take every opportunity to give a school talk or run a stall at a festival/fete, to talk about my experiences and enthuse others to take action.
The green committee at my place of work has made astonishing steps forward including reducing water usage, installing compost heaps, recycling cardboard, paper, plastics and some metals, looking into alternative energy sources and many other advances, but this is ongoing. I will continue with these measures at work until we are carbon neutral!
Click here to read Hayley’s 2006 Blog
