Annelies is an international sustainability and strategy expert who is working to enhance the ESG practices of our clients.
She has assisted numerous organisations in identifying, understanding and addressing their ESG risks and opportunities in Australia, Europe, Canada and the Middle East. Annelies has significant experience working with ISO14001, OSHAS18001 and LEED EBOM, as well as in strategy, research, management, auditing, communications and business development. She has published and presented widely on ESG topics and led the ESG function in several organisations.
Why sustainability?
It’s exciting, meaningful, challenging and critical work for people and the planet.
What’s a sustainability myth you’d like to debunk?
I sometimes hear people say what’s the point of changing our ways, we’re doomed anyway! But we can’t afford such negative thinking, we have to take responsibility for our actions and become more sustainable.
There are many examples of how humans have changed their ways and had a massive positive impact on their environment. The iconic US bird, the bald eagle, was almost extinct in the 1960s and the only reason it was saved is because humans changed certain practices and made it happen.
Yes, change is hard but there’s no other choice. We know how to do it, we have to do it, we can do it and the rewards are massive!
What do you do outside of work that helps fuel your creativity and commitment to sustainability?
I consciously remind myself about how amazing life is, how lucky I am and how quickly things can change,
As ESG Lead, how do you stay across the latest in best practice?
Attending events, reading from a wide variety of sources, listening to other professionals and conducting my own research.
What professional relationships do you value the most?
My colleagues! Without great colleagues I wouldn’t be able to deliver great work for NDY or my clients.
If you could change one thing about the built environment, what would it be?
Make net zero carbon mandatory now, we have no time to waste!
What does Making Spaces Work mean to you?
For me, it’s about creating places that deliver on their objectives. It means we have to ensure there’s a very clear understanding of what success looks like for a project and what we can do to help it be achieved. Then, we have to make sure it happens.
Tell us something that not many people know about you.
I’m a linguist and can often be spotted racing my kids around town on my cargo e-bike!
