Green Careers in Action: How wienerberger’s Team is Leading Sustainable Innovation

A spotlight on Green Careers with real impact by the people making sustainability work at wienerberger UK & Ireland.

Our approach

At wienerberger UK & Ireland, sustainability is a collective effort, and everyone has the potential to be a sustainability advocate regardless of their department or role. 

To mark Green Careers Week 2025, a UK-wide campaign that inspires and empowers people to pursue careers that protect the planet and promote sustainability, we spoke with members of wienerberger UK and Ireland’s sustainability team to explore how their work contributes to achieving our ambitions for 2030. 

Led by Stephanie Palmer, the team’s work reflects a passionate, inclusive approach that spans many aspects of sustainability, such as carbon emissions reduction, biodiversity promotion, water and waste management, social impact, and lifecycle assessment. 

Biodiversity and Ecology

Maisie McKenzie, Biodiversity Manager, wienerberger UK & Ireland, reflects on her professional evolution and finding her passion.

“I didn’t know that ecology existed as a field until I was at university studying art. I had a bit of a crisis trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life…then I discovered a degree in wildlife conservation and ecology and absolutely fell in love with it. Now I get to work in a much broader sustainability team, spending every day advocating for biodiversity and being a driving force of positive change.”

As someone who strongly advocates for biodiversity, Maisie is passionate about bringing non-traditional roles into sustainability activities through community liaison committees, wildlife trust partnerships, and site-level initiatives. She also champions biodiversity internally through hands-on trainings and nature-focused activities. 

“We believe sustainability is everyone’s responsibility; in any role, any job, you can always do it with an essence of biodiversity in mind. There are ways you can get involved with your team as well. We have had the marketing team go out and volunteer at Chester Zoo, the finance team planting trees up at our Hartlebury brickworks, and the accounts team tree planting at Broomfleet tileworks. We also have a representative from each site who helps us with surveys, collecting data and just being a voice for biodiversity on site.”

Personal Fulfilment & Data-Driven Impact

Aaminah Nisa, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Analyst, wienerberger UK & Ireland, talks about her journey into sustainability in construction and the impact of her role within the industry.

“Working in sustainability can be very fulfilling, and particularly, in the construction industry. I have the chance to make a positive impact in a sector that is responsible for a significant percentage of global carbon emissions,” says Aaminah.

“As part of my job, I model the impact of existing products as a baseline. While researching new process technologies and materials, I can evaluate the proposed changes and present the environmental impacts. This LCA data helps inform the veracity of the proposed carbon savings,” Aaminah Nisa. 

Strategic Vision & Impact

Stephanie Palmer, Head of Sustainability, wienerberger UK & Ireland, comments on how the team ensures that our long-term environmental goals are translated into daily decisions and impact within and outside the organization. 

“My role involves assimilating information, applying it to our business context then making sure my team and others in the business have the resources available to take action. We set ambitions for 2030 within our sustainability strategy called ‘Let’s Build Beyond.’ These environmental and social goals, as well as the milestones toward meeting them, provide a framework for daily decision making.”

Stephanie continues, “some days it’s hard to feel like progress is being made but on other days (like when we sign off a major investment or receive great feedback from our employees or the people we support through our social impact programme), those become ‘markers’ in my mind of how far we have come.”

When asked about her proudest achievement on the job, Stephanie says it is more of a cultural shift than a single project she has led.

“My proudest achievement is not one single project or initiative, but more generally in helping to shape the company’s approach to sustainability and in empowering others across the organisation to make a difference. Some of the things we do today as routine actions were things I dreamt about when I joined 10 years ago and these transformative changes for wienerberger are the rewarding part of my job,” Stephanie Palmer.

Strategy in Action

When it comes to supporting cross-functional projects, managing key administrative tasks, and bridging the green skills gap, Tom Rogerson is a vital part of wienerberger UK & Ireland’s sustainability team. Since joining the company in 2021 and transitioning into the role of Sustainability Co-ordinator, Tom has collaborated with multiple teams across the business to turn ideas into action and embed sustainability principles into daily operations.

“I am currently involved in the strategy refresh for ‘Let's Build Beyond’. And have been updating the companies carbon reduction plan, while also beginning work on developing plans for FloPlast and Pipelife. The plans will help inform and shape their own sustainability strategies." says Tom.

“I have also been working on identifying skills gaps within our own workforce through questionnaires and data analysis and I am developing training pathways for teams to address these gaps.  We believe this training will build capability and help to close existing skills gaps within the business.” Tom Rogerson. 

Site-Level Stewardship

We also caught a glimpse into the dynamic role of Kay Barker, Environmental Manager, wienerberger UK & Ireland.

“No two days are ever the same for me,” Kay comments. “My remit covers all 12 brick and tile sites within Wienerberger Ltd., so a lot of my work takes me to the sites across the country. A typical day could be me carrying out an internal audit, undertaking boundary noise surveillance, meeting with local authorities, and with residents to ensure our impact on them is as minimal as possible. I also monitor site-level waste production and water consumption on a regular basis, query any inconsistencies in the data and support investigations needed to explain those changes.”

Social Impact & Inclusion 

Sarah Nurton, Social Impact Manager, wienerberger UK & Ireland, finds purpose in the social side of sustainability. For her, the most rewarding part of the role is knowing that every initiative  has the power to uplift lives. 

“What drives me is the hope that I am genuinely making a positive difference to people's lives, whether it is within the local communities where our operations are situated, students and young people or our fellow colleagues. Through our volunteering programme, charitable giving, partnerships, product donations and more we can deliver social good”. 

Advice for Aspiring Professionals Looking to Explore Green Career

When asked for a piece of advice to people who want to embark on a green career, here are some responses from our sustainability team:

1) Do not wait for perfection.

“Just go for it! We need more people with green skills who are enthusiastic, passionate, and committed. There are lots of opportunities to learn on the job and undertake professional short courses too. You don’t need to be an ‘expert’ to begin.” – Sarah Nurton, Social Impact Manager.

2) Start with curiosity. 

“Sustainability is such a varied and wide-reaching discipline that is applicable across most sectors. The skills you pick up are very transferrable and can be applied across many different roles. Look at job listings and company sustainability pages to identify the core skills that employers are looking for.” – Aaminah Nisa, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Analyst.

3) Think beyond the obvious to find your niche:

“Explore all your options and you will find your niche—something that just really speaks to your soul. It could be something you have never heard of before,” – Maisie McKenzie, Biodiversity Manager.

4) Build your foundation.

“Degrees in environmental science, geography, ecology, or sustainability are helpful, but not essential. Short courses, certifications, memberships from a professional body will help you find a direction,” – Tom Rogerson, Sustainability Co-ordinator. 

5) Get involved. 

“Volunteer, join community projects, attend Green Careers Week events, or shadow professionals in the field to narrow down what interests you most and what career paths incorporate these passions. These real-world experiences help you build confidence and open doors you might otherwise have not known existed” – Kay Baker, Environmental Manager. 

6) Research opportunities.

“No two roles are the same, even if they have the same job title. Do your research and ask questions about the scope of the job you might be considering” – Stephanie Palmer, Head of Sustainability.

7) Building Green Careers Together

While our sustainability team shows how individual roles can spark real change in the construction industry, Green Careers Week reminds us that sustainability is a shared responsibility. 

Whether you are just starting out or making a career switch, there is a place for you in the green career ecosystem.

Find out how to get involved in Green Careers Week 2025 (running from 3rd – 8th November 2025). Visit the Green Careers Hub.