Richard is the Managing Director of an Environmental Consultancy business, Anderson Environmental Ltd, which he founded in 2015. Having worked for large multinational manufacturing businesses for 20 years setting up a very small company was a big change which presented both challenges and a huge amount of freedom. Richard work's on a wide range of projects from management systems and auditing to overseeing soil and groundwater remediation systems. He works closely with a manufacturing facility in the North East of England who truly embrace the idea of sustainability. Together they have initiated on-site renewable energy generation, rainwater harvesting, tree planting, a drive towards zero waste, and an extensive programme of environmental and sustainability training.
After gaining a BSc in Botany and Zoology, Richard went on to complete an MSc in Clean Technology. After completing a placement with a multinational aluminum producer and working in the Air Pollution Laboratory at Newcastle University, Richard was offered a permanent position in manufacturing. He has worked in the Environmental Management arena ever since, including with Alcan Aluminium UK Limited, Rio Tinto plc and now my own company Anderson Environmental.
Richard achieved his Chartered Environmentalist in 2015, and went on to complete a second MSc in Psychology after recognising a large part of his work was based around behaviour change and the psychology of human beings. This equipped him to provide advice on environmental and sustainability improvements.
"It can often be overlooked in the environmental field when discussing technical detail or appropriate management systems that the key element is people. If your people do not value their environment, and understand their impact upon it, and the power they have to make different choices, it is very difficult to affect change. Discussing why behaviour change is so difficult in a non-judgemental way, using narratives that resonate with us all has been a powerful way to change opinion. So, my ambition is to continue with this work and change the world!"
Richard became a member of the IES and IAQM in 2003, "I feel the IES provide valuable information and learning opportunities across the spectrum of environmental science that allows me as a professional to stay well informed and bring elements from areas outside my expertise into the work I have experience with."
