REnvTech Profile | Kerstin Macdonald, Technical Services Manager

Kerstin Macdonald REnvTech | An REnvTech profile

Kerstin’s background

Having been raised with a father with Swedish influences (a highly sustainable country), making small changes and introducing these to others has come quite naturally. Kerstin has always been surrounded by the attitude of making anything last as long as possible, and that recycling is key. These small principals have always made her eager to see what next steps can be taken to further improve the world.

Beginning her career in primary teaching, Kerstin began to share her passion for all things environmental in the classroom.

As a teacher Kerstin would encourage her students to question facts and opinion on the matter, inviting their curiosity to explore the subject. This included how to best recycle and reuse what we utilise in our day to day lives. The best way for 5-year-olds naturally being to make many different ‘junk’ models!

Kerstin’s current role

After a few differing job roles leading into lab work, Kerstin now works for DustScan. DustScan are an environmental consultancy with a focus on nuisance dust, workplace exposure, and air quality monitoring.

Kerstin primarily leads the technical service line for intaking and processing dust samples. This is useful for clients to know and understand their impact on the local environment, and best ways to minimise any detrimental effects.

One of her major ongoing projects is the development of new bespoke software to allow customers to analyse their own dust samples, using DustScan’s sticky pads and trademarked scanning technologies. This will allow international customers to review their own environmental impact, negating any nuisance complaints from themselves with easier and faster access to their directional data, all whilst reducing the CO2 emissions associated with current courier usage needed for samples to be analysed at DustScan HQ.

Kerstin also oversees the management of lab processes and stock control. With the use of hazardous chemicals, she ensures the correct disposal measures are taken, so to mitigate harmful environmental impacts. This includes ensuring safe storage of the chemicals, making sure all staff are aware of clean-up protocols to act quickly if anything does occur, and using reputable companies to collect and dispose of chemical waste properly and safely.

In Kerstin’s words

What does the future hold for you?

“I hope to apply for REnvP next and take on more responsibility in seeing how we can change the world (or at least the DustScan offices to start)! Applying to be a REnvTech has opened my eyes to realise what I am already doing to put in place best practices. I also enjoy knowing there’s a professional body to keep myself accountable for my actions impacting the environment. I look forward to getting to know some of the other professionals within this body and having discussions around what we can put in place – especially those involved with environmental guidance to keep up to date with emerging ideas.”

What’s your advice for an aspiring REnvTech?

“I applied through the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES) and asked them a lot of questions, with the registered technician role being quite new. They do now have a lot more guidance and even webinar sessions, where they encourage you to ask any questions you are unsure of.

That would be my biggest piece of advice – ask the questions! You won’t be marked down for wanting to clarify what is being asked of you, and you may be asking questions others want to know but haven’t asked. This will help the IES (and other bodies) to make a more comprehensive FAQ page to help others too.

It’s also useful to note any key projects you have and update your professional CV against the assessment criteria. Doing this as you go will save you a lot of time in the application process!”