18 June 2010
RMIT student, RMIT graduate, RMIT employee
Craig Allen is an RMIT graduate and ResourceSmart Project Officer with RMIT Property Services.
Craig Allen’s investment in his RMIT education has paid dividends.
RMIT University has now made an investment in this talented graduate and the large suite of skills he has developed as a student in the Bachelor of Social Science (Environment) and Bachelor of Environmental Science double degree program.
In August 2009, Mr Allen, originally from the UK, was employed with RMIT University’s Property Services as an Environmental Policy Assistant, as part of his final year placement for the Social Science program.
Since commencing work with RMIT, Mr Allen has embarked upon a number of key sustainability projects that range from contributing to the revision of and recommendations for the redevelopment of RMIT University’s Environmental Policy, to the mapping of the Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) building features and facilities on RMIT University’s onshore campuses.
“The work that I have been doing is really stimulating and I’ve gotten involved in projects that are enabling me to use my research, analytical and creative thinking skills,” said Mr Allen.
“I’m also confident that I can make a difference and enable RMIT to further enhance its sustainability track record,” Mr Allen said.
Having recently accepted a full-time position with Property Services, Mr Allen now has a key role in coordinating the development and promotion of ResourceSmart Tertiary, a compulsory Sustainability Victoria Initiative that RMIT University signed up for in late 2009.
ResourceSmart Tertiary is a comprehensive environmental management program that has been developed for TAFE facilities and operations. The program is designed to be holistic and flexible so that the goals and objectives can be applied to all educational facilities on campus.
ResourceSmart Tertiary contains initiatives and targets around the reduction in energy, water and waste consumption, sustainable purchasing, education for sustainability and the promotion and reporting of environmentally sustainable commitments and achievements.
“The ResourceSmart Tertiary program outlines in detail a large number of sustainability targets that RMIT University is required to meet in the short-term future and beyond,” said Mr Allen.
“ResourceSmart is quite flexible as we can add more sustainability objectives that RMIT has in place, which are not encompassed within the program,” Mr Allen said.
Mr Allen is working closely with Property Services’ Senior Advisor, Environment whose focus is to embed a culture of sustainable work practices across the RMIT University community and the Manager, Energy who is working to reduce energy and water consumption within RMIT’s operational infrastructure.
“Being part of this team is really empowering,” said Mr Allen.
“We’re committed to the same goals and we are all working closely with the University community to ensure that environmental sustainability is a high priority on everyone’s agenda.”
Mr Allen’s track record as an international student also reflects his commitment to RMIT University as a whole. For five years, he volunteered his time as a Student Leader for RMIT Unions’ Sports and Recreation department and received two awards in recognition of this work.
“Being part of the RMIT community as a volunteer over the last five years has been an important part of my student life,” Mr Allen said.