SYSTRA, one of the world-leading engineering and consulting groups in transportation and mobility, announces that Riona Ainge has been appointed to take up a newly created role within the group as its Sustainability Lead. This new role has been created as a strategic move by the company to further develop its commitment to sustainability across its business operations. Through her experience in planning, sustainability, and leading, Riona will be pivotal in supporting SYSTRA’s sustainability goals in driving initiatives across the four main areas: social purpose, climate action, responsible business, and environmental stewardship.
Experience in Sustainability and Planning
Riona brings a lot of experience in this role from SYSTRA, where she spent the last four years. Her stay with the firm began as a Consultant to the Planning and Consents Team for the HS2 Main Works Civils Contract, one of the big UK infrastructure projects. Following that, she took on the position of Sustainability Manager for the Balfour Beatty Vinci SYSTRA joint venture, developing the Old Oak Common Station project.
She has been a staunch advocate for sustainability and innovation at SYSTRA. Her educational background in geology and environmental management gave her that concretized foundation to lead very complicated projects involving goals on sustainability.
Leading the Charge for Sustainability at SYSTRA
The Sustainability Lead is a new role within SYSTRA, and Riona will be supporting and driving the sustainability efforts of the company. She will focus on four main areas of sustainability:
Social Value: This pertains to creating projects that provide direct positive impacts to local communities.
Climate Action: A climate action is one which will help reduce carbon emissions along with other negative factors affecting the climate.
Responsible Business Practice: These are businesses conducted in the most ethical manner possible, from how the supply chain is managed along with corporate business issues, down to the well-being of the staff.
Environmental Stewardship: Increase in protection and improvement of natural environments by responsible project planning and delivery.
Her new appointment reflects the continuing commitment of SYSTRA to having sustainability as central to its business. The combination of her experience with global resources of the company-the things she’ll be doing-will be to ensure the sustainability strategy of SYSTRA is in line with the long-term business objectives of the company.
Achievements and Leadership
The impact Riona has had since joining SYSTRA has indeed been felt. She actively works with the company’s Next Generation Leadership Team to bring new ideas and strategies in creating further sustainability at the company. Her leadership and work were acknowledged as she reached finalist status in both the WICE Awards 2024 and the Young Railway Professional of the Year 2023.
Furthermore, it is Riona’s academic background that allows her to recall her expertise in this field. This was after attending the University of Birmingham for a first-class degree in Geology and Physical Geography, followed by a Master’s in Environmental Management at the University of Nottingham. Her academic background, combined with her hands-on experience, positions her well to lead SYSTRA’s sustainability initiatives.
New Responsibilities and Vision
Riona has pointed out a number of priorities that she will address in the next few months in her appointment to the post of Sustainability Lead. This includes the establishment of a sound Carbon Management Programme with accurate tracking and reduction of carbon emission through the projects and operations of the firm. This falls within wider global initiatives aimed at reining in climate change by cutting greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning toward a low-carbon economy.
She will also be committed to increasing the contribution of SYSTRA in social value with its projects, such as benefits with communities served through job creation, the development of skills, and improved infrastructure.
Driving Change at SYSTRA
Commitment at SYSTRA includes appointing a focused Sustainability Lead. The title of the job determines and portrays how well the commitment to driving positive change and embedding sustainability into every aspect of the company’s operations is going. In this manner, SYSTRA aligns its goals on sustainability with core business activities in support of global efforts to address environmental challenges while creating long-term value for stakeholders.
With over a century of history in providing infrastructure projects that improve transportation and mobility around the globe, SYSTRA is committed to positioning itself as a leader in these developments. That said, SYSTRA does acknowledge its commitment to ensuring that all projects it undertakes are viable, responsible, and contribute to the long-term wellbeing of the planet and its inhabitants.
A Sustainable Future for SYSTRA
The appointment of Riona Ainge to the post of Sustainability Lead in SYSTRA is one other significant step in the journey to the realization of its sustainability goals. SYSTRA is positioning itself as a responsible business, which concerns making positive contributions through the reduction of carbon, creation of social value, and stewardship of the environment.
The company leadership team believes that Riona can realize significant positive change across the business. With her combination of expertise, leadership, and passion for sustainability, she holds the perfect position to carry on with this important role.
Conclusion
Riona Ainge’s appointment to the position of Sustainability Lead at SYSTRA showcases how the company commits to embedding sustainability into business practice. Being in a leading position, her experience in planning and environmental management puts her at the forefront of leading SYSTRA to create long-term social and environmental value.
She will focus specifically on carbon management and community engagement to position SYSTRA at the forefront of sustainable business practice, contributing positively to the environment and society.
Source:
SYSTRA