Table Talk

What's it like to be Head of Sustainability at a huge company like Nestlé UK and Ireland? To mark Earth Day 2022, we've been speaking to the woman who holds that role, Dr Emma Keller. Emma started out doing a biology degree at Imperial College London but, by her own admission, "was useless in a laboratory". She says that's when she realised she was "much more interested in the bigger picture, the systems-change piece". After doing a Masters in Environmental Technology, she went on to get a PhD in Environmental Strategy and Sustainable Systems at the University of Surrey. So, is studying an environmental subject the key to landing a job like Head of Sustainability at a multinational conglomerate such as Nestlé? Not so, says Emma: "We need a whole wealth of different talents and skills. There are lots of ways to get into this space." Listen to the full episode to find out how Emma rose to the top of her profession - including successful stints at Unilever and the WWF - what she loves most a