Sustainability Graduate Spotlight - Aoife Gilheany
In a world where we need to balance a healthy and thriving planet with the building of homes, services and other infrastructure, there has never been a more pressing time for building industries to fully embrace sustainable development. The building sector alone accounts for 7% of the global carbon emissions and as infrastructure needs continue to rise, it is more critical than ever for companies to integrate robust environmental practices throughout every stage of their operations.
In this feature of the Sustainability Graduate Spotlight we are focussing on United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 9 — Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure and SDG 12 — Responsible Consumption and Production and shining a spotlight on Aoife Gilheany, graduate of Environmental Health (TU869).
Aoife Gilheany
Aoife Gilheany comes from a farming background in West Cavan which is where her interest in environmental, health and safety began. Almost since graduation, Aoife has worked in environmental, health and safety roles in construction companies leading to her current position as Regional Environmental, Health & Safety Manager for Kirby Engineering.
Aoife’s role at the company is to drive organisational commitment to ensuring that their work does not have negative impacts on our environment and local areas. An ongoing piece of work that Aoife leads along with her site teams is continuing to improve the company’s accreditation under the globally recognised standard for Environmental Management Systems, ISO 14001 and for Occupational Health & Safety Management, ISO 45001. The ISO 14001 standard helps organisations to minimise environmental aspects, such as waste, emissions, and resource use. ISO 45001 provides a framework to improve employee safety, reduce workplace risks and create better, safer working conditions. Aoife’s job is to carry out the important audits to ensure that the environment and humans are protected to these high standards.
Educational Experience
Aoife studied Environmental Health (TU869) at Cathal Brugha Street in the former Dublin Institute of Technology. She chose the course because it offered a wide variety of modules and featured a work placement. Aoife sought variety in the subjects offered which she felt allowed her scope to diversify her career in future. She was drawn to modules in physics, environmental management, health & safety and building technology.
Applying new skills and knowledge
Aoife was one of the first students to complete her work placement at Purdue University in the American state of Indiana which included a partnership at a state public health agency, Tippecanoe County Health Department. Aoife found the experience of the placement invaluable, remarking that the work required her to think and work independently, which gave her great exposure to what it is like working in the real world. The experience of international travel was also a highlight as Aoife had never done anything like this before. The course assignments featured many group projects and Aoife found this experience really supported her as she went forward into the workplace.
What does #TUDublinSustainability mean to you?
It gives students a great opportunity to be in an environment that fosters great habits and allows everyone to get involved and develop new ideas. To me it means transferring real skills and knowledge into everyday life in both work and personal life.