Parveer Ramana
Current Employer/Organisation Name
Aston Martin Formula One Team
What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?
July 2020 – ‘Graduated’ , the ceremony was delayed until 2022. September 2020 – Started a Graduate role as an Assistant Environmental Advisor July 2022 – Started as the Environment & Sustainability Lead at the F1 Aston Martin Team Have completed the following training since graduating from both companies: IS0 14001 internal auditor training -IEMA Intro to Waste Management – CIWM Definition of Waste: Development Industry Code of Practice – CL: AIRE Environmental Legislation – PIEMA Upcoming courses: PIEMA Certification – IEMA LCA Analysis: From theory to Practical Application – UCL.
Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?
My French teacher in Secondary School once said that “You should always pursue a career in something you enjoy, if you’re good at it, that’s a bonus”. That statement stuck with me when choosing a degree programme, like so many secondary school students, I wasn’t sure what kind of career I wanted yet and didn’t want to limit myself to a specific career-related degree. Therefore, I chose to pursue a degree in Geography, which was my favourite subject at school. The degree programme catalysed my passion for sustainability and desire to be part of a working group where effective change is being implemented for the benefit of the planet. Corporate sustainability is still in its infancy, I enjoy implementing and driving change to suit the global ESG agenda, which is only set to develop further – I think it’s a really exciting space to be a part of and watch grow.
Please tell us if you were a member of any societies, groups or sports clubs?
Exeter Undergraduate Education Officer – 2019/20
Project Leader for Rally4Shelterbox Committee – 2019/20
Events Manager for Penryn Produce – 2019/20
Head of Fundraising forGeography Society – 2019/20
Treasurer for MUN – 2019/20
Community Outreach Officer for Penryn Produce – 2018/19
Academic Liaisons Officer for Geography Society – 2018/19
Participant Organiser for Rally4ShelterBox Committee – 2017/18
1st Year Representative for Geography Society – 2017/18.
What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?
The whole degree programme was great, key highlights include:
– Supportive and approachable lecturers.
– Earth System Science, Quaternary Environmental Change & Marine and Environmental Change.
– The Isles of Scilly trip.
– Sierra Nevada & Yosemite.
– Svalbard trip to collect dissertation data.
– Falmouth is a lovely town and really added to the overall university experience.
What did you enjoy most about studying here?
– Falmouth is a lovely town and really added to the overall university experience.
– Supportive and approachable lecturers.
– Very good quality and enjoyable course content.
Why did you choose to study at Exeter?
The course content, location and Russell Group Status were key selling points.
What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?
The Green Consultants module was very helpful in equipping me with relevant business skills. I would say the most useful skills an individual can hold are communication, presentation and interpersonal skills.
What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?
My advice is to be proactive, if you want something, take action to get it – this could be through messaging people on LinkedIn to attain a summer placement or it could just be getting your CV reviewed. You are in control of your own path, be smart with your decisions, be motivated to succeed and understand your industry. Something I like to do once a year is to perform a ‘gap analysis’. I cross-check my CV with job descriptions for senior positions that I might want to apply for in a few years. I assess whether I am missing any technical skills and create objectives to gain those skills within my current role. A similar exercise can be performed while as an undergraduate looking for graduate roles – the earlier you undertake this process, the better. If you are looking to join the Environmental sector, the best place to start is in the Construction Industry, you will be exposed to a wide array of environmental aspects that you might not necessarily be exposed to in other industries.
