A week in the life: Educating us all on the need for sustainable development

Anne Hayes is the Environment and Heritage Service's Education Manager. She talks to Fiona McIlwaine Biggins about how she aims to educate children and teachers about their role in Sustainable Development through the medium of Environmental Education and Heritage Education at EHS properties in Ulster

Anne Hayes: 'I often set time aside to work on a business case or economic appraisal or develop a plan for implementation of a strategy'

DAILY SCHEDULE

The Environment and Heritage Service responded to demand from schools to run education programmes at their country parks and historic monuments in the 1990s.

Professional teachers have been brought in to develop and deliver curriculum based programmes.

In my role as EHS Education Manager, I manage a team of eight and liaise with other Government Departments, Education and Library Boards and the Environmental Education Sector that largely comprises non-governmental organisations in taking forward the Education for Sustainable Development message.

I also advise on funding of education programmes by outside organisations, particularly the Eco-Schools programme run by TidyNI, which is a key Government target in the Sustainable Development Strategy.

And I work with delivery partners such as Eco Unesco who manage the Young Environmentalist Awards, which were celebrated in September.

As Education Manager I advise on educational input to events and exhibitions such as Balmoral Show, Garden Show Ireland and the Green Living Fair.

MONDAY

I start off the week working on timesheets and budget reconciliation, as well as checking my email, dealing with inquiries from the public and sending out resources requested.

Then I have a 'Work in Progress' meeting with my line manager.

The afternoon is spent working on a new resource - I have produced with my team more than 48 titles to date. I also update the education section of the website.

TUESDAY

Today I attend an internal meeting with the exhibition working group. I also have a meeting with external group - the Environmental Education Forum Management Committee, which I fund.

WEDNESDAY

This morning I'm off on a site visit to one of the Educators - Roe Valley. This can take all day, during which I would observe a group in action and then have a meeting with the Educator to further develop ideas, work on resources and/or deal with any issues they may have.

I may also visit another organisation at their site, such as Alliance Youthworks in Rostrevor or WWT at Castle Espie.

THURSDAY

I often set time aside to work on a business case or economic appraisal or develop a plan for implementation of a strategy, such as Internal Communications Strategy or funding for an organisation.

FRIDAY

I finish the week working on the further development of resources and then go on to plan the following week's work.

Attained a BA Hons in Archaeology and Geography from Nottingham University (1983) & PGCE Geography (1984)

Taught in England in a comprehensive (1984-1986) in Bedfordshire and a grammar school (1987-1989) in Cumbria

Then worked for Thomson Holidays for a year in the Canary Islands (1989-1990) as a Holiday Rep

Studied at Marlborough College, Wiltshire (1991-2000) Geography, Gymnastics and i/c PSHE

Worked at St Mary's School, Shaftesbury, Dorset (2000-2001) as Head of Geography

Completed a MSc Professional and Management Development at University of Ulster (2003)

Worked for John Henderson's Ltd Training Administrator (2002-2003)

Moved on to current EHS role in 2003

Became Member of Chartered Management Institute

PERSONAL CV

Born in Brussels in 1962 as a Canadian citizen of Irish parents and moved to England at four months old

Went to school in Cambridge

Have an older brother and sister

Now living in Co Antrim and determined to stay put after 11 moves since 18-years-old

Enjoy gardening, reading, horses, music (play flute and guitar)

HIGHS OF THE JOB

Having a sense of making a real difference. Last year more than 44,000 school children - plus the teachers and adults accompanying the children - participated directly in EHS Education programmes. Downloads of educational resources now average 9,500 a month and I have received requests for hard copies from New Zealand and Canada. I am involved in Initial Teaching Training and last year I delivered the "tree hugging" message to more than 600 trainee teachers. I also find persuading senior colleagues of the importance of my role fun - they often see it as a soft role, a nice thing to do. I believe that getting three-year-olds engaging with their environment in a pro-active way is sowing the seeds for a generation of adults who will care and actively change the way they live and interact with the world to make a difference to climate change, loss of biodiversity and other global issues.

LOWS OF THE JOB

There are never enough hours in the day! And in a time of change soft areas can be threatened. It can be hard to constantly feel as though you are fighting your corner all the time. I want to expand and develop this area as I believe it is fundamental to us as a society that we all take individual responsibility for the global issues. I have a vision and some days it can be hard to keep sight of it. When I feel like that I go and hug a tree!