Celebrating one year at OG with our Project Assistant, Sabrina

Since joining OG one year ago as a Project Assistant, Sabrina has been a driving force behind the SASHA Coalition, managing members and thinking critically about the policies we need to decarbonise shipping and aviation. Here she reflects on her first year in the role.

What drew you to work at OG? 

I was trying to find a job after my Masters, and just as I started feeling like giving up, I saw OG’s job advert. I was really impressed with OG’s Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Policy, which was so developed for such a young organisation. I was also drawn in by the chance to work on climate change with such talented people. When stalking my now current colleagues, I was amazed at the talent and got so excited by the chance to work in a (mostly) female-led organisation. At my interview, I just felt so comfortable and definitely had the feeling of ‘OMG this is the perfect place for me.’ (I hope OG saw it that way too…) 

What has changed since you started? 

I know everyone says this, but WE’RE HUGE!! I was the 10th person to join OG, and now we’re at 16 – and continuing to grow. Watching OG grow is such a pleasure and I can’t wait to see what we look like in another year. 

On a more personal level, my confidence in my work has grown so much, and I’m so grateful for my team for creating such a safe space for me to ask however many questions I need. Overthinking and imposter syndrome at work for me is so real, but OG has facilitated an environment which is really relaxed yet professional, and I honestly think it’s the perfect place for me to start my career.  

What are you most proud of being involved in since you joined? 

Honestly so many things – another amazing thing at OG is that I’ve been involved in loads of important project work right from the start. My brilliant manager Nuala and myself wrote some Factsheets on aviation, shipping, green hydrogen and green jobs. These concise pieces of work have summarised some quite complicated content into a format that is easily accessible – which was a difficult task so I’m definitely proud of us!   

Watching the SASHA Coalition grow in this past year has been incredible. We have a coalition of such ambitious companies taking huge steps in their decarbonisation journeys. As part of my role, I get to travel to events for industry insight, and despite getting the okay to fly, I’m proud I remained stubborn and took the train to and from a conference in Valencia. I was able to demonstrate just how easy it is for employers to reduce emissions – just by encouraging rail travel over flights.  

I also wrote our evidence to the United Nations Resolution on Human Rights and Climate Change call for input – which still feels so surreal! It was on taxing aviation and how the funds could help climate vulnerable countries, and with the help of the amazing comms team, I secured an op-ed with Business Green!  

Sabrina on her epic train ride to Valencia.

What inspires you about what you’re working on? 

Apart from the looming climate crisis that will kill us all, I love my team, and the work SASHA does on alternative fuels is so crucial to what the world will look like in the future. I really enjoy finding problems to solutions, and researching ways in which governments can minimise the effects of climate change, as well as meeting people from industry, government and other NGOs to collaborate.  

What are you looking forward to in the coming year? 

I’m really looking forward to seeing what the SASHA Coalition achieves. This year is huge for politics, and the upcoming UK, EU and US elections will definitely shape what the effects of climate change will look like in 10, 50 and even 100 years from now. 

I’m also really looking forward to seeing the work of my colleagues in the Legal Team and the International Shipping Policy Team develop. We all do such fantastic work all around and I’m really looking forward to the impact we can have as we grow. 

Inspired to come and work at Opportunity Green? Keep an eye on our vacancies page and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.