“Collaboration is powerful”

Nicki Hunt-Davison is an Executive of the British Plastics Federation and she accept to be interviewed to share her experiences in the EPS world.

Work and responsibilities

“My role within the EPS industry involves supporting our members across the UK which includes raw material suppliers, converters and recyclers. With nearly twenty years of experience in the construction sector, I work closely with Group Members to navigate regulatory challenges, drive innovation, and promote sustainable practices. One element of my work is to improve recycling infrastructure, reducing waste, and to foster a circular economy within the EPS industry. Additionally, encouragement to help optimize production efficiency and reduce energy consumption while maintaining high product quality is important. Collaboration is essential in achieving these goals, and I actively engage with government agencies, recycling firms, and other regulatory bodies in the UK and Europe to drive positive change and ensure a more sustainable future for EPS.”

Biggest challenges and achievements in her career

“Staying up-to-date – my knowledge is constantly evolving across the piece including the ever changing landscape across technical and regulatory areas.  Collaboration is powerful to refine ideas and to explore creative problem solving. Improving over time – with each iteration, improvement in understanding context and communicating with clarity to provide informative and concise information is crucial. Supporting education and learning - whether it be to develop innovative EPS solutions to drive efficiency, improving product performance or encouraging environmentally responsible practices in our industry .”

A word of advice

“Build a Strong Technical Foundation where appropriate and seek opportunities for growth. Gain hands-on experience through internships, research projects, and lab work. Stay updated with new technologies like renewable energy, AI in energy, and sustainability practices. Network and Find Mentors - connect with mentors who can help guide your career. Leadership, communication, and negotiation skills are just as important as technical expertise. Be confident in expressing ideas and advocating for yourself. Be Resilient and Adaptable - expect challenges as a woman in a male-dominated field, use these to best effect to encourage change. Advocate for Inclusion and Diversity to support your colleagues”