An impressive 162 nominations were received for the 35 Under 35 2024 awards programme, organised by Letsrecycle.com in association with Grundon Waste Management.
Held at the annual RWM (Resource & Waste Management Expo) at the NEC in Birmingham, the awards celebrate professional excellence, industry innovation and those who give back to their company or community.
This year saw the number of entries double from 2023, which meant the judging panel, including Beverley Capewell, Grundon’s Head of HR, had a challenging task to whittle them down to the top 35 who they felt best represented the values they were looking for.
The winners were announced on Thursday, 12 September, at a ceremony sponsored by Grundon in The Green Skills and Future Talent Hub, and all those attending were presented with their certificates by Grundon Chairman Neil Grundon.
The event was hosted by Libby Stonell, editor of LetsRecycle.com, who then went on to announce the top three standout stars who had made the biggest impression on the judges:
Grundon chairman, Neil Grundon, said: “At Grundon, we are very focused on attracting new talent into the waste industry, and we see our sponsorship of these awards as not just recognising success, but giving it an important platform too.
“I find it incredibly inspiring to hear about all the amazing projects and the hard work being undertaken by these up-and-coming waste stars of the future. We wholeheartedly congratulate all the winners and wish them much success in their careers.”
Neil Grundon
Chairman
The full list of winners is:
- Darren Forster – Biogen UK
- Niamh Harris – Thalia Waste Management
- Artem Nepryahin – Augean
- Aida Anniba – Terracycle
- Thomas Baker – WRAP
- Jake Bayne – Dice Environmental
- Amy Bloom – Suez
- Dan Boyle – Halfords
- Patrick Brighty – Environmental Services Association
- Daniel Card – Eunomia Research & Consulting
- Amy Casey – ReLondon
- Stephen Conway – Suez
- Daniel Cope – Ngage Solutions
- Gabriela Czajka – Smith Recycling (MK)
- Tuguy Dervish – Fuelmii
- David Dyce – Vegware
- Lucy Eggleston – Eunomia Research & Consulting
- James Eyton – Viridor
- Karishma Gajjar – Suez
- Tom Hadley – Recycling Lives Services
- Lorna Jackson – Keep Britain Tidy
- Shelini Kotecha – The Restart Project
- Giovanna Kowalczuck Triballier – Veolia
- Lisa Marfell – Veolia
- James Mason – Veolia Westminster
- James Okeeffe – So Greene
- Hannah Osman – Valpak by Reconomy
- Daniel Parker – PSH Environmental
- Will Proud – Eunomia Research & Consulting
- Asrar Qazi – Edinburgh Remakery
- Dave Roberts – Viridor
- Phoebe Russell – Vegware
- Lucy Smith – Foundation Industries Ventures
- Wojciech Szewczak – Ramboll UK
- Daniel Ukasoanya – Amazon UK
Darren Forster
Darren has worked at Biogen UK since 2022 and his role involves contract management of Biogen’s 24 local authority contracts across the UK, as well as undertaking tendering for new business opportunities.
He said: “I am delighted to be named in the top three under 35, alongside some very distinguished winners – it is a real privilege and I was very humbled and pleased. It did come as a surprise because I know there are so many distinguished applicants and shortlisted professionals. Congratulations to the other winners and all of those shortlisted.”
Darren says he has been passionate about waste and recycling for as long as he can remember and, after studying Geography at Newcastle University and learning about climate change and sustainability, he decided he wanted to make a difference in his career.
He adds: “Given my prior interest in waste and resource management, the waste industry was naturally the most attractive means of fulfilling this dream – and I have never looked back! I love the fact that I contribute to making a difference – sustainable waste management is a key cornerstone to reaching net zero and protecting our environment for future generations. I also love the fact that no two days are the same and I get to meet some amazing people who are also committed to making a difference and doing the right thing.”
Darren hopes the 35 Under 35 win will open new doors and lead to conversations with other
like-minded individuals, concluding: “Being amongst the winners will not stop me from my drive to make a positive difference to the future of waste and recycling in the UK – the sky is the limit!”
Artem Nepryahin
Artem’s career in the waste industry began in a temporary role after he gained a PhD in Chemical Engineering. Since then, he says his degree has been ‘invaluable’ in giving him the technical knowledge and problem-solving skills necessary to tackle complex environmental challenges.
He said: “I soon discovered a deep interest and engagement in the field. My work has involved a variety of technical projects, the latest one being a pioneering mercury retort recovery process. This innovative process is the only industrial-scale mercury recovery facility in the United Kingdom. I’ve found the work to be both challenging and rewarding, and I’m proud to be contributing to a more sustainable future.”
He joined Future Industrial Services (now part of the Augean Group) in April 2022 and manages an HSEQ team across five locations.
“Ultimately, my job is to protect the well-being of our employees and the environment. It’s a challenging but rewarding role that requires a combination of technical expertise, leadership skills, and a deep commitment to safety and sustainability,” he added.
Asked about if he thinks the waste industry is often overlooked as a career, Artem said: “Despite its crucial role in sustainability and environmental protection, there are misconceptions about the industry which deter individuals from pursuing careers in this field. In reality, the industry requires a wide range of technical skills and expertise.
“I believe my nomination resonated with the judges because of my unwavering commitment to health, safety, environmental sustainability, and innovation within the waste management industry.
“At Augean, these principles are at the core of everything we do. Our dedication to creating a safer and more sustainable future has been instrumental in our success. I was both surprised and immensely honoured to win the 35 Under 35 Award. It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, and it reinforces the importance of these priorities within the industry.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to have contributed to our company’s success and to the advancement of the environmental sector. This recognition will give me a platform to become a thought leader in the industry. I’m excited to see what the future holds and how I can continue to make a positive impact.”
Niamh Harris
Also thrilled to be in the top three is Niamh Harris, who said: “Saying I was surprised to be in the top 3 winners is a serious understatement! I’m beyond flattered and grateful. I’ve had incredible support from the People Team and across the business at Thalia to help launch initiatives aimed at challenging bias in recruitment and expanding opportunities across all our roles.
“Being recognised as one of the top 3 in the 35 Under 35 is a huge honour. It’s a well-recognised award, and I’m excited about the doors it could open as I continue to progress in the waste industry. I’m passionate about using this platform to further challenge bias and support diversity within the workforce, and this recognition will only help amplify those efforts.”
Niamh has worked for Thalia Waste Management for three years as a People Advisor, and her role involves supporting both operational and functional teams with a wide range of HR activities, including recruitment, ensuring compliance with mandatory training, onboarding new employees, and providing general HR support.
She says: “It’s a dynamic role where I get to work closely with our operations teams to adapt and improve people processes to better support their work.
“No two days are the same in the waste industry, and that’s one of the reasons I find it so fascinating. Over the past three years, I’ve learned so much about the operations and processes that drive the industry. I’m fortunate to work with operations teams who are always eager to share their knowledge, which has helped me develop my understanding and better support the important work happening across our sites.”
She believes that the waste industry can sometimes be overlooked as a career path but says it offers such a wide range of opportunities, and concluded: “It’s a constantly evolving field, with a real focus on sustainability and innovation. There’s so much potential for professional growth, especially as the industry continues to embrace new technologies and environmental initiatives.”