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Sustainability Developer working globally with transport and services - a career of an IIIEE alumna.

Signe Damgaard Nielsen is working as a Sustainability Developer at IKEA Global Transport & Services.

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Home country: Denmark

Current work position: Sustainability Developer at IKEA Global Transport & Services (located in Helsingborg, Sweden)

Graduation year from the IIIEE: 2012

Describe your job and the most exciting aspects of it

I work with IKEA's code of conduct called IWAY focusing on transportation on a global basis. All IKEA's suppliers need to be in compliance with IKEA's social and environmental requirements which sets strict demands within areas as CO2 emission, waste, child labour, corruption and working hours. I am a part of the global Transport & Services Sustainability team who works together across areas such as Asia Pacific and Central Europe and in close corporation with the carriers that transport goods for IKEA.

The most exciting part of my work is that no day is the same - I get to work with many challenging cases within a large international company that operates in many different parts of the world. By working with IWAY I also feel I am a part of a development process helping our many suppliers to improve within social and environmental issues.

Did studying at the IIIEE contribute to you getting this job? If so – how?

My studies at the IIIEE and my previous work as an External Relations coordinator at the IIIEE has definitely helped me in getting this job - together with having a global alumni network. When applying for this job I learned the value of my network and my competences that I had built up during my studies at the IIIEE - all combined was of great significance for my recruitment process.

What do you wish for current and future IIIEE students?

I wish that current and future IIIEE students will see the endless possibilities that come with studying an interdisciplinary programme such as the Master’s Programme in Environmental Management and Policy; explore how it is to work with real-life cases and dig deep into the environmental issues that the world is facing. IIIEE students will face an intense period during their study time but it is all worth it at the end - both personally and professionally!