Meet our Team: Sophie Bray on what CIMSPA is doing for the environment

CIMSPA Greenbots lead, and Education and Endorsement Officer, Sophie Bray talks about why companies should shift to environmentally friendly practices

This week we caught up with Sophie Bray, CIMSPA’s ‘Greenbots’ lead, to discuss her passion for the environment, how companies can play their part no matter how small they are, and what CIMSPA has planned for the future.

‘Greenbots’ is CIMSPA’s new environment committee aiming to kickstart green thinking among the wider team. It follows in the footsteps of our ‘Wellbots’ team, which focuses on wellbeing.

“When I was interviewed for my role at CIMSPA, I asked what does the company do to promote sustainability?” she said. “CIMSPA already had some schemes in place like Cycle to Work, but – with my background – they wanted me to come in and take a lead role in spearheading sustainability. As the professional body for sport and physical activity, it was time to put the environment at the heart of everything we do.”

Sophie recently delivered CIMSPA’s new environment plan to the organisation at our team day late last month, which was well received by all of the team.

“I wanted to be a vet, when I was younger, and then I did do zoology and conservation genetics at university. Then I ended up spending about a year and a half in Asia. I was working basically in all things conservation, like marine biology. My main drive was seeing people’s views shift on conservation and society in different countries. For example, in less developed countries where they do use a lot of plastic, they’re beginning to see the impact and begin cutting down their plastic waste.

“When I was working in Malaysia, people there were actually really starting to think about the impact and actually starting to care about it. And I think the people around me were quite unrelenting and really energetic about making a difference.

“So it kind of made me think that, although I’m passionate about it, I come from a place where everybody is capable of doing something – and we already do quite a lot – so there’s a huge potential to have quite a big impact.

“Someone once said to me: teach somebody something instead of telling them about it. Then it’s much more likely that they’ll then teach somebody else and it’s a domino effect.”

According to the official Earth Day campaign, we need to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by mid-century to keep the global temperature below 1.5°C.

We asked Sophie what one big thing companies could do to help the environment. “Implement a sustainability policy. Because I think that’s the biggest starting for committing and investing in the environment and setting yourself benchmarks to achieve. Make it a written commitment.”

“We’re working on our sustainability policy right now. Part of that is offering the CIMSPA team a volunteering day. I’m excited for everyone to get out there and help their communities fight back against climate change, waste and pollution. I’m looking forward to their feedback about their experiences.”

There are Earth Day events planned across the country on 22 April. You can find out where your nearest event is here.

“This Earth Day, I’m going to get out at lunchtime and do a litter pick. It’s a small gesture, but it’s really meaningful and it can encourage others to do the same. And you know what? Maybe I’ll have a vegetarian dinner!”

Some of the smaller things you can do right away this Earth Day include:

• Encourage virtual meetings to reduce travelling
• Reduce printing
• Turn off electronics at night, whether at home or in the office
• Recycle everything you can.

Sophie has been at CIMSPA for eight months now, after a degree in conservation, working as a marine biologist in Asia and training to become a teacher. Her work as an Education and Endorsement Officer at CIMSPA includes administration surrounding courses submitted for endorsement by partners, reviewing endorsements, managing moderators, reporting for the Education team, creating professional standard mapping template documents, careers presentations and talking to partners.