Roos Imkamp on Sustainable Young 100
Roos Imkamp is an alumna of the first International Studies cohort from 2015. She is now a Sustainability Medior Consultant and has been elected as one of the Sustainable Young 100 (Duurzame Jonge 100) of the Netherlands.
Each year, a national jury selects the hundred most inspiring young and sustainable frontrunners in the Netherlands. These hundred young people (under 32 years old) are a diverse group of young entrepreneurs, young professionals and students, who have a positive sustainable impact. And Roos was selected as one of them last year. We’re happy to be able to say that she is one of us, and we’re proud as well!
In the interview below, she will answer a few questions. You’ll find out what sustainability means to her, how she got the job she has now, what she loved about International Studies and her life motto. Enjoy!
What is sustainability for you?
For me, sustainability represents a symbiosis between nature and economic wellbeing. Although many will refer to the official definition, which states: "sustainability focuses on meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs" I prefer to focus on the environmental part of sustainability. Moreover, I believe that we as people, are a part of the environment and that we actually rely on the wellbeing of nature. However, since people tend to see us (the humankind) as a separate actor next to nature which should thrive and grow, instead of being part of it, I chose to define sustainability as a symbiosis between nature and economic wellbeing.
What is your job, and what do you like most of it?
Currently I am working at KplusV as a medior consultant in circular economy and sustainability for the public sector, particularly governments. As a consultant I assist governments in making sustainable policies and sustainable public procurement. For the latter, I developed a tendering method that puts the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's) from the United Nations (UN) at the center of the selection of a contractor. Next to being a consultant, I recently became a climate coach for stichting Klimaatgesprekken. Klimaatgesprekken offers a 6-part workshop series throughout the country for citizens where they can learn to reduce their climate impact and discuss their experiences. Humor, hope and action are central in the workshop series.
In my jobs I love the fact that we make a contribution to the sustainable future. Don't get me wrong, this is not an individual contribution. It's always in co-creation with others, with their own perspectives and interests, which in turn gives me my everyday load of inspiration and positive energy. Also, sustainability is a hugely innovative field. No two days are the same.
That sounds great! How did you get there?
My interest in sustainability started when I was a child. My parents raised me as a vegetarian and thought it was important that I knew where my food came from. So íf I wanted to eat meat, my mother would say that she would take me to the farm and butcher so I could see with my own eyes how the animals were killed, slaughtered and eventually turned into a meat product on my plate. Well, you can imagine that this was a major barrier for a child and it eventually resulted into the fact that I actually never ate meat in my life! To plus that, my sister was a big fan of Greenpeace. Thus, because of this different childhood I noticed a kind of gap between my awareness of this industry and the people around me who didn't want to hear a thing about this. However, it wasn't until halfway through high school when I saw All Gore giving his impressive presentation that I felt the encouragement to make a strength out of this "gap". To have an understanding of the linkages between all the different elements that have a huge influence us today (culture, history, economics and politics) I chose to study the bachelor International Studies at Leiden University, followed by the master Sustainability and Global Business at the Erasmus University in Rotterdam. In order to be able to do this master I had to follow a minor in business administration at Radboud University in Nijmegen during my bachelor's, but fortunately the study offered plenty of room for that!
What course impressed you most?
There are many courses of International Studies that have left a big impression on me. Yet, it were the fellow students and professors who really inspired me. For example, due to the fact that I chose Latin America as my specialization, I was taught Spanish by Mrs. Alcalde. Mrs. Alcalde strengthened me, not only in my Spanish vocabulary, but as well in my personal aspiration to look for a job in sustainability in Argentina. I will always be very grateful for that. In addition, this also provided me with the opportunity to conduct my research for my master thesis about the contribution to the Paris Agreement by Dutch companies located in Latin America.
What is your life motto?
What I stand on, is what I stand for.
and
Alone you go faster, but together you get further.