The exciting rapid growth phase continues at iQRenew, with the appointment of our new Environmental Engineer, Miriam Cumming. Miriam is a bona fide environmental champion, who started her career in sustainability straight from school with a joint Collex, Sydney Water and BHP scholarship in environmental engineering at UNSW. A contact Miriam made during the scholarship offered her a role, and that was the start of a stella eco-career in waste management which is 22 years young and counting.

With achievements to her name, which include leading a national environmental working group in every state, and seeing huge waste projects through the entire government bureaucracy to successful licencing, Miriam’s CV speaks for itself. But still, we had a couple of extra questions.       

Why did you choose iQRenew?

“I’ve been passionate about the environment all my life, so I really love the way iQRenew walks the talk. Building brand new, leading-edge recycling facilities and industrial plants. Investing in new recycling infrastructure and innovative technology. Tackling the materials that are tough to recycle, like soft plastics, which other operators avoid simply because it’s too difficult. Since I first came across iQRenew working as a consultant, I’ve been a big fan of the way the company does things and I’m really looking forward to playing my part in the exciting future ahead.”

What will you do for iQRenew?

“In the short term, I’ll be putting a lot of focus into scoping and applying for government grants being made available for innovation in recycling and waste management. Now governments are finally starting to focus meaningfully on environmental issues, there is a string of new grants in the pipeline and I’ll be making sure that iQRenew receives serious consideration for any grant that fits our strategy. 

“Also on the increase is tenders from councils and other community stakeholders requesting assistance across the waste management and recycling space, including our targeted areas of exploration like soft plastics. So another big focus for me will be really driving the quality and content of our responses to these tenders, to make sure our expertise and capability jumps off the page in compelling, on-point proposals.”

What’s your vision for iQRenew?

“Looking longer term, my vision is to play a key role and support my team on our journey of rapid growth, continued leading-edge innovation, and expansion into processing different, more challenging waste streams. The time is right to move really fast and attack that ‘too hard basket’ with real purpose. We have the technology, we have the expertise, and we’re ready to grow with a strong, scalable, best-in-class business model.”    

When not saving the world with her eco-expertise, Miriam can be found having fun at home with husband, Andrew, two delightful children aged 10 and 11, and the family groodle, Fido. At the time of writing, mum and the kids are down with Covid – we hope you all feel better very soon.