Claire Waghorn

What do you do in your role as Sustainability Transition Leader?

My role is about supporting Christchurch Airport and our key stakeholders on our sustainability journey, with a particular focus on climate action, biodiversity regeneration, waste minimisation, energy efficiency and water conservation.

What do you love most about your job?

The role is much broader than I ever anticipated. It touches on diplomacy, lobbying and submission writing, and I get to meet folk at the forefront of new technology development. I’ve been given a platform on behalf of Christchurch Airport to try and raise expectations of airports globally to do more on climate change.

I also love the fact that the airport has always backed me. Whenever I have an outlandish idea, I've been encouraged and supported. Not to mention the amazing people and office banter. It’s just a really nice place to work.

Any special highlights from your time here?

A definite highlight for me was going to the UN Climate Change Conference COP28 and getting the Airport Carbon Accreditation Level 5 award – that’s the highest level possible in our carbon reduction journey. Being able to represent the people of this airport who have done so much hard mahi on our climate actions was a real privilege.  

Awesome! Back on campus, are there any sustainability initiatives you’d like to shout out about?

There's growing interest in biodiversity here. The environmental planning team have made the greatest lizard habitat imaginable. They deserve so many accolades for that. Also, our airfield team is looking after our banded dotterels. It’s a wonderful piece of work and it’s absolutely from the heart.

Why is sustainability so important at Christchurch Airport?

Our leadership and Board realise that sustainability is core to doing business now. They view the airport as an intergenerational asset and recognise that we need to think about our long-term impact. There's a genuine desire to leave people better off, whether that's environmentally, socially, or economically. All of these values are deeply embedded in the core vision of the company.

Where might we find you on the weekend?

I love adventuring with my children and I think we live in an extraordinarily beautiful place. I'm especially drawn to Banks Peninsula which is where my family comes from. So you’ll most likely find me walking the Port Hills with my kids, playing some kind of trail game or doling out jelly beans to keep them coming along.

What's something most people don't know about you?

I grew up in the Solomon Islands with no TV or movies. My formative years were spent reading books and going exploring with my sister. I remember finding an old World War II fighter plane still up in the trees, and a head-hunter tomb with little skulls inside. Looking back, I'm shocked by what my parents let us do!

What’s on the horizon for you?

I'm about to go off to the Airport Council International Carbon Task Force meeting, where we get to talk about the type of emissions that happen at airports and how we can solve some of these problems. I'm really looking forward to that. I’m also turning 40 which my kiddies are really leaning into celebrating. I think ageing is such a privilege.

Do you have any parting advice for someone wanting to start their career at the airport?

Do it. Join us. The people here are lovely. Ask someone to go for a coffee and you never know what could happen!