What are your responsibilities?
As Sustainability Manager, my main job is to implement MPCES' sustainability strategy and ensure that the sustainability guidelines and policies are correctly applied in the different stages of the life cycle of the projects in which we invest. My duties also include the development and implementation of ESG guidelines, such as gender equity and supply chain.
Why did you join MPCES?
Sustainability and energy transition are issues that I am passionate about, and it is the area in which I want to continue to growth. After many years working in the public sector, I felt that the time had come for me to look for new challenges in a position that would not only be challenging and allow me to learn and continue to grow, but also that through my work I would have the possibility to generate a social contribution and a positive impact. And in MPCES I found that place, a company in which I feel represented with its vision and values, and with the opportunity to continue contributing to the sustainable energy transition.
What is your background in ESG?
The last 10 years I have been involved in sustainability in the public sector in my country of origin (Chile), working on issues of resilience and disaster risk reduction at first, and the last 6 years on energy transition and climate change, through the development and implementation of policies and projects for sustainable energy transition at the local scale both in Chile and other Latin American countries. Where I worked with multiples of different stakeholder like National and Local, International Organizations, Private Sectors, NGOs, Communities, among other to implement the policies in a correct way.
Why is ESG so important today?
In today's interconnected world, the externalities of corporate actions, such as greenhouse gas emissions, the effects on labour markets, and the well-being of their workers, have become challenges that must be addressed quickly. Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) are today playing an increasingly important role in companies' strategic decision making, as well as the demand for transparent information on ESG topics and the identification of risks and opportunities by different stakeholders is growing. This is why today ESG is a critical issue for companies, not only from the compliance and alignment point of view with the requirements for the survival of companies, but a correct vision and application of ESG topics in a company is proven to help companies to have a lower risk and to generate a higher value to the companies. Today ESG is not only an issue of responsibility, but we must also look at it from a financial perspective.
What does your everyday work look like?
I have only recently joined the company, so my work these past few weeks has been mostly focused on learning and reviewing the company's current ESG policies and processes. Getting to know the teams, and the culture of the company.
What are your hobbies?
I am passionate about traveling and meeting new people and cultures, every year I like to visit at least one new country and take a trip alone. I love to paint and draw and spend time with my friends. I am also a football fan, so every weekend I watch at least a couple of games.
Anything else you would like to share?
From a very early age I was a girl Scout, and I have always believed in a phrase of Robert Baden- Powell "Leave this world a little better than you found it". I believe that from the work we do, we can contribute to this, especially in the current context of the climate crisis, and try to leave a place for the future generations.
Maite, thank you for this interview.
