Stephen Bates
Project Profile
Stephen Bates
Environmental Communciations Consultants Limited
Overview
- 20 years social marketing outreach experience for government and public sector organisations.
- 12 years front line experience in behavioural change programme development within the waste and resource recovery sector.
- 15 years experience in working on donor funded, NGO or government financed communication projects
- Pioneer and global leader in waste education and awareness programmes in low-income countries and emerging economies.
- Pioneer in internal stakeholder engagement processes to access key communication channels and peer-group focused communication methodologies.
- Pioneer in online outreach programmes for behaviour change campaigns in the waste and recycling sector
- Strategic architect behind some of the most effective recycling campaigns deployed in the UK over the past 5 years.
- Prolific speaker and press contributor on the issues surrounding public engagement and education of waste and recycling
- Voted by peers as one of the top 100 people working in the UK waste sector
International Experience
1
Stephen Bates
Date: / Location / Client/Beneficiary / Position / Job Description
2014 / Bangalore / Kerala, India / EBTC / Kerala State Government / Team Leader / Appointed to lead a technical mission to Kerala, producing a detailed needs analysis and develop programme of work to create a strategic waste plan for the state including the delivery of an EU technical mission, stakeholder workshop conference and the formation of a project management unit to develop the waste plan.
2014 / Oman / Be’ha and Ministry of Environment and Climate / Expert / Undertaking preliminary scoping plan for public outreach and engagement as part of an integrated waste management programme in Muscat.
2013/2014 / Albania / GFC/Korca Regional Waste Management Company / Expert / Appointed to provide expert input for public awareness and engagement development activities in support of improvements to local waste management.Work is scheduled to commence in 2014.
November 2013 / Cairo / Egypt / GIZ/Ministry of Environment, Egypt / National Solid Waste Management Programme (NSWMP) / Team Leader / Designed high-level conference and workshop event for Egypt’s waste management sector as part of the NSWMP’s objectives of improving the country’s waste management sector. Work included the research into key topics and the creation of thematic content for inclusion. Additional work included the development of event branding and promotion and PR which lead to widespread print and broadcast media coverage across Egypt and the wider Middle East region. Over 250 delegates attended both days against a target of 140.
October 2013 / Hyderabad / Ahmebad, India / EBTC / Ministry of Urban Development on India / Expert / Development of overview strategy for public engagement and behavioural changing supporting urban development initiatives in a waste management context. Paper presented at the 6th EuroIndia Summit; ‘Greening Cities’.
April 2011 – ongoing / Azerbaijan / Government of Azerbaijan/PMT/ Tamiz Sahar/ via Eptisa/RWA consortium / Team Leader / Major communication and awareness programme including social inclusion component in support of major changes to waste management facilities in the Absheron Peninsula. Work includes the development of a specific communication and awareness strategy, customer satisfaction survey, tactical planning and implementation, core competency training and the development of communication resources, initially for use in Baku but set for national scalability.
October 2011 / Belarus, Minsk / EC via Eptisa//RWA consortium / Expert / Part of headline Waste Governance project for ENPI countries, I was tasked with the rapid development of public and social awareness projects and outreach methodologies in support of national stakeholders across Belarus within the waste sector. Key challenges dealt with included:
- Building of core communication competencies amongst programme delivery stakeholders
- Research in to primary barriers of public participation into waste management improvements
- Creation of communication framework reference document for delivery stakeholders
September 2011 / Georgia, Tbilisi / EC via Eptisa/RWA consortium / Expert / Part of headline Waste Governance project for ENPI countries, I was tasked with the rapid development of public and social awareness projects and outreach methodologies in support of national stakeholders across Belarus within the waste sector. Key challenges dealt with included:
- Building of core communication competencies amongst programme delivery stakeholders
- Research in to primary barriers of public participation into waste management improvements
- Creation of communication framework reference document for delivery stakeholders
October 2011 / Belarus, Grodno / Government of Belarus and The World Bank via Eptisa/RWA consortium / Expert / My experience was called upon to provide key, early inputs on the development programme surrounding the development of a materials recovery facility for the Grodno region. Specific inputs included:
- Development of communication and outreach capacities within the overall project plan
- Waste awareness and communication development training for key local stakeholders
- Building of social outreach and communication competencies
- Framework for financial aspects of communications within overall project plan
June 2011 / Chisinau, Moldova / EC via Eptisa/RWA consortium / Expert / Part of headline Waste Governance project for ENPI countries, I was tasked with the rapid development of public and social awareness projects and outreach methodologies in support of national stakeholders across Moldova within the waste sector. Key challenges dealt with included:
- Building of core communication competencies amongst programme delivery stakeholders
- Research in to primary barriers of public participation into waste management improvements
- Creation of communication framework reference document for delivery stakeholders
June 2011 / Cimislia, Moldova / EC via Eptisa/RWA consortium / Expert / Part of headline Waste Governance project for ENPI countries, I was tasked with the rapid development of public and social awareness projects and outreach methodologies in support of national stakeholders with specific focus on the Cimislia region. Key challenges dealt with included:
- Building of core communication competencies amongst programme delivery stakeholders
- Research in to primary barriers of public participation into waste management improvements
- Creation of communication framework reference document for delivery stakeholders
February 2010 - ongoing / SrI Lanka / IWS / Ministry of Environment SL / Team leader / Leading a team of relevant experts in the formation of a Waste Awareness and Education Programme to support the development of innovative waste infrastructure projects in the Colombo and Kandy regions of the Country on behalf of the Sir Lankan Ministry of Environment and commercial funders (BNP Paribas). Key responsibilities thus far have included:
- Identification and recruitment of key experts
- Formation of structured team to implement programme
- Development of core communications strategy
- Full financial and tactical planning
- Reporting to funding partners and ministries
September 2008 – June 2009 / Bulgaria / EU/ BAMEE / Team leader / Was appointed by BAMEE and the Ministry of Environment in Bulgaria to consider how best to facilitate the sharing of best practice knowledge amongst NGOs, Municipalities and commercial waste organisations across the country. I developed a comprehensive two-day conference programme and acted as Team Leader for this activity. Key duties and outcomes included:
- Identification and recruitment of key delivery partners, locally and internationally
- Lead a team of 6 delivery personal (in BG and UK)
- Identification and securing of donor funding to finance the project (public and private funding)
- Conference content development
- Marketing and promotion of conference
January 2008 – October 2009 / Saudi Arabia / City of Riyadh – Department of Environment / Team leader / I was invited by the Deputy Mayor of Riyadh to develop a range of public behaviour initiatives aimed dealing with a number of social issues including the throwing of litter from cars and the need to introduce source separated recycling to parts of the city. Working with local service providers, I assembled a team of key experts in the field including religious advisers and developed a programme of communications to tackle the problems. This work included:
- Team leadership of a highly diverse set of stakeholders covering a variety of sensitive cultures
- Policy inputs on enforcement practices
- Development of programmes at a strategic and tactical level
- Full scoping for recycling in schools and colleges
- Benchmarking and monitoring protocols
- Creative development
January 2008 – October 2009 / Saudi Arabia / City of Jeddah - Department of Environment / SEPCO / Team leader / I was engaged by the client to look into ways in which the population of Saudi Arabia could be stimulated into participation in resource recovery programmes within waste management across the country, specifically at how this might be funded in a society that collects no taxes and whose legal and social legislation is enshrined in religion.
As Team Leader, I began by identifying and engaging with three primary stakeholder groups; the Saudi Environmental Society, The General Presidency of Meteorology and Environment and the Arab Net for Environment and Development. This was then expanded into additional input stakeholder groups comprising local NGOs working in the regions, commercial operations and international experts.
I facilitated a number of workshops, which lead to the focus upon the creation of Producer Responsibility within the country. This in turn resulted in the following work streams:
- Partnering with best practice organisation (Green Dot Cyprus Ltd)
- Public attitudinal and behavioural assessments
- Social inclusion programmes
- Formalisation of stakeholder and public ‘think-tanks’
- Creation of detailed ‘road-map’ document for project progression
March 2009 – June 2009 / Kuwait / National Cleaning Company / Team leader / Public outreach input as part of a major contract for waste management. Work included strategic communication planning and schools outreach.
September 2009 / UAE / IWS / Expert / Behavioural change campaign services in relation to private financed EfW project.
January 2008 – April 2008 / Western Balkans / RWA / Team Member / ISWM and Producer responsibility for packaging waste, 2009. Team member on International Finance Corporation project to provide workshops and guidance on integrated solid waste management. Co-author of policy paper on producer responsibility for packaging.
October 2008 / Romania / RWA / Team Member / Workshop on European Financing of waste management, 2009. Facilitator of workshop designed to deliver improved project pipeline for solid waste in Romania.
March 2008 – May 2008 / Cyprus / Green Dot (Cyprus) Ltd / Team leader / I was appointed as Team Leader on the development of communication and public outreach activity to support the introduction of household collection of waste and recycling across a trial area of Nicosia. This was the first time the collection of waste direct from each home was being introduced in the country and was a financial risk to Green Dot should it be difficult to work.
I developed a comprehensive package of communication and public outreach activities, forming partnerships with local service providers which also enabled added insight into the local social dynamics.
The recommendations were accepted and implemented and the service change proven successful.
February 2008 - May 2008 / Cyprus / District of Anglitzia / Team leader / Public engagement project to support changes to waste services across the district.
June 2006 / Paris / Plastic Omnium / Expert / Engaged by Plastic Omnium (global bin manufacture) to advise global sales force on issues relating to municipal communications with residents in regards to waste and resource recovery. The assignment required extensive research into examples of best practice from around the world and assessment of the most relevant and pressing issues relating to the company’s primary markets.
Delivery was done during the firm’s bi-annual global AGM through training and workshop sessions.
July 2005 / Minneapolis, USA / National Recylining Coalition / Expert / Invited to participate as International Expert in Public Outreach and Behavioural Change in waste management at the National Recycling Coalition Congress. I provided interactive workshop sessions for government waste officers and numerous materials and frameworks for communication planning and deployment.
December 2001 – April 2004 / UK, Germany and Netherlands / Cleanaway Holdings (Europe) Ltd / Team Leader / Between 2001 and 2004 I was retained as Team Leader on a wide range of communication services and strategies for Cleanaway’s European operations including:
- Corporate marketing and branding
- Support of public outreach initiatives in operational regions
- Stakeholder engagement programmes
- Internal stakeholder communications
UK Experience
Date: / Location / Client/Beneficiary / Position / Job Description
January 2013 – September 2014 / UK / East Sussex Joint Waste Partnership / Kier Environmental services / Project Director / Development and deployment of a major communication and awareness campaign to support the introduction of a new joint waste partnership to 140,000 homes across four municipalities in southern England including the introduction of major changes to domestic waste and recycling services including commercial waste services. Work includes campaign development, direct public outreach, direct mail, advertising, PR and internal stakeholder engagement.
October 2012 – January 2013 / UK / London Borough of Hounslow / Project Director / Developed a campaign designed to increase participation and capture rates for recycling across 30,000 low-performing homes in the borough. Work included research into why current participation was low, direct public engagement through door-knocking and an advertising campaign using prominent local media. Outcome resulted in a drastic increase in recycling, reaching the highest levels recorded which has been sustained since the completion of the work.
June 2012 – January 2013 / UK / North London Waste Authority / Project Director / Developed and delivered a major awareness campaign across seven north London boroughs designed to increase recycling through motivational messaging of the cost benefits of doing so. The campaign included media usage across the tube network, exterior advertising sites, radio and an interactive app, supported by public events held across the region. Work included campaign planning and creative development, media planning, market testing, copywriting.
December 2010 – November 2011 / UK / Dover District Council / Team leader / Major behavioral change campaign to support introduction of curbside recycling across 90,000 homes. Developed local recycling branding and advertising campaigns, stakeholder engagement events and extensive PR activities. Work included campaign design, copywriting, project management and monitoring.
October 2011 – December 2011 / UK / London Waste and Recycling Board / Team leader / Development of communication and outreach programme to support incentive scheme being launched in trial area of flats in London.
February 2010 – May 2010 / UK / Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority / Project Advisor / Provision of outreach support in relation to major public consultation project on waste disposal and treatment site options across the region, providing and facilitating focus groups, roadshows and online engagement tools.
June 2010 – November 2010 / UK / Western Riverside Waste Authority / Team leader / Design and content development of a major educational centre for children at a major new Material Recycling Facility in London.
January 2010 – March 2010 / UK / WRAP / Team leader / “Love Food Hate Waste” Development and deployment of nationwide waste minimisation campaign for Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP).
July 2009 – September 2009 / UK / Cheshire West and Chester Council. / Team leader / Design, development and delivery of campaign to raise awareness of recycling and encourage use of service to students at Chester University on behalf of Cheshire West and Chester Council.
January 2009 – February 2010 / UK / Halton Borough Council / Team leader / Public Outreach Campaign to raise awareness and encourage participation in the extension of the council’s recycling services to a further 24,000 homes. Work included campaign design, media planning, copywriting, project management and monitoring.
March 2009 – June 2009 / UK / Nottinghamshire County Council / Team leader / Developed a countywide campaign “Have you Bin-Smart” to reduce levels of contamination in the recycling collections. Work included developing a campaign theme alongside the use of the national Recycle Now branding, copywriting, design and artwork.
February 2007 – on going / UK / Rother District Council / Team leader / Major behavioral change campaign to support introduction of curbside recycling across 44,000 homes. Developed local recycling branding and advertising campaigns, stakeholder engagement events and extensive PR activities. Work included campaign design, copywriting, project management and monitoring. This campaign is now widely used across Europe as an example of best practice and was a finalist in Creative East, a major design awards. This campaign also required us to work in close partnership with the council’s contractor; Verdant.
November 2008 – March 2009 / UK / Nottingham City Council / Team leader / “Are you Recycling”? Campaign to encourage two, low performing areas of the city to recycle more and address key issues surrounding resident behaviour. and educate residents about changes to collection processes.
March 2007 –August 2009 / UK / West Sussex County Council / Team leader / “Green Club”. Development and campaign to encourage sustainable gardening techniques with an emphasis on composting. Also developed the “Green Diggers”; a section of the club for under 12s. Designed major launch event and promotional campaign leading to 2,000 members joining.
December 2008 –January 2009 / UK / Luton Borough Council / Team leader / Doorstep campaign to 10,000 low recycling performing homes across the borough.
February 2005-July 2009 / UK / East London Waste Authority / Team leader / Communications for a variety of public outreach initiatives including leaflets, signage, campaigns and events.
March 2007 –September 2008 / UK / Bristol City Council / Team leader / “Change. It’s often a good thing”. Major campaign to raise awareness of new recycling services across the city. Developed campaign strategy, theme, content and media planning.
July 2007 / UK / City of Stoke / Team Leader / Developed education programme to residents surrounding the introduction of a new residual waste collection system.
February 2007 – August 2007 / UK / Welsh Assembly / Project advisor / Provided key input to the outreach elements of a countrywide public consultation programme on waste treatment options.
January 2006 – May 2006 / UK / Essex County Council / Team leader / “Recycle and Win Cash” Developed strategy and content for countywide incentive scheme to encourage greater levels of recycling.
April 2006 / UK / Basildon Council / Project advisor / Provided communication and public engagement strategic and tactical support in relation district wide public consultation on local recycling services.
May 2006 – June 2006 / UK / Swindon Borough Council / Team leader / Public Consultation programme development providing communication and public engagement strategic and tactical support in relation district wide consultation on local recycling and waste services.
February 2005 – February 2006 / UK / Stafford Borough Council / Project advisor / Public consultation programme to identify perceptions, habits and barriers to recycling in preparation of new recycling services. Managed in-filed participation and set out monitoring.
January 2004 – March 2005 / UK / Kettering Borough Council / Team leader / “A cleaner, greener Kettering”. Integrated outreach campaign to raise awareness of new kerbside recycling services across the borough.
January 2005 – April 2005 / UK / Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council / Team leader / “Introducing Alternate Week Collection”. Developed a campaign targeting 12,000 homes due to be changed to AWC collection system. Developed strategic and creative content and project managed implementation.
February 2004 – July 2004 / UK / Plymouth City Council / Team leader / Developed public consultation programme to assess reasons for low participation in recycling across four areas of the city. Outcome drove development of targeted behaviour change campaign, also project managed by Stephen.
May 2004 – September 2005 / UK / Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council / Team leader / “Don’t bin it, Blue Box it”. Strategic development and implementation of major campaign to raise awareness of new kerbside recycling service. Project management included brand development and implementation of media, information delivery, event and road show management.
15.Other Relevant Information