Meet Kathryn Whitfield, our Chief Growth Officer

Kathryn's early days

When Kathryn Whitfield first stepped onto a Belfast landfill as an intern in Northern Ireland, she couldn't have imagined it would lead to her current role as Chief Growth Officer at Veolia Australia and New Zealand. Now, after six years with our organisation, her journey from environmental consultant to Executive Committee member showcases the power of embracing challenges and driving positive change.

"That first role at the landfill opened my eyes to our industry's impact on environmental outcomes," Kathryn recalls. "It may not be the typical graduate dream job, but I absolutely loved it."
 

A journey of growth & resilience

Kathryn's path to leadership wasn't always smooth. After a decade in environmental consulting and running her own consultancy, she joined Suez (now part of Veolia) seeking to make a more direct impact on environmental outcomes. Her transition from consulting to industry proved transformative.

"I wanted to be part of projects from inception through to delivery," she explains. "There's something special about standing at a new recycling facility years later, knowing you've helped create better outcomes for communities."

Championing diversity & innovation

As one of seven women on Veolia ANZ's 13-member Executive Committee, Kathryn has witnessed significant industry evolution. She recalls her early career when being the only woman in the room was common - her first landfill job didn't even have women's facilities.

"Now, seeing my seven-year-old niece's passion for science and technology without those same barriers is inspiring," she shares. "It shows how far we've come, but also reminds us why we need to keep pushing for change."

Driving ecological transformation

In her role as Chief Growth Officer, Kathryn focuses on strategic growth initiatives that advance Veolia's mission of ecological transformation. She's particularly passionate about decarbonisation, resource recovery, and creating sustainable solutions for communities.

"Growth isn't just about numbers," she emphasises. "It's about building teams where everyone feels empowered to innovate and challenge the status quo. Some of our best ideas come from people on the ground."

Looking to the future

When she's not leading strategic initiatives, Kathryn enjoys mentoring emerging leaders and advocating for diversity in the industry. Her vision extends beyond immediate business goals to creating lasting environmental and social impact.

"Success isn't just measured in projects delivered," she reflects. "It's about the positive impact we have on communities and the careers we help build along the way. That's what ecological transformation truly means."

Through her leadership, Kathryn continues to demonstrate how combining environmental expertise with inclusive leadership can create meaningful change for our communities and planet - proving that sometimes the most unexpected career beginnings can lead to the most impactful destinations.