By Angeline Ruth J. Bermil
On May 11, 2023, Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna’s (Mapúa MCL) Office for Strategic Partnerships and Global Engagements (OSPGE) invited B.A. Broadcasting Alumna from the Class of 2017, Ms. Jouelle Hannah Nerveza, for its second-day event of the Thought Leadership Series session with the theme of Building Professionals for Sustainability and Climate Action held at the Francisco Balagtas Auditorium.
During an interactive talk led by Ms. Nerveza, a comprehensive presentation was delivered on sustainable development, a concept that focuses on meeting present-day demands while safeguarding the needs of future generations. The significance of addressing the seventeen (17) Sustainable Development Goals proposed by the United Nations was also discussed, aligning with the overarching theme of the event. The discussion emphasized the criticality of making sustainable decisions and implementing them to ensure the preservation of the planet’s ecosystems and the continuity of our current way of life. Failure to take proactive measures may jeopardize humanity’s ability to thrive and coexist harmoniously with the environment.
Sharing personal life experiences, Ms. Nerveza shed light on the career paths in the field of sustainability, which eventually led to her current role at SGV and CCaSS (Climate Change and Sustainability Services). With an extensive background as a Sustainability Practitioner, she also previously held positions such as Programme Officer of the National Ecolabelling Programme – Green Choice Philippines (NELP-GCP) starting from May 2017. She also contributed her expertise to the Capacity Building and Training Project under the Advance SCP (Sustainable Consumption and Production) Project of GIZ Thailand.
During the discussions on the journey towards sustainability, the focus was placed on SGV’s vital initiatives, including the SAVE Council (Sustainable Actions for Value Creation and Enablement). The primary objective of this council is to promote and integrate sustainability practices across the entire company. In conclusion, Ms. Nerveza encouraged the Mapúa MCL community to take steps towards sustainability by highlighting the numerous ways in which individuals can utilize their expertise to lead sustainability efforts.