Project Profile
Stephen Bates
Environmental Communciations Consultants Limited
Overview
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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
Date:
2014
Location
Position
Job Description
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.
Be’ha and
Ministry of
Environment and
Climate
2013/2014
Albania
GFC/Korca
Regional Waste
Management
Company
November
Cairo /
GIZ/Ministry of
2013
Egypt
Environment,
Egypt / National
Solid Waste
Management
Programme
(NSWMP)
October
Hyderabad / EBTC / Ministry
2013
Ahmebad,
of Urban
India
Development on
India
April 2011 – Azerbaijan
Government of
ongoing
Azerbaijan/PMT/
Tamiz Sahar/ via
Eptisa/RWA
consortium
Expert
Undertaking preliminary scoping plan for public outreach and engagement as part of an integrated waste
management programme in Muscat.
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.
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.
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’.
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
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:
2014
Bangalore /
Kerala,
India
Client/
Beneficiary
EBTC / Kerala
State
Government
Oman
Belarus,
Minsk
EC via
Eptisa//RWA
consortium
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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
Work was completed on time and within budget. Feedback from client stakeholders has been exceptionally
positive.
2
Stephen Bates
Date:
September
2011
Location
Georgia,
Tbilisi
Client/
Beneficiary
EC via
Eptisa/RWA
consortium
Position
Expert
Job Description
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:
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October
2011
June 2011
Belarus,
Grodno
Chisinau,
Moldova
Government of
Belarus and The
World Bank via
Eptisa/RWA
consortium
Expert
EC via
Eptisa/RWA
consortium
Expert
Work was completed on time and within budget. Feedback from client stakeholders has been exceptionally
positive.
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:
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Cimislia,
Moldova
EC via
Eptisa/RWA
consortium
Expert
SrI Lanka
IWS / Ministry of
Environment SL
Team leader
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
Work was completed on time and within budget. Feedback from client stakeholders has been exceptionally
positive.
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:
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February
2010 -
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
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:
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June 2011
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
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
Work was completed on time and within budget. Feedback from client stakeholders has been exceptionally
positive.
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
3
Stephen Bates
Date:
Location
Client/
Beneficiary
Position
ongoing
Job Description
behalf of the Sir Lankan Ministry of Environment and commercial funders (BNP Paribas). Key responsibilities thus
far have included:
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September Bulgaria
2008 – June
2009
EU/ BAMEE
Team leader
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
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:
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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
The conference was noted as being a significant success attracting close to 200 delegates (in excess of the
required target needed to satisfy funding criteria) with budget never being breached and the event taking place as
planned in terms of time and content.
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:
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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
The programme was delivered on time and within budget together with a detailed toolkit to enable the relevant
ministries to implement the requirements with ease and fluidity.
4
Stephen Bates
Date:
January
2008 –
October
2009
Location
Saudi
Arabia
Client/
Beneficiary
City of Jeddah Department of
Environment /
SEPCO
Position
Team leader
Job Description
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:
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March 2009 Kuwait
– June 2009
September
2009
January
2008 – April
2008
October
2008
March 2008
– May 2008
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
National
Cleaning
Company
IWS
Team leader
Public outreach input as part of a major contract for waste management. Work included strategic communication
planning and schools outreach.
Expert
Behavioural change campaign services in relation to private financed EfW project.
Western
Balkans
RWA
Team Member
Romania
RWA
Team Member
Cyprus
Green Dot
(Cyprus) Ltd
Team leader
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.
Workshop on European Financing of waste management, 2009. Facilitator of workshop designed to deliver
improved project pipeline for solid waste in Romania.
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.
UAE
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.
5
Stephen Bates
Date:
February
2008 - May
2008
June 2006
Location
Cyprus
Paris
Client/
Beneficiary
District of
Anglitzia
Plastic Omnium
Position
Job Description
Team leader
Public engagement project to support changes to waste services across the district.
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 National
, USA
Recylining
Coalition
December
UK,
Cleanaway
2001 – April Germany
Holdings
2004
and
(Europe) Ltd
Netherlands
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.
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:
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Corporate marketing and branding
Support of public outreach initiatives in operational regions
Stakeholder engagement programmes
Internal stakeholder communications
6
Stephen Bates
UK Experience
Date:
Location
January 2013 – UK
September
2014
October 2012 – UK
January 2013
June 2012 –
January 2013
UK
December
UK
2010 –
November
2011
October 2011 – UK
December
2011
February 2010 UK
– May 2010
June 2010 –
UK
November
2010
January 2010 – UK
March 2010
July 2009 –
UK
Client/
Beneficiary
East Sussex
Joint Waste
Partnership /
Kier
Environmental
services
London
Borough of
Hounslow
Position
Job Description
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.
Project Director Developed a campaign designed to increase participation and capture rates for recycling across 30,000 lowperforming 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.
North London
Project Director Developed and delivered a major awareness campaign across seven north London boroughs designed to increase
Waste Authority
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.
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.
London Waste
and Recycling
Board
Merseyside
Waste Disposal
Authority
Western
Riverside
Waste Authority
WRAP
Team leader
Development of communication and outreach programme to support incentive scheme being launched in trial area of
flats in London.
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.
Team leader
Design and content development of a major educational centre for children at a major new Material Recycling Facility
in London.
Team leader
“Love Food Hate Waste” Development and deployment of nationwide waste minimisation campaign for Waste
Resources Action Programme (WRAP).
Cheshire West
Team leader
Design, development and delivery of campaign to raise awareness of recycling and encourage use of service to
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Stephen Bates
Date:
Location
September
2009
January 2009 – UK
February 2010
Client/
Position
Beneficiary
and Chester
Council.
Halton Borough Team leader
Council
students at Chester University on behalf of Cheshire West and Chester Council.
Job Description
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
Nottinghamshir
e 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
March 2007 –
August 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.
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
February 2005July 2009
March 2007 –
September
2008
July 2007
UK
Luton Borough
Council
Team leader
Doorstep campaign to 10,000 low recycling performing homes across the borough.
UK
East London
Team leader
Waste Authority
Bristol City
Team leader
Council
Communications for a variety of public outreach initiatives including leaflets, signage, campaigns and events.
City of Stoke
Team Leader
Developed education programme to residents surrounding the introduction of a new residual waste collection system.
February 2007 UK
– August 2007
January 2006 – UK
May 2006
Welsh
Assembly
Essex County
Council
Project advisor
Provided key input to the outreach elements of a countrywide public consultation programme on waste treatment
options.
“Recycle and Win Cash” Developed strategy and content for countywide incentive scheme to encourage greater
levels of recycling.
April 2006
Basildon
Council
Project advisor
UK
UK
UK
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.
Provided communication and public engagement strategic and tactical support in relation district wide public
consultation on local recycling services.
8
Stephen Bates
Date:
Location
Client/
Beneficiary
Position
Job Description
9
Stephen Bates
May 2006 –
June 2006
UK
February 2005 UK
– February
2006
January 2004 – UK
March 2005
January 2005 – UK
April 2005
February 2004
– July 2004
UK
May 2004 –
September
2005
UK
Swindon
Borough
Council
Stafford
Borough
Council
Kettering
Borough
Council
Rotherham
Metropolitan
Borough
Council
Plymouth City
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.
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.
Team leader
“A cleaner, greener Kettering”. Integrated outreach campaign to raise awareness of new kerbside recycling services
across the borough.
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.
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.
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.
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Stephen Bates
15.
Other Relevant Information
Provision of Training Services
Communications in Waste Management: Chartered Institute of Waste Management (CIWM)
Cambridge University
3 Day Summer School
Author, facilitator and lead lecturer
2008 and 2010
Communicate More for Less
One day seminars across the UK
Author, facilitator and lead lecturer
2010
Behavioural Change in Waste Management
CIWM ‘New Generation Group’
One day training for recent graduates and entrants to the waste industry
Author, facilitator and lead lecturer
Annual since 2008
Communication for Collection Crews
Provided to municipalities launching changes to collection systems. Pioneered approach that engages with collection staff so they become a key communication
channel in public outreach initiatives.
Author, facilitator and lead lecturer
I have written training programmes and delivered courses in a variety of other topics over the past 10 years including
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Peer-group communications
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Social inclusion in communications
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Communication planning
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Behavioural changing mapping
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Press engagement
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Presentation skills
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Marketing communications
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Marketing metrics
Publications and papers
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Waste and Resource Management; Putting Strategy into Practice. Published papers and conference contributions: Behavioural Change and Social Aspects of
redefining waste issues in public engagement.
United Nations Habitat (2010). Contributor to ‘Solid Waste in the World’s Cities’. Launched March 2010, at UN-Habitat’s 5th World Urban Forum in Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil.
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Stephen Bates
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Waste 2010. Published paper: Importance of waste communications in an economic downturn.
International Finance Corporation (2009) Producer Responsibility for Packaging. Published by IFC with financial support from the Austrian Government.
Press article: Engaging Communities. The Loop. 2007
Press article: Communicating Alternate Week Collection. MRW. 2008
Press article: Galvanizing political support and accessing new communication channels. CIWM Journal 2008
Press article: Love you council. Love recycling!. Greener Living magazine. 2008
Broadcast media. BBC 5Live (Matthew Bannister) – Recycling panel debate. 1m reach. 2009
Broadcast media. BBC Radio 4. Studio interview (You and Yours show) – alternate week collection. 800,000 reach. 2008
Broadcast media. BBC 5Live (Simon Mayo), Panel debate with Daily Mirror editor on recycling. 2009
Novinite (Bulgarian News Agency) Syndicated TV interview: “Communicating the issue of waste” 2009
12