327: My path to a senior sustainability role at WWF

<div>"From a very young age, I wanted to be a lawyer," says Paula Chin. "But I completely flunked my A-levels."<br> <br> So, she followed her heart and did French at university, which eventually lead to her first job in <a href="https://foodmatterslive.com/podcast/our-plastic-planet-rethinking-packaging-food-podcasts/">packaging</a>.<br> <br> Her advice to anyone who is not sure exactly which career path to follow? "Just do the subjects that you love."<br> <br> It appears to be sound advice, as Paula's career has seen her work for <a href="https://sainsburys.jobs/">Sainsbury's</a>, <a href="https://jobs.marksandspencer.com/">M&amp;S</a>, <a href="https://www.pret.co.uk/en-GB">Pret A Manger</a>, and now the <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/">World Wildlife Fund</a>.<br> <br> She has worked in packaging for years and her current job title at WWF is Senior Policy Advisor on Consumption.<br> <br> Paula's expertise in <a href="https://foodmatterslive.com/article/the-history-of-food-packaging-how-packaging-design-has-changed-through-the-years/">food packaging</a> has proved invaluable in her current role, which involves researching, collecting evidence, and putting forward arguments to persuade authorities to design policies to the benefit of the natural environment. <br> <br> "There's always reading to be done," she tells Elisa Roche in this episode of the Career Conversations podcast series. "You have to keep abreast of studies, reports and information that is coming out from across the world."<br> <br> She says she maintains close links with former colleagues in the food industry, which helps her understand how they are thinking and feeling about specific issues, and then she works with them to perhaps persuade them towards a different view, if needed.<br> <br> Paul says her interest in sustainability really kicked in when she worked at Sainsbury's: "It was instrumental in shaping my thoughts about sustainability and presented me with the opportunity to work on projects that were sustainability-related."<br> <