When Megan Williams joined the Wastebusters whānau in July, it felt like we’d found another piece of the Wasties’ jigsaw. Or maybe it was always there, but we now knew where it went.
No stranger to Wastebusters, Wānaka or the world of sustainability, Megan has joined us as Programme Manager, taking the helm as we look ahead to Wasties 2.0. What does this actually mean on a day-to-day basis, we hear you ask? A lot, is the short answer! It’s a varied role that calls for diplomacy, relationship management and, it’s fair to say, equal measures of tenacity and humour!
No day’s going to be the same for Megan, that’s for sure. On any given day, you might find her engaging with our existing stakeholders, working on the finer points of a land lease or looking at pathways for funding. It’s all vital work that will pave the way for a bigger, better Wasties that’s a truly fabulous destination for our community.
Megan has over 30 years of experience across environmental, tourism, hospitality and not-for-profit sectors. Her most recent role was as Sustainability Manager at Hospitality NZ and, locally, has been involved in projects and held positions at WAI Wānaka, the Wānaka Community Hub, Sustainable Wānaka and Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust
With this background, her extensive knowledge of local government processes, capital fundraising, and navigating complex challenges and her innate ability to combine professionalism and fun, Megan’s the perfect fit for Wasties and we’re stoked to have her on board.
As she settles into the role, we took a few moments in her busy day to check in and find out more.
What excites you the most about the job?
Working with a fun, incredibly talented team and collaborating to create genuine change.
What drew you to the Programme Manager role?
I’ve admired the Wastebusters team’s professionalism combined with immense impact for over 20 years. When I saw the role advertised, the timing was right for me professionally and it felt like the perfect fit. I love a role where I feel like I’m adding lots of value, and with my experience, I knew I could help the team at Wasties to expand and deliver even more impact.
Where do you think the challenges will lie?
There are so many different strands to weave together in terms of designing, resourcing, timing, getting some short term improvements now whilst getting things in place for the future. The tricky part is going to be balancing all of the competing priorities whilst still moving the project forward. I’d also like to find ways to enable our Wasties community to be part of the journey. At the end of the day, we might not get everything we want – but if we can keep the same vibe and provide more for our community, then we’re winning!
What does Wasties/Wasties 2.0 mean to you?
To me, Wasties 2.0 is about making sure we keep pace with the growth of our town. As someone dubbed “Sustainable Megan” by friends, for over 20 years I’ve relied on Wasties for everything from sourcing our ‘new to us’ kitchen and upcoming bathroom renovation materials to outfitting my growing kids in quality pre-loved clothes.
At its core, Wasties is for everyone; where we connect, learn, and take action together. As our town grows, we need to expand alongside it to ensure we have the physical room to both keep usable stuff in circulation and to open up space for new zero waste projects.
More space means more opportunities for local collaboration, maybe that’s more repair and skill sharing workshops, more opportunities to bring us together, and an updated facility that stays fit for purpose. By growing alongside our community, Wasties can continue to be a vibrant hub where we all have a hand in building a sustainable, connected future.
Finally, can you tell us about your best Wasties find?
Oh that’s easy! (Even though I have bought and been gifted so many things from Wasties over the years!) On my birthday about 10 years ago – I got an urge to drop into Wasties. There on the mannequin at the front of the shop was an awesome retro coat in black, grey, pink and green. It’s beautifully lined in green silk. I crossed my fingers that it would fit…It did indeed and I still love it and smile every time I put it on :-)
