Driving social impression at work: A rewarding collaboration with WWF-Australia


Ever surprise how one can champion a trigger you consider in at work? I sat down with a pacesetter within the Asia, Pacific, Japan, and China (APJC) area to study how she harnessed her roles inside Cisco—each within the Cisco Buyer Expertise workforce and as a core workforce volunteer with the Cisco Inexperienced Workforce Community Inclusive Group, considered one of Cisco’s worker useful resource teams (ERGs), devoted to connecting Cisco workers for social and environmental actions. Be a part of us as we discover her journey, the significant collaboration with World Vast Fund For Nature Australia (WWF-Australia) since 2022, and the particular initiative at Cisco Dwell APJC 2023!

May you begin by introducing your self?

Vivien, a number one member of ANZ Inexperienced Workforce

My identify is Vivien Chia and I’m presently the Digital Advertising and marketing Supervisor inside the Digital Buyer Expertise (DCX) workforce, chargeable for the social media administration of Cisco Group—Cisco’s peer-to-peer on-line neighborhood portal and Cisco’s 2nd most visited digital property.

On high of today job, I’m additionally the APJC Lead of the World Inexperienced Workforce Inclusive Group and a part of the core workforce of Australia and New Zealand Sustainable Surroundings Community (ANZ Inexperienced Workforce).

Therefore, I see the good alternative to attempt to incorporate sustainability into the Inexperienced Workforce’s initiatives and additional have interaction our members to drive extra social and neighborhood impacts collectively.

May you inform me just a little bit in regards to the ANZ Inexperienced Workforce?

The ANZ chapter of the Cisco Inexperienced Workforce is made up of workers from throughout Cisco’s enterprise models who create, encourage and drive sustainability motion throughout Australia and New Zealand. We’re targeted on:

  • Constructing extra sustainable partnerships: Partaking and growing strategic collaboration with widespread objective and alternatives.
  • Giving again and volunteering: Inspiring motion, constructing resiliency and empowering us all to beat local weather disruptions and protect sources inside communities.
  • Educating and constructing consciousness: Activating via partaking communications, giving again alternatives and occasions.

Inform us a bit in regards to the collaboration between ANZ Inexperienced Workforce and WWF-Australia.

Three people at an event, holding cutouts of koalas and a WWF sign with a Cisco sign behind them
Vivien, Henry and Sarah on the Sustainability Zone, Cisco Dwell 2023

Our office giving journey with WWF began in August 2022 after Jay Inexperienced and I connecting with Henry Clough, Office Giving and Company Engagement Supervisor at WWF-Australia.

We have been drawn to WWF’s international mission to cease the degradation of the planet’s pure surroundings and to construct a future by which people stay in concord with nature. WWF-Australia is now the nation’s largest conservation organisation with tasks and partnerships in each state and territory throughout the nation since its institution in 1978. They work collaboratively with communities, governments, Conventional Homeowners, non-government organisations (NGOs), scientists, business, and innovators. So we wish to assist them to assist drive constructive change via resilient ecosystems.

The ANZ Inexperienced Workforce nominated WWF-Australia for the Cisco Matching Presents program, and have established an ongoing collaboration to highlight their necessary work in defending wildlife and regenerating nature, together with Earth Hour 2023 and 2024 (take a look at the Earth Hour 2024 | Postcards from around the globe!).

In July 2023, we additionally efficiently nominated them for a Cisco Basis Regional Resolution Grant (AUD$150,000) to assist fund their Australian Native Vegetation Mapping System mission; this is a crucial mission as a result of Australia is the one developed nation on the checklist of 24 international deforestation fronts.

After which, it was a serious milestone for us to have them onsite at Cisco Dwell APJC in 2023 because the official Charity Accomplice of the occasion. WWF-Australia and Inexperienced Workforce engaged with the guests on the Sustainability Zone (led by Sarah Simpson), the place we helped undertake 100 koalas (AUD$18,000 donation worth)!

All groups have been thrilled with the success and sit up for extra collaborations with WWF-Australia and different NGOs to assist make a distinction.

How did you additional prolong the giveback and neighborhood impression initiative ultimately yr’s Cisco Dwell APJC?

The ANZ Inexperienced Workforce partnered with Cisco Group to activate our annual giveback initiative and convey it to life onsite. As an alternative of manufacturing tons of of occasion giveaways, we needed one thing distinctive and extra sustainable, so the price range was diverted to assist an awesome trigger via the ‘Group Serving to Group’ marketing campaign on the occasion. This was to boost consciousness of local weather change and promote collective effort to assist enhance the world collectively.

The workforce additionally directed foot visitors to the WWF-Australia sales space to undertake their very own koala. The symbolic motion to ‘undertake’ these iconic but threatened Australian species will assist save them from extinction. You may study extra right here: Undertake a koala.

What are another methods Cisco workers are getting concerned?

It’s necessary for workers to rethink their carbon footprint, whether or not it’s via work, at dwelling, or when organizing an occasion (massive or small).

Additionally don’t overlook to leverage, discover the chance, and get artistic to drive larger impression by collaborating with different groups. I wish to categorical my heartfelt gratitude to everybody who’ve supported me via this journey.

There’s a lot data on the market each internally and externally about sustainability. Typically it’s onerous to know the place to begin, however that’s okay as a result of the Inexperienced Workforce Community may also help you begin or proceed your sustainability journey. Whether or not that’s seeking to become involved in fundraising or attending inside schooling classes we encourage workers to be curious, and their information about sustainability will develop from there.

For Cisco workers, the World Inexperienced Workforce Community Inclusive Group encourages everybody to affix an area workforce and begin getting concerned. We’d love to include new concepts, ideas, and actions to drive our environmental impression and efforts. If you happen to’re a Cisco worker, please be a part of us!

Lastly, you can too keep up to date on Cisco’s sustainability objectives and applications for patrons and companions and don’t overlook to cease by the Cisco Group kiosk and Sustainability Zones if you attend Cisco Dwell occasions just like the one in Melbourne, Australia from November 11-14!

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