Skype to NYC with Dan Shurey (OC2006)

After studying Maths, Geography, Physics and General studies Dan left Colyton in 2006 and he went on a gap year. He then went onto study Environmental Geoscience at the University of Bristol. He studied Italian briefly during his time at Uni and left after 3 years with a first class degree. 
After which he found himself helping a friend deliver posters to a conference where Dan decided the conference about Oceans and sustainability might be of interest to him. So he decided to stay a while and network. Here he met his future boss, the ambition, courage and networking skills Dan had showed appealed to the United Nations.
Dan worked as an Intern in Geneva as a conservation analyst. This unpaid intern role left him with a desire to work in the environmental sector, where he worked for the Institute of European Environmental Policy, costing out renewable projects for the government.  He then moved to work at Bloomberg as a Green finance Manager, to manage the ‘Green Bonds’ programme.  Bloomberg were seeking an individual to start this up in the USA, Dan was offered the role and sent on a one way ticket to NYC in 2014. Dan’s interest in the Environmental Social Governance (ESG) grew (ie: how banks can assist in climate change). He is now the Vice President for ING on the subject, ING is a Dutch bank and is leading the change in investments, loans and environmental initiatives.
Dan's future aims include leading ESG for banking and the sustainability sector, and building up a brand for sustainability in this sector. On the call with students his tips were have ambition, courage and yes YOU can do what you want to do!! 

This is a very topical area for governments and our future, it is fantastic to have Dan to support  students that are interested in this area.
 
Dan’s favourite memories of Colyton:
Geography field trips to the river Coly looking at erosion etc with Mr Stidwell. Also English lessons, when Mr Smith and students would read out loud to bring the book to life, a favourite was Of Mice and Men. Dan even went to visit Salinas Valley when he was in California.
 
Dan kindly joined us via Skype and spoke with Geography students about his career path and what his role involves.