MRW – My Little Interview – Jessica Morgan-Smith

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Recently, MPG’s principal consultant, Jessica Morgan-Smith, appeared in MRW’s ‘My Little Interview’ profile piece. If you missed the feature, catch it in full, here…

Name: Jessica Morgan-Smith

Job Title: Principal consultant

Company: Mineral Planning Group (MPG)

What was your first job?

My first ever job was a paper round aged 12 – my mum use to drive me around! But my first role after graduating was actually at MPG. Then, after a stint on the operator side at a waste management firm, I ended up being drawn back to where I first began.

What are the best and worst moments of your career so far?
My worst was being spat at during a public consultation event for a planning application. My best are achieving success for clients – whether planning, permitting, or compliance issues. It’s great to know you’re adding value to customers’ businesses.

What one thing would you change about the waste/recycling industry?
I’d improve communication between the regulators and the sector. It would increase compliance and save a lot of time and money.

If you weren’t in waste, what would you want to be?
A tea taster – the greatest job in the world!

Book or e-reader, and what are you reading now?
Always a book! Having young kids means I’ve lost the ability to sit and read anything too lengthy, but I’m enjoying reading ‘Matilda’ with my daughter at the moment – it’s a classic. I also have Amanda Owen’s ‘Adventure of the Yorkshire Shepherdess’ to get to in 20 years when the children have left home…

Where would you like to time travel to?
I’d go back to the Cretaceous period so I could – very carefully – observe dinosaurs!

What song means the most to you?
‘Woman’ by John Lennon.

What can’t you live without?
My family aside, I can’t live without tea – see dream job above.

What would you do as prime minister for a day?
I’d reform the welfare system – increasing minimum wage to help cut poverty and reduce economic inequality.

Which building would you like to be locked in overnight?
The Natural History Museum – as long as I could access the café too!

What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
Treat others as you would like to be treated yourself. It’s worked out pretty well to date.

Who is your biggest inspiration?
My children – they only see the good in people and have energy and enthusiasm for life that only kids can have!

Mark Smedley