I became involved in Greenpeace many years ago, 1988, in my homeland of Malta, a small island in the Mediterranean Sea. I was a lawyer, interested in environmental justice and volunteering for a local green group. I was asked by the Nuclear Free Seas campaigner, Gerd Leipold, now Greenpeace International (GPI) Executive Director, to help Greenpeace in their Mediterranean campaign. After 3 crazy months on board a Greenpeace ship I was then asked to coordinate the organisation’s development in the region. I helped develop Greenpeace operations in Malta, Greece, Tunisia, Turkey, Lebanon, Israel and Cyprus. I moved to become Campaign Director at GPI in Amsterdam in 2000 and subsequently joined the Direction and Development team. My particular responsibility was to facilitate the development of our offices in Italy, Japan, South East Asia, India and China.
It was my passion for ‘environmental justice’ that first attracted me to Greenpeace, as this is the core of the organisation’s work. I was never only interested in the environment for environment’s sake but more in how human and societal intervention impacts our shared environment. It is Greenpeace’s role to bring out the truth and to force the adoption of alternative technological solutions, ones that will give our children a sustainable future.
Why I am here?
What happens in China is globally important, as China’s environmental footprint is so huge. I have been involved in this office since early 2005. Over the past year or so our operations have rapidly developed in China with staff numbers doubling from 40 in 2004 to around 80 by end 2006. It is important to step in to maintain stability when Howard Liu, the ex-ED, left. The Greenpeace global organisation is fully behind our development here. I will continue to work closely with our great team here and bring in expertise from the global organisation in the areas where it’s needed, and this is my role here.
China, my second home
I am mostly based in Hong Kong with frequent travel to our office in Beijing. I feel very at home here as I find the people are very similar to those from Mediterranean countries where I spent my formative years – very social and passionate about life and food! Another reason why I feel at home here is that people are of normal height! I am married with a teenage daughter and they were in Hong Kong over Christmas – we went shopping (very dangerous!), and vested Sai Kung, Lantau and Lamma Island. Hong Kong is very beautiful. The little leisure time I get is spent enjoying the great food and playing tennis.
