Esha: Delighted to have you here and really grateful for your willingness to conduct an interview. Firstly can you please tell us a little bit about yourself?
Darren: Yeah sure, look my background is in mechanical engineering, I went to Sydney uni then moved into the mining industry – you know worked overseas, went to the UK and travelled. When I got back home, I got into a small business, and now I work as a general manager in a vending company called IV group. We manage probably about 1000 plastic machines across Australia and subcontract that to our operators. So I guess I always had a bit of a community focus and background. I remember when I was a young Dad – participating in the Red Cross Appeal in the pouring rain, always contributing to the school and I volunteered with the school canteen, P&C, band camp and things like that. So I guess I’ve always had a bit of a community spirit, to give back to the community. As for BoxHead, we came to a function where Bec [BoxHead CEO] had a stand so my wife and I volunteered and that’s sort of how we met. I guess what sort of appealed to me was the recycling side of things. I’ve always grown up recycling, Mum and Dad were putting in composts and taking paper and plastic bottles long before it became sort of popular. So we liked the idea they were trying to achieve and thought it would be a good way to support them.
Esha: What made you want to volunteer at BoxHead plastics?
Darren: A couple of things, one is just that land waste. I just think it’s terrible like when people clean up and the stuff that people throw away. So I quite like what [BoxHead Plastics] is trying to achieve. A little bit interesting from I guess the background I had of mechanical engineering, the use of engineering process in recycling. I thought I could assist and be helpful with my background. Look being local as well, since its about two or three suburbs from where I live. So it was good and good timing.
Esha: Why are you volunteering in the role that you are – do you take a passion in climate change, activism or purely for professional experience?
Darren: Look at the moment I’m in the advisory committee, just from skills I’ve developed. But initially, because she was light on hand of volunteers, I sort of volunteered for support from anywhere from look I’ve been doing some advice for finances, but creating spreadsheets mainly – I can knock out a spreadsheet reasonably quickly, but yeah, a bit of support if she wanted a hand in a particular area that’s where I could sort of help out. So no formal role, I’m just sort of here for help. The model is sort of like how it was in vending, that was interesting, I saw an overlap in how she had to go out and find bumper bars and the logistics side of things – so there is a synergy in that as well.
I like what BoxHead is doing as in trying to stop things going into landfill and giving back to the community – I’ve got time and I’ve got skills and experience, people tend to get scared from volunteering. It can be like that, like when I volunteered at high school, you kind of get locked in and you don’t want to let them down by leaving. If you don’t have someone to take on the load, you start to feel a bit obligated, but I guess I wanted to help by providing guidance and building a network. But what they’re doing with trying to stop landfill, that really interested me. Like I really can’t stand it when you see people wasting stuff.
Esha: Which value or activity at BoxHead plastics interests you most?
Darren: The recycling. When she was talking about how many of these bumper bars literally get thrown away and actually some of these are in such good condition, they’re only just minor issues. If you follow the money trail, the answer will always be there, which is I think these panel beaters probably make a good buck in changing a bumper bar – that’s where they make their money. So I think they’re probably keen to do that job for the sake of their revenue. Unfortunately everything from there is just being wasted and going to landfill. So for me personally, it was definitely that – the recycling side. For other people, look I don’t know – it honestly depends if they care. Awareness is one thing that so many bumper bars are going in, people will be surprised how many are going to landfill. So that’s step one – is knowing. But step two is caring, like a direct correlation. In general when people have had a family member experience something, they tend to relate and care about it. However, unfortunately in this situation I don’t think people can necessarily relate to it, they don’t make it a direct issue where it will impact their life.
Esha: What do you find most rewarding about volunteering?
Darren: Knowing that you’re making a difference, I guess. You know how all those tonnes of plastics are getting buried and you’re helping out. I think definitely being inspired, the passion is a big motivation and what the advisory board follows. I think because everyone had a similar mindset and was excited about the cause. I think this learning all round, even though there’s a lot we can help out with our knowledge and experience but I guess there’s so much that I can learn. I know that you guys at UTS did a lot of marketing and it’s a learning experience – some of the marketing I’ve seen is better than a lot of professionals. And what you guys do in the next generation of social media and advertising as well – I enjoy that as well.
Esha: What advice would you give anyone who wants to promote social change around them or get involved in volunteering?
Darren: I think the key thing that will motivate people is wanting to change, you know the whole thing around saving the planet, bits and pieces. That’s the first connection – the second one I think is an individual’s preconceptions of what volunteering commitment is required. It is the case that many hands make it light work, you start a movement, you start a motivation and people bouncing off each other’s motivation – so there’s less work to do. I think people have a preconceived idea of how much time is required for volunteering. My wife, my son and I, we all volunteered and my wife was actually just helping recycle bumper bars once a month. I guess mainly it’s about being like minded and wanting to make a change.
Esha: One thing that you’ve learned from volunteering with BoxHead plastics?
Darren: I guess a takeaway from the understanding side is just that I was gobsmacked by how many bumper bars get thrown away and the condition of them when they get thrown away. In terms of educational, it’s better to understand not-for-profit organisations and how they work. I also work in a not-for-profit and I think learning how the advisory board works and also the not-for-profit resources is interesting. It’s great where there’s students and other people helping out by providing resources. It seems a good win-win where you students get the opportunity to get involved in a company and see how it works.