Desi Lazarova – #TeamRenewables

Our team is expanding every day as the business evolves, from new starters beginning their career to familiar faces transitioning into new roles. In this latest Team Renewable’s spotlight, we speak to Desi Lazarova, ESG Project Manager in the UK&I. Desi has been at RES for just over four years and has recently undertaken responsibility for the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) efforts across the UK&I Asset Management portfolio.  

After gaining professional experience in a variety of roles in areas such as Communications, Marketing, Event Management and Public Affairs, her passion for people and the planet led her to want to make a tangible difference in a more sustainable future. 

Read Desi’s story in the latest #TeamRenewables: 

Career Journey  

After studying for a degree in Politics and Public Relations, I gained professional experience in some diverse industries such as entertainment, IT and public relations. 

I initially joined RES as maternity cover as an Events and Internal Communications Executive within the Group Marketing and Communications team. As I was new to the world of renewables this role provided me with an incredible opportunity to learn a lot about the industry whilst reporting on it. I then moved across into RES’ Support Services division where I worked as Asset Management Administrator and General Support before becoming ESG Project Manager in September 2022. 

What are you most proud of at RES? 

Together with communication leads in each of the countries where RES operates, I have helped deliver some very interesting campaigns and events to enable important messages to reach all areas of the company. For example, I supported the launch of our first volunteering project in Nicaragua; took part in organising the global Safety Focus Day and supported one of our Affinity Networks in delivering RES’ Diversity and Inclusion objectives. By collaborating with people from each department I quickly learnt a lot about RES and the wider renewables industry. 

My highlight so far has been the recent progression into my new role as ESG Project Manager in the UK&I Asset Management team. This is a completely new position within RES, and I’m excited to be able to lead the ESG expansion, bring my ideas to the role and help our clients deliver their sustainability targets. 

Where do you see your career in 5 years’ time?  

In five years, I’d like to be managing a team who deliver ESG services to projects on a larger scale as well as supporting other services in RES with holistic ESG initiatives for clients and their assets. I would also like to lead organisational collaboration with a comprehensive and accountable track record of ESG initiatives and forward-thinking targets. 

With the recent increased focus on ESG reporting and the outlining of zero emissions targets, over the next few years RES will continue to proactively engage with all stakeholders and support our clients to deliver their own targets as well as striving to enhance the services we already provide for clients. 

At the same time, the sustainable decommissioning of assets and what end of life looks like in terms of sustainability is something I believe will become increasingly more prominent in the future. 

A day in the life 

My day can range from overseeing an instalment of an apiary (a collection of beehives) on a solar site, to collaborating internally to improve the process of data collection for waste, mileage, biodiversity improvements. 

Our clients and their ESG targets are the biggest priority, therefore I am liaising with clients daily to effectively communicate the opportunities their renewable projects have to offer and map out the best way to deliver them. 

I also try to lead by example by playing a key part in identifying, planning and building business cases for ESG initiatives. Business cases can include everything from evidential research on why an ESG initiative will be beneficial at the site to the wider benefits of the initiative such as community involvement as well as the identification and engagement with partner advisors. This requires constant stakeholder engagement including site-based teams, asset managers, landowners, external advisors, etc. 

When I’m not strategising activities, I’m focusing on how we track and report on ESG initiatives and respective data. Knowledge sharing within RES is invaluable and I’m grateful to be able to work alongside our Group Sustainability team, other teams within Support Services and other regions on improving our internal processes for tracking and collating ESG data.  

Tell us about your favourite hobbies and interests?

Outside of work I’m busy raising and entertaining two little boys. If I find any spare time and have enough energy, I go swimming or hiking. I enjoy travelling and exploring new places as well as attending live events and concerts.