AARON FULLER

Master of Environmental and Business Management 2009

With an enthusiastic spirit, Aaron Fuller combines what he calls his, “eco activism, with a healthy dose of corporate headwind.”  These twin foci are hallmarks of many modern graduates.

 “My passion is ensuring we do what we can to leave the planet in a better shape than when we inherited it. At times, that means short term pain for long term gain. We live in a society, not an economy,”

At the time of applying for my Masters in Business and Environment, I was working for IAG within their sustainability department, back when Australia thought green was the new black, and we were on the verge of a paradigm shift.”

While studying for his Masters Aaron was selected as one of 25 people to do a year-long fellowship with the Centre for Sustainable Leadership (CSL). He also went to Melbourne in 2009 to train with Al Gore and spread the climate change message around NSW.
While at CSL, Aaron launched a project called ‘Wipe It Out’ which aims to eradicate non-recycled toilet paper in Australia by 2015. “We chop down 270,000 trees per day just to wipe our butt. Our grandkids will look back at us and ask, ’what were you thinkin’?’”

Aaron’s is the Head of Digital Marketing for one of Australia’s largest direct insurers and is also the owner and manager of Shiftlock, a Sydney recruitment agency which focuses on business intelligence roles (data, analysts, statisticians etc.).

Of his time at Newcastle Aaron says, “I would not have the role I have now, the discipline to apply what I read and learn in the fast paced world of digital marketing, or the motivation to push myself in external ambitions such as my eco activism and running my own business.  The endless support and encouragement from my lecturers, especially Liam Phelan, helped me get through some of the more challenging subjects. “

His passion is clear. “There is a saying I try and live my life by: ‘Give everything I can, take only what I need’. While I have not mastered the art of balancing all the various aspects of life, I try with all the resources I have to make a positive difference while I am on this beautiful planet.”