Podcast: Play in new window | Embed

Subscribe: RSS | More

Non‑Conformity, Community, and Circular Economy Impact.

Today you hear from Dr. Shirley Gallagher

She’s an Irish scientific communicator and sustainability professional with over 25 years of experience, someone who has spent her entire career asking one core question: how do we actually make systems more sustainable?

Her journey started early. In 1986, the nuclear disaster in Chernobyl sparked her awareness of environmental issues, a moment that would go on to shape her life’s work. Since the 90s, she’s been working across contaminated land, water, energy, and now the circular economy, with a PhD focused on contaminated land.

But this conversation doesn’t start in a lab

It starts on a small Irish island, Árainn Mhór, where Shirley grew up. She shares how island life shaped her: the deep sense of community, the self-reliance, and also the quiet confidence to think differently. To not just follow the system, but question it.

And yet, her world is also deeply technical.

We talk about what it means to work within (and sometimes push against) European directives, ISO standards, and highly regulated systems, while still holding onto a human, values-driven approach to sustainability.

Shirley is someone who doesn’t just talk about community, she lives it.

From biodiversity initiatives like Future Orchard in Cork, to sea swimming groups, to her work with EU Climate Pact Ambassadors, Voices for Climate Action, and Toastmasters, she’s constantly part of spaces where ideas turn into action.

She’s also the COO of Second Life Battery Services Limited, where she’s working on a patent-pending approach to reusing waste batteries, turning what we discard into something usable again through digitally controlled systems. A real-life example of the circular economy in action.

We also talk about Greenworks, a €1.6M European Social Fund programme she was part of—training over 1,500 people and helping launch 30 companies—and what it taught her about impact, sustainability, and what happens when funding ends.

And then, at the end, we zoom out.

Shirley shares what impact means to her (“making a difference”), who inspires her, and the one thing she keeps coming back to. 

Start listening to hear it all.

Connect with our guest

Mentioned in this episode:

Greenworks worked with https://cultivate.ie/, https://glas.ie/, https://woodrow.ie/ and of course www.syspro.ie and Shirley also spoke about www.nce.ie which still does wonderful educational programmes.

Listen on Apple, Spotify or any of your favorite Podcast players.

Get in touch with #impact host Regina Larko at hello@hashtagimpact.com or connect on LinkedIn

Want to share your voice on the podcast? You can: https://www.hashtagimpact.com/more

Want to start your own Podcast or use your voice with more courage and confidence? Find free resources here.

Connect with us: 

This special episode is part of Podcasthon. If you enjoyed it, feel free to visit www.podcasthon.org to discover many other charities through the voices and talents of amazing podcasters!
 

Get on our email news/love letter HERE & we will send something super special your way.