Associates
Melanie Ashton
Melanie Ashton is an independent environmental policy consultant, development specialist and writer. She holds a Masters in Environment and Development from the London School of Economics and Political Sciences, and a Bachelor of Science, with Honours, from the University of Melbourne. Melanie's current clients include several Pacific Island governments, aid agencies, consulting firms and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD).
Melanie has a long history of working with the Small Island Developing States of the Pacific Region. She was the Team Leader on the Australian Government funded Persistent Organic Pollutants in Pacific Island Countries Project, which was implemented from 2003-2008. In this role she oversaw and managed the collection of over 100 tonnes of toxic chemicals from Pacific countries. Melanie continues to provide consulting services direct to Pacific Island governments in areas of chemicals management and specifically in implementing the requirements of multilateral environment agreements, including the Stockholm Convention.
Melanie also provides advice to aid agencies including the Agence Francaise de Developpement, and consulting firms, for whom she has undertaken project designs on regional initiatives to address solid and hazardous waste management in the Pacific region, as well as the design of a fund for a waste-fund for the region.
Melanie also works with the Earth Negotiations Bulletin, IISD, as Thematic Expert on Chemicals. In this role she attends and writes about chemicals negotiations including the Stockholm Convention, Basel Convention, Rotterdam Convention and the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals management (SAICM). She also writes for IISD publication ClimateL.org, Linkages Update and MEA Bulletin.
Melanie is Australian, but currently based in London.
Betty Miller
Betty Miller has been supporting international sustainability initiatives with administrative management services for over twenty-five years. Based in New Hampshire, - and working from a sustainable home built by she and her husband - Betty coordinates technical and administrative services for the AtKisson Group globally, as well as AtKisson Inc. USA.
Erin Romanchuk
Erin Romanchuk has a strong desire to influence the direction our world takes on sustainability issues. She has completed a Masters of Science in Strategic Leadership Towards Sustainability from the Blekinge Institute of Technology in Karlskrona, Sweden, where her thesis focused on indicators for a successful planning process. Prior to studying in Sweden, Erin worked for a municipality in southern Alberta, Canada as Environmental Services Coordinator. She lead various projects gaining hands on experience with community-based social marketing, stakeholder engagement, and project management. She has been an active member of grass roots environmental groups, and has a deep appreciation for active community members who engage locally in a constructive and productive capacity. Erin has also participated in the Youth Encounter on Sustainability (YES) Course offered by ETH Zurich where she completed case work on "Meeting and Reducing Energy and Material needs".
Erin plans to work in Europe to influence real change for sustainability. Specifically her interests lie in developing strategies for sustainable development, facilitation, and public engagement in both the private and public sectors.
Shawn Westcott
Shawn comes to AtKisson with a background in community development and political management. His work focuses on community planning and stakeholder engagement.
A veteran of the US Marine Corps, Shawn worked for eight years as a political and governmental affairs consultant and strategist in the United States. In this capacity, he managed or consulted for dozens of local and national contests. He also consulted communities on development projects. Past consulting projects included the creation of community-driven sustainable development plans in Pittsburgh, as well as environmental affairs consultation to a Pennsylvania State Senator.
Shawn earned his Masters of Science degree in 'Strategic Leadership Towards Sustainability' at the Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden, where his thesis, entitled Organizational Networks as Catalysts for Strategic Sustainable Development, examined how complex human networks can be leveraged to drive a more sustainable society.
A Philadelphia native, Shawn graduated from the University of Pittsburgh, with a B.A. in Political Science. While in university, he helped launch a national, student-led workforce development agency called National Student Partnerships; ten years later, he co-founded its Alumni Association and was elected its first President. He has served on a number of Boards of Directors and advisory boards. He was also an original organizer of the Green Drinks networking sessions in Pittsburgh and Southern Sweden.
