Jane Hermiston ASA

Jane Hermiston ASA sleeps well knowing that her work for Victoria's Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is making a difference.

Q. What is your role, and what do you do on a day-to-day basis?

I work as an economic policy analyst in the EPA's regulatory innovation unit, which is responsible for legislative development and change, and provides economic and legal policy advice as needed. My role is highly varied; no two days are the same.

My regular responsibilities include: preparing regulatory impact statements, cost-benefit analysis, providing economic advice, project management and coordinating the EPA's red tape reduction strategy.

Q. What do you like about your job?

The sense of being involved in work that affects all of Victoria is a great feeling, as is the feeling of contributing to protecting the environment. I also love the range and depth of my work, and the multitude of different opportunities and experiences.

Q. Are you a green accountant?

Accountants are concerned with understanding and measuring data that affects a company's performance, hopefully long-term performance. In a world of resource shortages and increased environmental regulation, for businesses to be financially sustainable we all have to become 'green' accountants.

Q. What do you find challenging?

The idea that helping the environment and making a profit are mutually exclusive. I see this idea as preventing a lot of good decisions. True, sometimes environmental actions can be costly, but more and more we are seeing environmental aims that go hand-in-hand with economic ones.

Q. How concerned are you about climate change, and what do you say to climate change sceptics?

I'm concerned about a number of environmental issues, climate change being the most publicised of these at present.

I don't have a science background, so I don't claim to know, or even understand a lot of the technical explanations for what's going on. The consensus of people who have authority on the subject, however, seems to be that this is a real threat.

I wouldn't make financial decisions that reliable experts warn are unacceptably risky. Why then would I take the risk of inaction on climate change?

Q. Are you optimistic about the world's reaction to green issues?

As a society we have some great talents for innovation and teamwork. Looking at the media and my day-to-day interactions, I perceive people as becoming more aware of environmental issues and taking action in response to this.

The world has managed some pretty impressive feats before now, so I'm confident that we can do it again.