To mark World FM Day 2023, we sat down with Naomi Vasilca, Strategic Account Lead here at Bidvest Noonan. Naomi oversees our team at Alexion Pharmaceuticals, a customer of ours that does very important work in the life sciences sector.
In line with this year’s theme of “Making a Real Difference”, we wanted to learn from Naomi about herself and her team’s experiences and hear about the ways they’re making a positive impact for our client and the environment.
In your opinion, what does it mean to “make a real difference” in the facilities services industry?
In our industry, making a real difference means more than just the basics. To me, it’s about truly understanding your clients and going above and beyond to address their unique needs and challenges. This can take many forms, such as anticipating issues before they arise and collaborating with your clients towards shared goals. It’s also about providing a service that actively contributes to the success of your client’s operations. Our team here at Alexion deliver on all of this.
How has your team made a real difference in the past year, and what impact did it have on the customer?
Over the past year, my team has focused on safety and making sure our staff are well-trained and aware of potential hazards. While this may seem standard practice, the level at which we do this has resulted in our team at Alexion College Park, Dublin, achieving over 500,000 Lost Time Accident (LTA) free hours.
Not only has this earned us the trust of our client, but it has meant our efforts have enabled the smooth functioning of their operations. They can rely on our service, which is extremely important when developing life-saving medication in the pharmaceutical space.
Can you share an example of a challenge your team faced and how they overcame it to make a positive impact?
In the life-sciences sector, there are always challenges to face. But that’s why we’re continuously training and staying up-to-date with the latest regulations. We’re determined to overcome any obstacle that comes our way!
Recently, our client began expanding and building a brand new plant on-site. Our colleagues are working on different projects to help with their expansion plans. The new buildings will house work that’ll have a positive impact on people all over the world. And you know what? Our team is right there, every step of the way, supporting our customer.
How do you motivate your team to continually strive for excellence and make a real difference?
I like to say I lead by example. I understand that today’s world is more complex than it was 20 years ago. To motivate my team, I try to see and understand each of them as individuals with their own unique issues and challenges. I believe that by showing them respect, compassion, and kindness, I can create a positive work environment where they feel supported and motivated to do their best.
Additionally, I work hard to provide them with the necessary tools and resources to succeed and encourage them to take ownership of their work. Ultimately, I believe that when I am working alongside them and modelling the behaviour I expect, they will be inspired to push themselves to achieve amazing things.
Can you share a success story of a project or initiative your team undertook to make a real difference for the environment?
There isn’t just one success story from the team at Alexion, there have been many initiatives we have undertaken to make a real difference for our environment.
I recently developed a report that highlighted the benefits we achieved by using water-saving technology. One of which is the Tersano system we installed, which purifies water without the use of chemicals, resulting in a significant drop in CO2 emissions as fewer delivery vans are required
We have also made moves to electric equipment such as electric lawn mowers, and electric vehicles across our Athlone and College Park sites. We are also looking into installing beehives in Athlone as part of our commitment to promoting biodiversity
We believe that these initiatives not only make a positive impact on the environment but also help our clients achieve their sustainability goals.
Looking ahead, what are some goals that your team has for making a real difference in the coming year?
While we have already achieved so much and made a real positive impact for our customer, I am a firm believer that there is always room to improve.
In the coming year, we plan to continue focusing on safety and improving operational efficiency. We also want to explore new technologies and solutions to provide better services and deepen our understanding of our clients’ needs.
I am excited at some of the new innovations we have coming too, including the Comac InAqua system that will further improve our water-saving efforts across Alexion.
