Mentoring and Professional Development
Build your career, consultancy and professional legacy in the global waste sector
A career in waste management, the circular economy or international development offers many pathways—but choosing the right direction is not always straightforward.
Simon Penney provides individual mentoring for people who want to clarify their direction, develop their professional identity, enter a new part of the sector or build a career with lasting purpose and impact.
With more than 30 years of experience across government, regulation, consulting, higher education and international development, Simon offers practical guidance grounded in real-world achievement.
Who Mentoring Is For
Mentoring is tailored to people at every stage of their professional journey.
Students and Emerging Professionals
Support for those entering waste, resources, environmental or international-development sectors who want to understand opportunities and make informed early-career choices.
Early-Career Professionals
Guidance to build expertise, gain relevant experience, strengthen a professional profile and identify the next step.
Mid-Career Professionals
Support for experienced professionals considering promotion, specialisation, international work, leadership or independent consulting.
Senior Professionals and Leaders
An independent perspective for those taking on greater responsibility, repositioning their careers or creating a lasting professional contribution.
Aspiring and Established Consultants
Practical guidance to develop an independent practice, clarify services, identify clients, build partnerships or expand internationally.
International-Development Professionals
Support to connect technical waste-management expertise with development priorities, institutions, communities and funding programmes.
What Mentoring Can Cover
Each mentoring relationship is different. Simon and the mentee agree priorities based on individual circumstances, experience and ambitions.
Topics may include:
- Career direction, decision-making and long-term planning
- Understanding the waste and resource sector
- Identifying strengths, specialist interests and training needs
- Moving between government, industry, consulting and academia
- International-development pathways
- Building practical experience and a credible professional profile
- CV, biography, LinkedIn, networking and interview preparation
- Leadership and professional confidence
- Consultancy, business development, services and proposals
- New markets, partnerships and retainers
Mentoring is not about telling someone what to do. It offers an experienced, independent perspective to help individuals examine options, make informed decisions and take practical action.
Career Strategy and Professional Direction
It is easy to pursue opportunities without considering where they may lead.
Simon helps mentees step back and consider:
- Work that provides purpose and motivation
- Sectors that match their abilities
- Experience needed for development
- Opportunities that support long-term direction
- Where professional repositioning is needed
- How to balance income, security, impact and ambition
- Their intended professional contribution
Where useful, Simon and the mentee can develop a concise strategy with priorities, actions and review points.
Mentoring for Consultants
Starting or growing a consultancy requires more than technical knowledge. It needs clear positioning, commercial awareness, trusted relationships and services clients value.
Consultancy mentoring can cover:
- Defining specialist services, clients and markets
- Packaging, pricing and project or retainer options
- Business-development planning and professional profile building
- Finding associates and delivery partners
- Preparing proposals and expressions of interest
- Managing client relationships
- Moving from assignments to sustainable income
- Developing an international consultancy
- Balancing commercial work with professional purpose
This mentoring draws on Simon’s experience in consulting, business development, partnerships and international projects.
International Careers and Networks
Waste management and the circular economy are increasingly international. Yet opportunities can be difficult to access without relevant experience, relationships and an understanding of project development.
Simon can help mentees explore:
- International-development career pathways
- Work with governments, NGOs and development organisations
- International consulting opportunities
- Building regional experience and networks
- Cross-cultural collaboration
- Partnership, consortium and bid development
- Conferences, speaking and thought leadership
- A professional identity across markets
Where appropriate, Simon may make selected introductions through his international network. These are not guaranteed and are made only when relevant and beneficial to everyone involved.
Mentoring Options
One-Off Career Strategy Session
A focused session for a specific decision, challenge or opportunity.
This may suit someone:
- Considering a job offer or career change
- Preparing for an important interview
- Exploring independent consultancy
- Reviewing their professional direction
- Choosing education or training
- Seeking an independent perspective on their next step
- Considering an international career or market
The session can conclude with recommended actions.
Monthly Professional Mentoring
Ongoing support for people developing and implementing a longer-term professional plan.
A monthly arrangement may include:
- One scheduled mentoring session
- Agreed actions between sessions
- Limited email or message support
- Progress reviews and selected document feedback
- Relevant resources and introductions where appropriate
Support and contact levels are agreed at the start to keep expectations and professional boundaries clear.
Consultancy Development Mentoring
Structured support for professionals building, launching or repositioning an independent consultancy.
Regular sessions can focus on:
- Services, positioning and target markets
- Business development, proposals and pricing
- Partnerships, associates and income development
- International opportunities and long-term strategy
Organisational Mentoring Programmes
Mentoring can also be commissioned by employers, universities, professional organisations and international-development programmes.
Programmes can support:
- Graduate and early-career employees
- Emerging managers and leaders
- International waste professionals
- Technical specialists moving into leadership
- Consultants, entrepreneurs and professional-development cohorts
They can combine individual sessions, group discussions, workshops and practical career-development activities.
A Practical and Individual Approach
Simon’s approach is supportive, honest and practical. He helps each person:
- Understand their current position and goals
- Recognise strengths and development needs
- Make informed professional choices
- Turn ambitions into realistic actions
- Build confidence through preparation and experience
- Develop a sustainable, meaningful career
As people think, communicate and learn differently, mentoring can be adapted to individual working and learning styles, including the needs of neurodivergent professionals.
Professional Boundaries
Mentoring provides career and professional-development support, not psychological therapy, medical care, legal advice or regulated financial advice.
Confidentiality, communication arrangements and professional boundaries are agreed at the outset. Document review, messaging support and introductions remain within the agreed package.
Mentoring offers informed guidance and an independent perspective, but the mentee remains responsible for professional, employment and commercial decisions.
Fees and Availability
Packages are tailored to career stage, objectives and required support. A pricing schedule is available on request.
A limited number of reduced-rate places may be available for students and professionals in emerging economies, subject to Simon’s availability.
An introductory meeting can be arranged for £25 or CAD $50 to discuss objectives and whether mentoring would help.
There is no obligation to continue afterwards.
Take the Next Step
To explore mentoring with Simon, please provide a short introduction covering:
- Your current role or career stage and location
- The direction you are considering
- Your principal challenge and the support you seek
You may also complete Simon’s career-strategy survey. After reviewing your responses, Simon will provide initial ideas on options and practical next steps.
If you feel comfortable, take my career strategy survey and I will get back to you with ideas and options for moving to the next level.
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