Our People: Raluca Riedel

When Environmental Advisor Raluca Riedel visits your branch, don’t be surprised if she uncovers issues you didn’t know existed — and then helps you fix them. With a keen eye for compliance and a passion for proactive problem-solving, Raluca has quickly become a valuable presence at WM New Zealand.

Joining the team just five months ago, Raluca’s role is all about supporting branches to meet their environmental compliance requirements. Based in Auckland, she’s already visited a number of sites across the region and has her sights set on visiting every branch nationwide.

“I like to ask why — a lot,” she says with a smile. “Understanding the thinking behind a decision helps us work out if it still makes sense today. Sometimes, it’s something that needs to be revisited.”

Proactive and pragmatic

Raluca’s approach is as thorough as it is approachable. Her work often reveals compliance concerns that may have gone unnoticed for years — issues that, left unchecked, could turn into much bigger problems. She prefers to spot and solve these early.

“I love it when people are upfront,” she says. “Show me the skeletons in the closet! I’d rather know what’s really going on, so we can make it better.”

With a Master’s degree in Environmental Science and experience in contaminated site management, Raluca began her career working on environmental remediation projects in Germany. She moved to Aotearoa in 2019, bringing her expertise — and a warm, collaborative style — to roles in local government before joining WM New Zealand.

One of her key insights from those years? People change faster when they understand why it matters. “You catch more flies with honey,” she explains. “If someone’s running a family business and their non-compliance is putting that at risk, that’s something they’ll want to fix.”

Right person, right role

Raluca sees her role as a natural fit. “I’m German-Romanian, which probably explains why I love this kind of work,” she jokes. “It’s methodical, it’s future-focused, and it’s all about making things better.”

Her current work sits under Jim Jefferis, Head of Environmental Engineering and Consents, where she provides environmental compliance support across all sites, with a dotted reporting line to Chief Health, Safety and Risk Officer, Guy Smith. As part of recent structural updates, HSEQ Partners have transitioned to being H&S Partners, now focusing solely on health and safety. When they identify environmental issues, they loop in Raluca — and vice versa.

Creating a stronger WM New Zealand, together

Raluca’s mission is simple: to make our workplaces safer, stronger and more sustainable by helping teams stay ahead of compliance challenges.

She’s a problem-solver, a people person, and someone who’s genuinely excited about making a difference — all values that fit perfectly with the WM way.

If you see her on site, don’t wait for a compliance issue to pop up. Say hello, ask a question, and have a chat. You might just find a smarter, better way of doing things — with Raluca there to help.