Kerstein Nicole Labay – EHS Engineer, Facilities Engineer

Hi, my name is Kerstein Nicole Labay. My friends call me Kerstein, but when I’m at home, my family members endearingly call me Kooki. I have a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of San Carlos, and I have been working as an engineering professional for the last five years, mainly focusing on environment, health and safety operations in the manufacturing industry. Like most people my age, I have a passion for the environment. When I was 16, I manifested working in the field of sustainability and environmental protection. At 20, I tackled the irony of progress and environmental decline in an editorial piece for a student publication I was a part of. You see, most of my experience has shaped and brought me to the very career I am in, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

I started working as a facilities engineer for an automotive manufacturing company in Cebu, where I had to ensure that the workplace is conducive for working, and that includes ticking boxes, creating policies and procedures and communicating salient information to stakeholders. Not long after, I was presented with an opportunity to work as an environmental, health and safety engineer for a semiconductor manufacturing company, this time around. One of the most exciting things was to review existing processes, identifying gaps and proposing sustainable solutions all while keeping the balance of a sound operation and innovation.

Wealth to me is in the form of the people I work with. Every day, I gain new experiences, overcome new hurdles after hurdles and earn the trust of my peers. This was cut short when my peers left for better opportunities. At first, it was terrifying to stand alone. However, this did not hold me back. When they left, I allowed myself to expand my network and work with other players in the organisation who are just as passionate. I took the opportunity to support our ESG initiatives by facilitating reporting, engaging with different sections to help them identify energy savings opportunities for the company and initiating mangrove planting drives to offset our footprint.

At 26, the career I manifested back in my high school days was within reach. Now at 27, I am more than ready to contribute to a wider and more diverse space. Transitioning to a work-from-home setup and the opportunity of working with people from various backgrounds can be another wave of uncertainty I will be experiencing, just as I did before. But, only when I allow myself to experience the uncertainty, is where growth begins.

There can never be returns without risks. My only aim is to be better than I am every day and to bring a positive change to my environment.

For a copy of Kerstein’s resume, please click here.