Jedd Clarke

2024 | Trade - Building and Construction

“My vision which is to create more sustainable working environments be ensuring people’s wellbeing and a sense of purpose towards life and work.”

This scholarship will give me the opportunity to explore the full possibilities that my trade has to offer. Seeing and experiencing carpentry in other countries will provide me with the life skills that I can carry home with me and assist my journey and passion in the trade. I would like to gain perspective of how other cultures and groups of people combat the same problems of waste management, renewable and recyclable methods of construction and building, also touching on the emotional and physical well being that people can potentially experience in their lives as a Carpenter.

It’s hard to explain how life changing an experience like this could be, I want to open the next chapter of my career and this scholarship will accelerate the process with a guide and mentor along the way.

A Global Footprints Scholarship is your opportunity to do more of what you love. What have you done at work that you are proud of or passionate about?

I have experienced many moments in my career where a have felt deeply aligned with bringing a more holistic working experience to myself and other tradesmen and women. I am proud of the way I have now created my own vision which is creating more sustainable working environments through ensuring people’s wellbeing and a sense purpose towards their life and work.

I am passionate about creating sustainability in the building and construction industry through a means of reverence towards an emerging culture of tradespeople that want change and growth in a multibillion-dollar industry that is in need of people with passion and purpose to move into new ways of creating.

My hope is that I can influence more people to join the industry knowing that collectively we are creating a more holistic working environment for everyone.

I have deep admiration for the tradition works of the Japanese carpenters and woodworkers an their supportive culture and traditional methods of work that I look up to.

A Global Footprints Scholarship is for you if you are passionate about creating a sustainable future.  Describe something you have done at work or are working on, that helps the environment.  Why is it important to you?

Sustainability has manifested itself in multiple ways in my career, firstly commencing my apprenticeship with a sustainable builder located in Sydney. I learnt aspects of recycling and reusing building materials such as bricks, timber, doors and windows. The company’s values were something I was looking for as I have always had interest an in the architectural and economical benefits that come with reusing.

I have a passion for creating a better working environment mentally and physically for the people in my industry and creating a more sustainable workforce.

I have acted on this throughout my career on job sites with multiple tradespeople, by offering my assistance to other trades if I see they need it, being a person that can listen and by encouraging others to do their best job.

I witnessed how helping people through tough times and allowing them to be vulnerable in an environment that where it is unfortunately usually frowned upon, help others find more joy, and it helped me and them create more connection and passion for work.

As a BBM Scholar you can choose to go anywhere in the world. Where will you travel with your Scholarship and why?

I want to visit Japan as it has a long-lasting traditional style of construction that encapsulates sustainability on various levels. They have carried on building in such a way that it requires a lot less fixings, fastenings and artificial heating orcooling methods, thus providing much more efficient homes with natural materials and methods of air circulation.

Another reason I am inspired to work with the Japanese people is due to their purpose and passion for their work. They demonstrate incredible teamwork and comradery that creates a sustainable working environment for all.

I would love to bring home an essence of the working culture and learn about the methods and differences of how they build in comparison to our western culture, hopefully bringing me to a deeper understanding of how we can create a more sustainable future for the Building/construction Industry back home in Australia.

“Jedd’s application shows a strong focus on work environment and wellbeing, and using initiative to support coworkers. […] I am impressed that he has identified Japan and recognises their move to creating greater efficiency and sustainable homes.”

– Global Footprints Assessor Panel