SWANA Staff Spotlight: Amanuel Duga

SWANA’s strength has always been rooted in its people, especially the dedicated volunteers who shape our programs and advance the industry. As SWANA continues to invest in meaningful member and volunteer engagement, we’re excited to spotlight Amanuel Duga, SWANA’s new Senior Manager of Volunteer Engagement.

In this role, Amanuel Duga is focused on deepening relationships with SWANA’s volunteers, supporting committees, Technical Divisions, and working groups, while creating more inclusive, impactful pathways for members to get involved and lead. 

Get to know Amanuel Duga, learn what excites him most about volunteer engagement at SWANA, and discover how his work helps power the member-driven mission behind everything we do.

How does your background and experience prepare you to support and grow SWANA’s volunteer community?

A lot of my background has been centered around working with volunteers and making sure they have a positive, organized experience from start to finish. In my previous roles, I managed programs that supported volunteers across multiple sites, so I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what helps people not just sign up, but actually remain engaged and enjoy the experience.

For me, it’s always been a mix of building strong relationships and putting the right systems in place behind the scenes, whether that’s improving onboarding, creating trainings, or making sure volunteers feel supported and recognized for their time.

At SWANA, what excites me is that the passion is already there. Members are deeply invested in the work, so my role supports that by making it easier to get involved, stay connected, and find the right opportunities to contribute across Technical Divisions, committees, and other groups.

Since you’re not from the waste and resource management world, what have you learned so far from our members that has surprised you about our industry? 

I think the biggest surprise for me has been just how much goes into this work. Waste and resource management is something that people don’t always think about day to day, but it’s so critical to public health, safety, and how communities function.

I’ve also been really impressed by how forward-thinking the industry is. There’s a lot of focus not just on operations, but on safety, sustainability, and innovation. Learning about issues like lithium-ion battery risks and the systems designed to prevent hazards really opened my eyes to how complex and important this field is.

It’s been great learning from members who are not only experts in what they do, but also really passionate about evolving the industry.

Outside of work, what’s something SWANA members might be surprised to learn about you?

Something SWANA members might be surprised to learn about me is that I really enjoy traveling and experiencing different cultures. I’m always looking for opportunities to explore new places, try new food, and step outside of my routine.

Some of my favorite experiences have come from being in completely new environments and just learning how people live, work, and connect in different parts of the world. It’s something that’s helped me stay open-minded and curious, and I think it has shaped how I approach both my work and the way I connect with others. 

How can members, especially those new to SWANA, get involved as volunteers, and what can they expect from the experience?

For anyone new to SWANA, I’d say the best place to start is by exploring Technical Divisions, committees, and chapters. There are a lot of different ways to get involved depending on your interests and experience.

What I’ve seen in my work with volunteer programs is that people get the most out of it when they jump in, even in small ways at first. At SWANA, volunteering is a great way to meet others in the field, stay connected to what’s happening in the industry, and have a real impact on the work being done.

Our goal is to make that experience feel approachable and worthwhile, so whether someone is looking to contribute occasionally or take on a bigger leadership role over time, there’s a path for them to do that.

Get to know more of the SWANA team by visiting the staff page of our website at https://swana.org/about/staff.