Suggestions
Claire A Martin
Based on Cammeraygal Country. Connecting with people to create long term relationships in the realm of renewables and sustainability, championing gender pay parity all while defeating bowel cancer.
Claire Ann Martin is a highly experienced professional with a background in property law and renewable energy. She currently serves as the Senior Land Acquisition Manager at RES, a leading renewable energy company with a global presence. In this role, Claire handles negotiations, property agreements, and community engagement for wind, solar, and energy storage projects in Australia. She plays a key role in the due diligence and financial close process, as well as site selection and document management. Claire's passion for sustainability drives her to create a long-term legacy through her work.
Highlights
Life with invisible disabilities: -
I currently have a colostomy stoma (loop of my large intestine that pokes out of my abdomen) due to bowel cancer treatment and plan to have it reversed at some stage in the future. Around 50,000 Australians live with a stoma and can live a very full and active life once the surgical wounds have healed.
We all pass wind, but it works a little differently when you have a stoma. Gas from your stomach will normally leak slowly into your pouch, which will have little vents and filters to stop it from blowing up like a balloon or from getting too smelly. There should be no noticeable smell from a stoma bag unless there is a leak. I empty the bag of any gas or stool each time I visit the toilet. I pour a deodorant into the bag and change it every two or three days. Occasionally, this wind will make the bag bulge, or make a noise.
There are no sphincter muscles to regulate when stools or gas pass from the stoma into the bag so I cannot control any aspect. The intestine has no nerves, so I also cannot feel when my stoma is active.
From 1 July 2024, the Australian government has lowered the eligible screening age for the bowel screening program from 50 down to 45 years. People aged 45 to 49 can request their first bowel cancer screening kit. People aged 50 to 74 will continue to receive a bowel cancer screening kit every 2 years.
Education and prevention is the key to avoiding any polyps in the bowel growing into bowel cancer requiring treatment.
