speakers

Session: MASTERCLASS A: Introduction to eco-branding – the competitive edge of circular business practices

Josh joined the GECA team in 2023, bringing a breadth of experience from the not-for-profit, corporate and government sectors with a track record of creating lasting impact for organisations and communities.

Having worked extensively across countries, cultures, and industries, Josh believes that inclusive and courageous collaboration is the best way to get things done. He is thrilled to be using this passion to develop partnerships within the GECA Family and beyond for the good of people and planet. Whether you're a business, not-for-profit, community organisation or in the public sector, Josh is eager to connect with you to improve social and environmental outcomes.

Josh is proud to be leading an organisation that delivers positive environmental impact using globally recognised best practice standards.

Session: PANEL DISCUSSION: How can Australian organisations tailor their circular economy strategies for a global impact?

Filomena Beshara is a Sustainability Manager at Built. Her career has focused on creating change in the built environment – working towards healthier buildings that use fewer resources and drive positive social and environmental outcomes.

She works with clients, integrating their values to inspire change and action on projects and delivering leading sustainability results.

Session: Live 1-one-1: Empowering a circular future by tackling the skills gap head-on

Jo is a senior People & Culture professional with over 20 years’ experience leading large organisations' customer service, operations, safety and people & culture functions, including being responsible for People, Culture and Safety at APE and also at AHG as Chief Human Resources Officer.

Jo joined BINGO from ASX-listed Eagers Automotive, where she led the People & Culture function. Prior to this, she held senior operational and people roles at O'Brien Glass, including Human Resources Director and Customer Service & Operational Director. Jo has worked in human resources roles with KAZ Technology, Raytheon Australia, Boeing Australia and BHP.

Jo holds a degree in Organisational Behaviour and Psychology, is a Chartered Member of the Australian Human Resources Institute, and brings to BINGO many years’ experience working across various industries, including manufacturing, corporate, retail, information technology and engineering.

Belinda has more than twenty years’ experience implementing circular economy principles in Australia and overseas.

She has a strong track record of delivery in government, not for profit and large organisations, and has previously led the circular economy portfolio for several influential businesses including the London School of Economics, The GPT Group, Australia Post, and ALDI Stores AU.

Belinda is the Director and Principal Consultant of BC Consulting Pty Ltd, a trusted advisor to Australian businesses, and was recently recognised for her legacy and long standing commitment, by being named Planet Ark's Australian Circular Leader 2023.

Session: ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION: Customer engagement: educating and selling the circular model

After nearly a decade working in the banking and finance industry, Ryan was drawn to a career in environmental conservation that saw him work in Sydney, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Fiji in diverse roles such as operations, monitoring and evaluation, threatened species and sustainable agriculture. With a background in psychology and environmental management, Ryan’s role at Planet Ark since 2012 has been focused on developing engaging and positive environmental behaviour change programs to help individuals, businesses, government and schools transition to a circular economy. This suite of initiatives includes the Australian Circular Economy Hub, Australasian Recycling Label, Cartridges 4 Planet Ark, RecyclingNearYou, and National Recycling Week.

Session: PANEL DISCUSSION: How can Australian organisations tailor their circular economy strategies for a global impact?

Scott Edwards is the Sustainability Lead for Coca-Cola Europacific Partners in Australia. With 13 years’ experience in environment and sustainability and over 20 years in FMCG he’s well versed in decarbonising supply chains, packaging circularity and water stewardship. Scott was formerly a chemical engineer out of Sydney University and has successfully blended his technical background and significant industry knowledge to engage everyone from the Board room to customers and those on the factory floor in the CCEP sustainability strategy. He lives in Sydney with his wife and two boys, loves to travel and yes has a house full of Coke paraphernalia.

Session: Transforming industry waste: a holistic approach to sustainability

Session: PANEL DISCUSSION: What I wish I knew – lessons learned by circular economy leaders

Paul Frasca started his hairdressing career at the age of 11 and owned a salon at age 19. Winning a prestigious Hairdressing Award took him to Europe where he styled an elite clientele for the next decade before making his way to Australia.

His passion for sustainability started when he lived in Amsterdam where he met his partner Ewelina Soroko, a passionate environmentalist. Their research in salon waste revealed that hairdressers send one million kilos of aluminium foils to landfill every year. It was the catalyst to start Refoil which was only just beginning of making salon waste history.

In 2015 the pair started an innovative resource recovery program called Sustainable Salons. Designed especially for the salon environment, multi-award winning Sustainable Salons collects up to 95% of the salon’s waste bin and re-purposes it for environmental and community benefit, while rewarding the salon.

Paul’s role as Managing Director takes him all around Australia and New Zealand speaking to audiences in the waste management, hair, beauty, fashion, hospitality, medical and education industries, on how to adopt a more sustainable approach in their everyday lives and businesses. He also volunteers as a board director for The Australian Hairdressing Council where he is responsible for improving the industry’s environmental practices.

Session: ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION: Measuring your impact: KPIs and metrics for circular success

Nicole joined Planet Ark in May 2021 following 16 years of experience in the community waste, environmental education, and tourism sectors. Nicole was the Director of a non-governmental organisation in Barbados for eight years; an experience which led her to decide on a PhD. She proudly graduated with her PhD in February 2021. In her precious spare time, Nicole loves supporting small island states to manage plastics, salsa and tango dancing, and being by the water with family and friends.

Session: Circular design strategies to optimise resource use, achieve cost efficiencies, and progress towards net-zero goals

General Manager and Director of Boral’s Recycling business, Andre is and Industrial Engineer with MBA from IMD/Switzerland -- with close to 20 years industry experience, Andre has worked in construction, energy and business growth projects across Europe, South America and Australia. With Boral since 2017, Andre has developed the Recycling growth strategy/plan from its inception and led its execution with & across the business achieving the results that led it to now be the National business with the best quality of earnings within the Boral portfolio. With a passion for the Circular Economy and what it can achieve, Andre will share recent case studies where Boral Recycling solutions have driven sustainable outcomes in construction.

Karen is the National Sustainability Manger for the Communities business at Lendlease. In addition to studies in in photovoltaic and solar energy engineering, environmental economics and architecture, Karen has almost 20 years of experience in the sustainability industry and has held roles in government policy development and consulting prior to joining Lendlease.

In her current role Karen works across the 15 projects in Lendlease’s Communities portfolio and is focused on setting them up to achieve Lendlease’s ambitious carbon targets of net zero for Scope 1 and 2 by 2025 and absolute zero for Scope 1, 2 and 3 by 2040.

Session: PANEL DISCUSSION: What I wish I knew – lessons learned by circular economy leaders

Session: Using sustainable innovations to achieve circular economy goals & boost consumer trust

Session: PANEL DISCUSSION: How can Australian organisations tailor their circular economy strategies for a global impact?

Rebecca is currently the Manager of Sustainability and Circular Economy at the Regional Growth Development Corporation NSW. Prior to joining RGDC, Rebecca was the Director of Strategy at the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment and acting Unit Head at the EPA. Rebecca graduated with degrees in economics and law from the University of Sydney and holds a Master’s Degree in International Economics from the Berlin School of Economics and Law.

Session: Maximising lifespan of products: circular procurement strategies

Named AFR/Westpac top Australia’s entrepreneurs, listed in Businesswomen’s Hall of Fame, Who’s Who of Business, recipient of Prime Minister’s International Trade Awards, and 3 times Stevie® Winner for Global Start Up of the year (2022, 2021 and 2020), based on the entrepreneurial success of Greenville Developments upcycled shipping container business. 2022 Women in Digital Founder of the Year and 2021 Innovator of the Year. Beverley is an experienced lawyer and businesswomen and works across multiple continents. She is also Judge, Essential Services Commission Appeals, and Board Director of public, private and government organisations in education and international trade, and senior executive with responsibilities for asset portfolios worth $4 billion.

An accomplished presenter at conferences on contracts, projects, and innovation, Beverley is Chief Executive of Honeylight Enterprises, named Westpac Bank’s top 200 Businesses of Tomorrow,’ described by Deloitte as “Unlocking some of Australia’s $70 billion economic potential.’ With expertise as a technology entrepreneur, she is Co-Founder of First Nations Blockchain, an Aboriginal Enterprise protecting provenance and cultural IP. Beverley has been designing and delivering corporate courses in the areas of strategic sourcing and acquisition, procurement, contract and project management for over 2 decades, and has delivered over20,000 programs globally. As Chief Examiner of New Law subject sat Monash University, she brings an outstanding track record of establishing innovation and practical theories in Contract Management Lifecycle™ as published author of bestseller Making Contracts Work(2010), and textbooks on Project Management and Contemporary Management. Noted by Monash Vice Chancellor’s Awards for Innovation in technology development.

Session: ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION: Leveraging technology to ensure a comprehensive approach to achieving zero waste

As the Worldwide Sustainability Sales Enablement Lead, Rik leads the global strategy for sustainability enablement, skilling and sales journey excellence at Microsoft, working with key customers to drive transformation. Before this he led Microsoft’s industry strategy across manufacturing, energy and resources in the UK.

Prior to Microsoft, Rik worked at Cisco for 13 years, with global lead roles in energy and resource industries, IoT, security, and digital transformation.

Rik is a recognized industry leader who has spoken at multiple conferences around the world, is a published book author, and authored/contributed to a number of industry white papers, journal and magazine articles.

Rik has sat on industry boards and standards groups for energy, manufacturing, sustainability, IoT, digital twins and digital skills, is currently part of the Climate Leaders Coalition in Australia and is an assessment coach with the IEMA.

Rik holds an MBA focused on international leadership, and holds the MIEMA and CEnv sustainability accreditations.

https://uk.linkedin.com/in/rikironsmclean

Session: Live 1-one-1: Empowering a circular future by tackling the skills gap head-on

Session: Optimising resource use for a more sustainable business future

Session: PANEL DISCUSSION: What I wish I knew – lessons learned by circular economy leaders

The future of transportation finds its champion in Slava Kozlovskii, the visionary Founder and CEO of evee. Drawing inspiration from the sharing economy, evee is the "airbnb" for electric vehicles, bridging accessibility and sustainability. Kozlovskii's innovative platform not only incentivises EV ownership through rental income but also democratises the electric vehicle experience. With a background that spans from St. Petersburg to Sydney, Kozlovskii's journey embodies the global spirit of 21st-century entrepreneurship.

Session: Realigning your organisation's internal culture towards zero-waste

Fiona Lawrie is Head of Corporate Affairs and ESG at Officeworks. She is also a Non-Executive Director on the Board of the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO).

Prior to commencing with Officeworks, Fiona was the Sustainability and Aboriginal Affairs Manager with Wesfarmers Limited. At Wesfarmers, she was the sustainability executive responsible for managing environmental and social risks across complex supply chains for one of Australia’s largest and most diverse companies

Fiona holds a a Master of Environmental Management and Corporate Sustainability from Monash University, a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Melbourne and completed the Finance for Executives course at INSEAD. Fiona speaks Mandarin fluently having completed her Chinese language studies at Liaoning University, Shenyang.

From 2013-2015 Fiona was the Executive Director of the Australia-China Youth Dialogue, the preeminent track two dialogue for emerging Australian and Chinese leaders. Fiona attended the first and second Australia-China High Level Dialogues.

Prior to joining Wesfarmers Fiona worked on water projects in China for a number of years, and held commercial roles with ANZ.

In 2013 Fiona was recognised by the World Economic Forum as a Global Shaper.

Session: PANEL DISCUSSION: How can Australian organisations tailor their circular economy strategies for a global impact?

Session: Building strategies to champion the quality of remanufactured products

Anna is a sustainability and ‘waste warrior’ with extensive experience in sustainability, waste management and circular economy sectors, as well as building and fostering entrepreneurial and circular business communities. Anna was the co-founder of Boomerang Labs, Australia’s pioneering circular economy accelerator, and she currently is the Engagement Manager for the world-leading textile recovery business BlockTexx. Anna established and was General Manager of TerraCycle in Australia and New Zealand, a company that saw the circular opportunity and has thrived since it’s Australian launch in 2014. Anna has a BA LLB, and Grad Dip in Environmental Law. Anna previously worked as a criminal prosecutor, but much prefers working in waste!

Session: Fuelling job creation, economic growth, investment & new opportunities through circular economy transformations

Paul has worked in the sustainability field for more than 25 years. He comes to Sustainability Victoria from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, where he has been leading work streams on policy and programs addressing energy sustainability, affordability, reliability and security since 2016. Paul was CEO of the Moreland Energy Foundation Limited for over 8 years and worked for 10 years with Sustainability Victoria (mainly with predecessor organisations).

Paul also delivers a subject at RMIT University in the Masters of Renewable Energy Engineering program – The social, environmental and economic context of sustainable energy. Paul is excited to be at SV to work with the Victorian community to achieve net zero carbon emissions and build a circular economy.

Session: Utilising collaboration to drive innovation and impact

Sam has been involved in the implementation of the Australian National Food Waste Strategy since 2018 and currently leads the team delivering the Australian Food Pact. Sam is passionate about using collaboration to drive a more sustainable and profitable food system.

Session: Partner presentation

Session: Strengthening inter-governmental coordination to advance the circular economy

George served for 22 years as an officer in the Australian Army, including a 2-year appointment as an Operations Planner based in Hawaii with the US Marine Corps, for which he was awarded the US Navy Meritorious Service Medal (MSM).

He left the Army in 2001 to take up an appointment as Manager Training and Development with the Country Fire Authority in Ballarat. In 2006 he became the General Manager of Training and Community Services with BEST Community Development, a multi award winning regional NFP.

In 2008 George commenced as Manager Learning Community with Hume City Council before transitioning as the Manager Economic Development in August 2011 and continues in this role. He is currently delivering a program – “Towards Hume as Circular City” which involves business training, community education and Council adoption of circularity.

He has previously operated his own consultancy in leadership and teamwork and has lectured in Strategic Planning and Leadership.

George is focussed on economic inclusion, the circular economy and social inclusion and is currently a board director with SPEAK www.speak.org.au, NORTHLink https://northlink.org.au/ and the ACE Hub www.acehub.org.au.

Married with two adult children and one granchild, he lives in regional Victoria with his wife Deb, and together they enjoy walks with their golden retriever “Cora”, gardening and family gatherings.

Session: Embedding circular economy practices within operations to create a sustainable and waste-reduced future

Rachelle Quattrocchi (she/her) Rachelle is a contemporary leader who brings a substantial number of years working at executive levels for large municipal organisations in Victoria and South Australia, Rachelle is currently the Director City Services at Manningham Council, in Melbourne Victoria. In this pivotal executive role, she provides strategic leadership to the City Assets, City Infrastructure, City Projects, and Sustainable Futures teams.

Rachelle has led new and innovative solutions for waste and resource recovery in her role as Director City Services at Manningham. Waste initiative and reforms including performance-based contract model for all kerbside waste, processing, and disposal. Introduction recycling initiatives, Food Organics Green Organics and Advanced Waste Technology Solution as an alternative to landfill. Waste Budget Initiatives included within the Long- term Financial Plan to provide alternatives for residual waste to align with State Government circular economy policy to meet community climate targets.

Session: Investing in circularity: funding, capital allocation, and sourcing

Jillian is a Partner in Mercer’s Sustainable Investment team, advising institutional investors on ESG integration, climate change, active ownership, sustainability themes, and screening. She has helped dozens of asset owners to address risk, return, and reputation requirements and now primarily advises Mercer’s Chief Investment Officers for Mercer’s fund solutions globally.

Jillian has more than 20 years’ experience in financial services, joining Mercer in 2004 and the sustainable investment team in 2011, including four years in London. Jillian was a co-author for Mercer’s major 2015 Investing in a Time of Climate Change report and ‘The Sequel’ in 2019, together with shorter papers such as Raising Your Impact Ambition in 2021. In 2022, she co-authored the Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC) discussion paper on the circular economy for investors. In 2020, she co-developed Mercer’s Analytics for Climate Transition (ACT) tool and advice framework, which remains central to Mercer’s transition and net zero target setting guidance. 

Jillian holds a Master of Arts in Development Studies from the University of New South Wales; a Bachelor of Arts and a Diploma of Education, both from the University of Newcastle; and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment from the Financial Services Institute of Australasia.

Session: MASTERCLASS B: Future-proofing profits – Investment strategies for circular business models

A highly accomplished sustainability Executive and Non-Executive Director with more than 20 years’ experience across public and corporate sectors with some of Australia’s most recognised brands. Considered one of Australia’s pioneering and preeminent climate, sustainability, circular economy and ESG leaders, Jill brings extensive expertise in the provision of advice at Board, CEO and Ministerial level, including highly regulated and crisis environments.

Jill joins Deloitte from the Victorian Government, most recently appointed as CEO of the Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery Group to navigate a recycling crisis and oversee broad circular economy reforms to deliver better outcomes for communities and industry. Her experience covers significant commercial and sector initiatives including the largest waste collaborative tender ever undertaken in Victoria (30 metropolitan councils) and the $7 billion tender for a new waste to energy facility in Melbourne’s south east.

A passionate advocate of sustainability and responsible business, who keenly promotes mechanisms which create measurable value and strengthen intangible assets including reputation, brand, trust, and engagement. Her past experience includes Executive and leadership roles in the Victorian Government, Vicinity Centres, REA Group and Telstra.

Jill’s academic qualifications include a Masters in Sustainability Leadership from the University of Cambridge and Executive Business Qualifications from UNSW. She has extensive experience on Boards and Advisory Panels including the Harvard Business Review Advisory Board and was recognized by the Australian Government for her contribution to combating climate change. Jill has served on numerous government Boards and advisory panels including the Royal Botanic Gardens (Victoria), Heathcote Health, the NSW Sustainable Housing Advisory Committee and the Federal Government Working Group for Cyber Security and Safety. In June 2023, Jill was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant contribution to corporate sustainability and the not-for-profit sector.

Session: ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION: Circular business models – building a roadmap for C-suite executives

Marty is the Vice President of Circular Economy Victoria. With a background in new product development working with both corporates and SME’s, he is passionate about leveraging the principles of the circular economy to drive business for good, to deliver a positive impact, for this, and future generations.

Having co-founded and run a circular economy company in Melbourne, he has first-hand experience and practical knowledge of extolling the benefits, as well as overcoming the challenges in applying disruptive circular business models. He now helps business leaders and change-makers progress their organisation’s journey towards circularity through the provision of practical circular economy training and upskilling programs.

Committed to advancing the circular economy in Victoria, he is also an active member of the Steering Committee for Circularity 23, collaborating with industry and host organisations in bringing the peak industry conference to Melbourne in 2023.

Session: Accelerating the global transition to a circular economy

Bronwyn Voyce is the founder of Civic Futures Lab, an impact lab for government, ASX and SME leaders seeking to address climate risk and accelerate the global transition to a circular economy. Flagship projects include the world first “Great Plastic Rescue” a circular solution for banned single-use plastics which saved 16+ million items from landfill; and “Circularity for Climate” (launching later in 2023) which empowers industry to adopt circular principles, models and materials through value-chain collaboration to decarbonise and repair nature.

Bronwyn is the Chair of Circular Australia’s Industry Taskforce and has previously worked on nationally significant projects including the G20, implementing Australia’s first local government Open Government project, City Deals, and leading the Australia American Young Leadership Dialogue.

With a unique background spanning across regional economic and industry development and shaping policies and the regulatory landscape as an elected Local Government Councillor, Advisor, and Board Member, Bronwyn brings invaluable insights to her innovative approach in complex problem-solving and driving transformative systems change.

Session: From waste to worth – transforming waste into valuable and essential products

Session: PANEL DISCUSSION: What I wish I knew – lessons learned by circular economy leaders

Saxon is the founder and CEO of Huskee, a pioneering design company working to eradicate single use packaging through innovative products and systems. They have been awarded a Good Design Award and Planet Ark’s ACE Full Circle award. Huskee creates products from waste and other expired materials and has its own recycling process, HuskeeLoop.

Saxon is heavily involved in the start up community, as a director, advisor and investor, working with many impact driven and tech focused companies. He has also started numerous other businesses over the last 20 years including Pablo & Rusty’s which he still owns - a sustainable coffee roaster that looks to create impact in the coffee industry. He’s a NSW Green Globe award winner and has been a World Barista Coffee judge.

Outside work he is a trail running enthusiast, passionate about regenerative agriculture and spends time working on his farm. He is based in Sydney, Australia.