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Dr Garry McDonald (Executive Officer)

Associate Director, National Centre for Sustainability

Garry is currently focussed on many sustainability education initiatives with a particular passion for the local strategy to embed sustainability into every aspect of Swinburne’s operations, particularly curriculum and workplace/campus .

In his previous recent roles with the Department of Primary Industries, Garry was Research Director, Landscape Systems, Institute Director, Rutherglen Research Institute, and a Research Scientist. With 32 years experience in research and extension, Garry's career has been underpinned by active research in agricultural ecosystems, pest management and entomology.

Ms Grazyna van Egmond

Executive Director, Banksia Environmental Foundation

Grazyna van Egmond has been Executive Director of the Banksia Environmental Foundation since 1998. Since the foundations establishment in 1989 it has aimed to achieving a Sustainable Australia through; recognising and rewarding environmental excellence, promoting best practice principles and contributing to action learning and education.

Before joining Banksia Graz managed the Telstra Small Business Awards, and also inaugurated the Telstra Business Women’s Awards. She has also had various roles in the tourism industry, creating AIME for the Melbourne Visitors and Convention Bureau and handling public relations for the Australian Tourist Commission.

Mrs Maxine Cooper

Director, UrbisJHD Social Planner

Maxine Cooper has more than 25 years experience in social research, community development and planning in a range of organisations in both the private and public sectors. She has specialist skills in social research and social impact assessment and the analysis of community attitudes and values in the context of technical data. Maxine is a VPELA Fellow and recipient of VPELA’s Richard J Evans Award 2007 and a Sessional Member of Planning Panels Victoria.

Prof Peter Newton

Senior Researcher, Faculty of Life & Social Sciences

Professor Peter Newton holds a research appointment in the Cities, Housing and Enviroment Program in the Institute for Social Research at Swinburne University of Technology. Prior to joining Swinburne in December 2006, Peter held the position of Chief Research Scientist at CSIRO, where he led the Urban Systems Program; and since 2001 had been Program Director, Sustainability, in the CRC for Construction Innovation.

Prof Tony Priestly

Water Quality Expert, CSIRO Land & Water

Prof Tony Priestley is a water quality expert and is currently involved in a project relating to long-term strategies for the development of sewerage systems. In particular, he is looking at the technical and economic potential for water recycling and the recovery of energy and nutrients. Prof Priestley is the author of over 30 journal articles and 30 conference papers, as well as 5 patents. Prof Priestley is a member of the Australian Water Association and holds an Adjunct Professorship at RMIT University.

Prof Priestley has won the following awards and prizes: Appointed Adjunct Professor at RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, in 2003 for contributions to their water research. Ian Clunies Ross National Science & Technology Award, 1993. CSIRO medal for research achievement (Jointly with SIROFLOC team, 1989. Humphreys & Glasgow Medal and Prize for achievements while under the age of 35, 1980. Union Carbide Prize for results in 4th year Chemical Engineering, 1967.

Prof Alan Pears

Adjunct Professor RMIT, Director Sustainable Solutions

Alan Pears originally trained in engineering (B.E(Hons)) and education (Dip Ed) at Monash University. In the late 1970s he co-wrote the seminal book Seeds for Change: Creatively confronting the Energy Crisis and became active in the community-based sustainable energy movement. In 1980 he became manager of the Energy Information Centre in Melbourne, and in 1983 became a manager in the Victorian Government Department of Minerals and Energy. Through the 1980s, he worked in various roles in the Victorian Government’s energy agencies and play key roles in development of many innovative programs, including appliance energy labelling and Australia’s first building energy regulations.

Since he left the public sector in 1991, Alan has successfully run the environmental consultancy Sustainable Solutions. Since 2000, he has also taught part-time in the environment program at RMIT University. In 2000, Alan received an award from the Sustainable Energy Industries Association for his lifetime contribution to the industry. In 2003, he was awarded a Centenary Medal for his contribution to climate change policy. He is an Adjunct Professor at RMIT University.

Prof Alan Rodger

Sustainability Consulting, former Dean of Architecture, University of Melbourne

Allan Rodger is Professor Emeritus, The University of Melbourne. He has pioneered two major interrelated issues: Self-Help Housing and Sustainable Settlement, co-convened three (local, national and international) conferences on Self-Help Housing and Earth Architecture, operated the Greenhouse Effect Programme of the International Union of Architects (UIA), established the Sustainable Development of the Built Environment: Road from Rio programme for the UIA, advised the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and drafted the Chicago Declaration of Interdependence for a Sustainable Future - the environmental manifesto of the architecture profession worldwide. He formed and led the winning team in the National Ideas Competition for Ecologically Sustainable Urban Development.

Allan is currently Chairman of the Board of the Habitat Trust. He was previously a Member of the Board of Banksia Environmental Foundation, Chairman of the Australian Club of Rome, and a Foundation Board Member of the CERES project and Greenhouse Action Australia.

Mr Basil Varghese

Education Co-ordinator, CEO, National Education & Employment Foundation

Basil's current role is the CEO of the National Education and Employment Foundation (NEEF), Basil has the privilege of promoting the vision and mission of "Bridging the Gap of those who have and have not" to thousands of people in all sorts of settings: students, teachers, academics, educators, community groups, unions, churches, business groups, bureaucrats and even politicians from the various parties. Basil's strong and ongoing commitment to social justice and his community has made him a leading figure in challenging and changing attitudes to poverty in Australia and internationally.

Ms Debbie Spring

National Manager, Corporate Responsibility and Stakeholder Relations, Australia Post

Debbie is leading the development and implementation of Australia Post’s enterprise-wide Corporate Responsibility Strategy. This strategy, which has been endorsed by the Board, addresses Australia Post’s management of climate change and has seven strategic goals encompassing Australia Post’s environmental footprint, community investment, products and services, supply chain, workforce, stakeholders and governance and reporting. Responsibilities include ensuring that Australia Post complies with environmental legislation; meets its reporting requirements; and production of the Annual Report and the Corporate Responsibility Report.

A committed member of the community Debbie is also apart other boards; Brunswick Industries, Board Member and Deputy Chairperson of not-for-profit organisation providing business services through 60 disabled people. Harvard Club of Australia (Vic), Councillor of an organisation that provides fellowships for managers from the not-for-profit sector to attend Harvard University. Universal Postal Union, Committee Member representing Australia at the Universal Postal Union, an organisation of 191 member counties.

Mr John Molenaar

Director, Manufacturing Learning Victoria

John is the Director at Manufacturing Learning Victoria and Formerly Director, Manufacturing and Engineering Skills Advisory Board. Having worked in the area of industry training for the past twelve years, John's main role has been to provide advice to government on the training needs of manufacturing companies, facilitate manufacturing industries input to the development of related industry training packages, to promote training to companies and to assist them to access this training.

Previous to working with Training Boards, John has worked with a diversity of government and industry areas, in the development of training programs to address emerging skill needs. Prior to this John has worked as a specialist science teacher in Primary and Secondary Schools and as a science consultant to schools. He has also facilitated science related workshops for gifted and talented children and has a keen interested in promoting science as a fun and valuable learning area that provide a diversity of dynamic career options.

Mr. Claudio Senese

Technical Director – AECOM Australia

Claudio is a Technical Director with AECOM Australia, with extensive experience in sustainability strategies, enterprise-wide risk management, and governance and reporting processes, within corporate and government sectors.

Claudio has led teams on major environmental and risk management assessments for major development and strategic projects, across all infrastructure sectors, including transport, energy, telecommunications, ports and utilities. Focusing sustainability into corporate strategy and policy, Claudio has worked with business and governments in developing sustainability frameworks, including the development of corporate environmental management systems, risk management programs and performance reporting processes.

Prior to AECOM, Claudio held senior positions with the Telstra Corporation as head of the company's Corporate Environment group and Risk Management & Insurance group governing operations locally and internationally. Claudio also has a solid regulatory background, as a former principal environmental scientist with the Victorian EPA, involved in policy development, licensing and approvals across major industry sectors.