On Wednesday 18 November the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering will release our major report, Towards a Waste Free Future.
The report will showcase how technology can transform the waste and resource-recovery sector in Australia, and support the transition towards a thriving circular economy.
To celebrate, you’re invited to a FREE webinar with some of Australia’s leading waste experts to explore the exciting findings of the report. The webinar is open to all interested people.
Funded by the Australian Research Council and drawing on deep expertise across the tech, recycling and waste sectors, Towards a Waste Free Future is the third and final report in ATSE’s technology readiness series. It lays out a pathway to a tech-enabled thriving waste-free economy, completely rethinking how we approach Australia’s annual 67 million tonnes of waste.
Join us to hear how new technologies can be deployed to prolong the life, improve the functionality and build the life-long value of products, components and materials – building new industries and turning today’s rubbish into tomorrow’s resource.
Find out more about the waste and resource recovery project.
Meet our presenters
Kylie Walker
Kylie Walker is CEO of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE) and Chair of the Australian National Commission for UNESCO.
She specialises in connecting technologists, engineers and scientists with governments, business, media and society – skills built over many years in senior federal communication and advocacy roles in the science, technology and health sectors.
As the immediate past CEO of Science & Technology Australia, Kylie led campaigns to increase investment in Australian research and development, and created the acclaimed Superstars of STEM program, championing Australian women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
She’s also been a Press Gallery journalist for Australian Associated Press and the ABC, and is a visiting Fellow at the Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science (CPAS)
Dr Susan Pond AM FTSE
Professor Pond is a scientist and technologist active in business and academia, and is recognised for her contributions to medicine, biotechnology, renewable energy and sustainability. She is currently Chair of the NSW Smart Sensing Network and was previously the Director of the University of Sydney Nano Institute.
Professor Pond is a Member of the Order of Australia, and in 2013 was named as one of AFR’s Top 100 Women of Influence. She is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Phillip Butler FTSE
Phillip Butler is Founder and Chairman of Textor Technologies, an innovative healthcare and hygiene textiles manufacturer. The family-owned SME collaborates with Australian research institutes and takes world-class innovation into global supply chains.
Phillip Butler is a member of the Strategic Advisory Committee of the CSIRO Manufacturing Division, and of the Advisory Board for the Centre for Transformative Innovation at Swinburne University. Phillip has been the Chair of the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Industries Innovation Council; a member of the Prime Minister’s Manufacturing Taskforce; a member of the National Place Based Advisory Group (Department of Human Services); Deputy Chair of the National Precinct Board; and Chair of the Innovative Manufacturing CRC.
Professor Veena Sahajwalla FTSE FAA
Professor Veena Sahajwalla is an innovative engineer producing a new generation of green materials and products made entirely, or primarily, from waste.
Veena leads research on sustainable materials processing as founding Director of the Centre for Sustainable Materials Research & Technology (SMaRT Centre) at UNSW. Veena also heads the ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub for ‘green manufacturing’ – a leading national research centre that works in collaboration with industry to ensure new science is translated into real world environmental and economic benefits.
Veena pioneered the high temperature transformation of waste in the production of a new generation of ‘green materials.’ In 2018 Veena launched the world’s first e-waste microfactory and in 2019 she launched her plastics microfactory.
Professor Murray Scott FTSE
Professor Scott is recognised internationally as a leading Aerospace Engineering expert with outstanding research and innovation achievements in advanced composite materials. Professor Scott represents Australia on the International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences and International Committee on Composite Materials. Professor Scott is currently the chair of the R&D committee for paint stewardship organization PaintBack.
As Chief Executive Officer of the Cooperative Research Centre for Advanced Composite Structures for 13 years, Murray led an industry-focussed research program involving over 100 researchers from 35 organisations with a budget of $17 million a year.
Ms Gayle Sloan
Gayle is an arts and law graduate from the University of Adelaide. Gayle spent many years working for the NSW Attorney General’s Department before moving into the Attorney General’s Ministerial Office in 1998, and then the NSW Police Minister’s Office in 2000. Following this time in state government, Gayle worked as a Director in a number of NSW councils, primarily looking after service delivery and assets.
She developed and delivered a number of waste management contracts on behalf of councils, as well as managing environment and regulatory departments, including rangers and compliance officers. After three years of being a stay-at-home mum, Gayle returned to work in 2012 at Visy. In November 2016, Gayle joined WMRR as Chief Executive Officer.
Professor Damien Giurco
Professor Damien Giurco is Deputy Director (Engagement) at the Institute for Sustainable Futures.
Focusing on responsible prosperity, Damien works collaboratively with government and industry across the minerals, water, waste and energy sectors on strategy and policy. Damien is currently Editor-in-chief for the journal Resources, and chairs the advisory group for Ewaste Watch. Damien also leads a theme on Battery Supply Chain Integrity within the Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre.