Ending Plastic Waste Symposium 2024

Join us for the Ending Plastic Waste Symposium 2024!

You are invited to join us for this dynamic and cutting-edge symposium which will showcase the latest science, technology and innovation to tackle plastic waste, and how these can meet the needs of communities, industry and the environment.

The symposium will be delivered in partnership between CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, RMIT University as host of the ARC TREMS Hub, and the newly announced Solving Plastic Waste CRC.

We will be joined by the Hon Ed Husic MP, Minister for Industry and Science, CSIRO’s Director for Environment Dan Metcalfe, and many other key leaders working to address plastic waste.

At last year’s symposium, hundreds of people came together from research, government and industry to spark conversation and innovation to reduce plastic waste.

With plastic use estimated to double by 2040 and negotiations for a UN treaty for plastic pollution underway, the time is now to tackle plastic waste.

As part of the symposium, we’ll cover:

• the life cycle of plastics
• plastics in the environment
• product packaging and design
• recycling and resource recovery
• bioderived and compostable plastics
• circular economy and system perspectives
• international approaches

The Ending Plastic Waste Symposium is being delivered as part of CSIRO’s Ending Plastic Waste Mission which aims to change the way we make, use, recycle and dispose of plastic.

Highlights from Ending Plastic Waste Symposium 2023

Sponsorship packages are also available. Find out more.

We look forward to seeing you in August!

Pricing

• Early Bird Registration - Standard

  Expires 7 July 2024

  $580

• Early Bird Registration - Student and NGO

  Expires 7 July 2024

  $250

• Standard

  From 7 July 2024

  $670

• Student and NGO

  From 7 July 2024

  $320

Dates and Times

Contact

jo.myers@csiro.au

More information

Speakers

The Hon Ed Husic MP, Federal Minister for Industry and Science

The Hon Ed Husic MP is the Federal Minister for Industry and Science and has been the Member for Chifley since 2010.

Since his election in 2010, Mr Husic has held several positions in Labor’s Shadow Ministry, including Employment Services, Human Services, the Digital Economy and the Future of Work. Mr Husic was also Parliamentary Secretary to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Parliamentary Secretary for Broadband.

Before entering Federal Parliament Mr Husic worked in roles spanning the private and public sectors, including as National President of the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union and at Integral Energy (now Endeavour Energy).

Mr Husic was raised and educated in Western Sydney, a community he is proud to represent in Parliament.

Dr Dan Metcalfe, Director for Environment, CSIRO

Dr Dan Metcalfe is the Director for Environment at CSIRO which delivers impact-driven science across all states and territories. Dan brings a strong record in science leadership that spans the broad domain of environmental research, deep networks across the innovation system, as well as successful stakeholder management at all levels.

Dr Leonie Walsh, Interim Chair, Solving Plastic Waste CRC

Dr Leonie Walsh is the Interim Chair of the Solving Plastic Waste CRC. Leonie is an experienced leader and adviser in technology innovation and commercialisation with more than 30 years of experience both locally and internationally in roles across broad sectors of the plastics value chain including Dow Chemical, Visy, Paintback and the EPA. Following on from a recent role as Victorian Lead Scientist, Leonie’s more recent experience is working at the interface of industry, government and academia across clean technologies, education, and defence.

Professor Sujeeva Setunge, Associate Deputy-Vice Chancellor Research and Innovation for Science, Engineering and Health, RMIT University

Professor Sujeeva Setunge is the Associate Deputy-Vice Chancellor, Research and Innovation for Science, Engineering and Health at RMIT University in Melbourne. Professor Setunge is the Director of the Australian Research Council-funded Industrial Transformation Research Hub, transforming reclaimed waste resources to engineered materials and solutions for a circular economy (TREMS). This is a $21m partnership between industry, government, and academia. She leads multiple research projects in collaboration with industry and government to progress to net zero for civil infrastructure incorporating circular economy, asset management and digital transformation. Professor Setunge is a fellow of Engineers Australia and a chartered professional engineer.

Chris Foley, CEO, Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation

Chris Foley is the CEO of the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO). He leads strategies that unite Australian businesses, governments and industries towards the common goal of a circular economy for packaging. Chris has expertise in product stewardship, sustainable packaging, plastic and waste.
 

Kate Noble, Senior Manager, Oceans Policy, WWF-Australia

Kate Noble is the Senior Manager, Oceans Policy at WWF-Australia. She oversees WWF's No Plastics in Nature initiative in Australia, which works to eliminate unnecessary and problematic plastics, transition to a circular economy for plastics, and help to drive regional and international action to reduce plastic consumption and pollution. Kate has worked on a range of social and environmental policy issues, with a focus on evidence-driven policy and designing research to address policy gaps. Prior to joining WWF she led governance and human rights policy at the BBC’s international development charity and worked on plastic pollution policy in the Victorian Parliament.

Find out more about the symposium program and our speakers

We are aiming for this event to be free of single-use plastics. We encourage you to please bring your reusable water bottles and coffee cups.

Find out more

• Event webpage