Industrial Ecology Day Webinars - Where to next for Australia's circular economy?

Session 1: Circular Economy Framework: how to achieve a circular economy and low carbon strategies

Friday 21 November
1.00pm to 2.00pm AEDT
Online via Teams

Australia is embarking on an ambitious transformation to become a carbon neutral and circular economy.

With a legislated net-zero target and the recent release of the national Circular Economy Framework, the country is now seeking to make its economy future-proof by aligning human wellbeing with ecological integrity.

This session will explore the critical insight that the limiting factor for future prosperity is no longer capital or labour, but the availability of natural resources and the capacity of ecosystems to absorb waste and emissions. This session will examine:

• The national journey towards net-zero and circularity, including policy signals, sectoral shifts, and the role of Australia's new Circular Economy Framework;
• Transformations in cities, industry, land use and energy systems that are helping to decouple prosperity from environmental harm;
• The cultural, institutional, and governance shifts to build a more regenerative, inclusive economy;
• New data, modelling and decision-support tools to inform policy, investment and innovation; and
• The challenge, and opportunities of new ways of designing, producing and consuming to achieve circular and low-carbon strategies.

Join us for a forward-looking discussion on where to next for Australia's circular economy, and how industrial ecology can help shape the pathways to a fairer, more sustainable future.

Facilitator: Dr Heinz Schandl

Speakers for panel discussion:
Dr Deborah Lau, Research Director, Industry Environments, CSIRO Environment
Ms Gayle Sloan, CEO, Waste Management & Resource Recovery (WMRR) Association Australia
Mr John Gertsakis, Director, Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence
Ms Jodie Bricout, Design Director, Circular Economy, Aurecon Group
Ms Gwyneth Elsum, Director, Customers & Partnerships, Sustainability Victoria

Session 2: Industrial Ecology in Australia: A stocktake and a way forward

Friday 21 November 2025
2.15pm to 3.15pm AEDT
Online via Teams

Australian researchers have made globally significant contributions to the field of Industrial Ecology, advancing core methods such as input-output analysis, material flow accounting, life cycle assessment and industrial symbiosis, and applying these methods to inform international policy.

Recognising the important role of Industrial Ecology will help address growing sustainability challenges. This session offers a timely stocktake of Industrial Ecology in Australia. This panel discussion will:

• Highlight key research contributions and areas of international leadership;
• Explore the national and regional impact of Industrial Ecology-informed work;
• Map the current institutional, disciplinary, and educational landscape; and
• Identify opportunities to strengthen Industrial Ecology as a recognised and coordinated field in Australia across research, teaching, and policy engagement.

Join us for a reflective and forward-looking discussion on how to support better and connect Australia's Industrial Ecology community and maximise its contribution to urgent sustainability transitions.

Facilitator: Dr Alessio Miatto

Speakers for panel discussion:
Dr Richard Wood, Newcastle University, NSW and chief editor of the Journal of Industrial Ecology
Prof Lynette Cheah, University of the Sunshine Coast, QLD
Prof Xuemei Bai, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, ACT
Dr Simran Talwar, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney, NSW
Dr Atiq Zaman, Curtin University, Perth, WA

Pricing

• Free

Dates and Times

Showing 3 of 3 dates for this event.
Dates available from 21 Nov 2025 until 21 Nov 2025

Contact

Natasha Porter

More information

Online registration closes 3.15pm AEDT, Friday 21 November 2025.