10 - 11 March 2026 | MELBOURNE | Pullman Albert Park

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THE FUTURE OF SUSTAINABILITY STARTS HERE

Leadership for a Greener Future

The world of sustainability is evolving at an unprecedented pace, presenting both new challenges and opportunities for driving impact alongside business growth. In an era defined by climate urgency, resource scarcity, and shifting stakeholder expectations, leaders must remain agile, while purpose-driven to navigate this complex landscape.

Forging a greener, more equitable future starts at the 6th annual Sustainability Leaders 2026. Join this event for 2 transformative days of thought-provoking discussions, actionable insights, and cutting-edge solutions shaping the future of sustainable business. With strategy, collaboration, and innovation at its core, this event is designed to equip leaders with the tools, skills and partnerships needed to align profit with purpose all while delivering on key environmental, social, and economic priorities.

Make Sustainability Leaders 2026 your ultimate catalyst for radical transformation and long-term value creation for your business.

2026 Speakers

Andrew Savage

Founding Team & VP of Sustainability

Lime (USA)
INTERNATIONAL

Andrew is an experienced leader at the intersection of business, government, and sustainability. Part of the founding team at Lime, he led new market development, government relations and
policy strategy through its global growth. He now leads sustainability at Lime.

Prior, Andrew served on the executive team of an Inc. 500 solar company and served on the Board of Directors to the Solar Energy Industry Association, representing the 1,000+ businesses
in the U.S. solar industry. He previously worked in the U.S. Congress and on President Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. He is a graduate of Middlebury College summa cum laude, mentor at Harvard’s iLab, and advisor to impact start-ups

Anne-Laure Descours

Sustainability Advisor & Fmr Chief Sourcing Officer

Puma (HK)
INTERNATIONAL

Simon Lowden

Chief Group Public Affairs, Communication & Sustainability Officer

Woolworths Group
Simon was appointed Chief Officer of Group Affairs, Communications and Sustainability in March 2025, bringing together internal and external communications, public policy, government relations and sustainability. Prior to this appointment, Simon was Chief Sustainability Officer since July 2024.
Before joining Woolworths Group, Simon was Chief Transformation Officer at Arnotts for four years. Prior to this, Simon spent two decades at PepsiCo holding a number of senior executive commercial roles including Chief Sustainability Officer, Global President PepsiCo Snacks and Chief Marketing Officer PepsiCo North America. Simon holds a First Class Hons BSc from Kings College London.

Brigadier Tim Symonds OBE

Head Climate Change and Sustainability

British Army (UK)
INTERNATIONAL

Brigadier Tim attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and commissioned into the Royal Logistic Corps in 1999. Deployments have included management of helicopter handling operations in Macedonia, port activation in Iraq and three tours of Afghanistan (as a Planner, a Combat Logistic Patrol Commander, and the Deputy Chief of Staff of Task Force Helmand).

In more recent strategic leadership appointments, he has focused on organisational and cultural change in various roles in Army Headquarters and in the MOD Main Building in London. His current role is Head of Climate Change and Sustainability for the British Army.

He is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. He has an MA from Kings College London and is currently enrolled on the postgraduate programme at the Cambridge Institute for Sustainable Leadership.

Fiona Messent

Chief Sustainability Officer

Qantas

Dirk Voeste

Chief Sustainability Officer

Volkswagen Group (DE)
INTERNATIONAL

Megan Born

Head of Sustainability

Canva

Megan is Head of Sustainability at Canva, where she leads sustainability initiatives across Canva’s worldwide cloud, print and operations. In this role, she is responsible for shaping and executing Canva’s sustainability strategy, overseeing impactful programs, and driving the company towards its sustainability goals.

Before joining Canva, Megan spent 12 years in climate change and energy management consulting. Megan holds a master’s degree in data science as well as bachelor degrees in engineering and mathematics, and is one of Science & Technology Australia’s Superstars of STEM.

David Young

Director of Sustainability

Accor

Currently the Director of Sustainability for Accor Pacific the largest hotel operator in the Pacific David drives the strategic sustainability actions at over 400 hotels in Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. He has had an extensive senior career in the travel and hospitality industries with companies including EY, Qantas , Air New Zealand and the oneworld alliance.  A Fellow of Chartered Accountants ANZ and a graduate Australian Institute of Company Directors his governance experience includes Non Executive Director roles at YHA Australia where he Chairs the Board ESG Committee and with Eco Tourism Australia, BGF Foundation and the  IATA Sustainability Council. He is a former Chair and President of the International Travel Catering Association and was awarded the global Industry Champion Award in 2023 by Onboard Hospitality. 

Richard Pittard

Chief Sustainability Officer

Australia Post

Richard is the Chief Sustainability Officer at Australis Post; a government business enterprise that plays a critical role connecting communities across Australia. Leading the team responsible for developing and embedding the sustainability strategy, Richard drives the integration of sustainability priorities within the enterprise strategy to achieve lasting change.

With over 26 years’ experience dedicated to sustainability, climate change and environment, Richard’s background spans various roles in listed organisations, professional services as well as industrial and consumer product sectors.

Richard is a passionate believer that integrating sustainability values and principles into business strategy is essential to creating long-term value and resilience.

Fiona Walmsley

GM Sustainability

Virgin Australia

Ben Fargher

Group Sustainability Lead, Cargill Agricultural & Trading, APAC

Cargill

Ben Fargher is the Lead for Sustainability in Cargill’s Ag and Trading business in Asia. In this role he is responsible for a customer focused sustainability portfolio, including sustainability and decarbonization programs in row crops and tropical oils. Ben is also the Country Representative for Cargill in Australia.

Ben returned to Australia from living in the United States in 2022, where he held various commercial and sustainability Managing Director roles in Cargill’s North American grain and oilseed supply chain business over several years. Prior to that Ben was the General Manager for customers and grain origination in the Cargill Australia grain and oilseed business.

Before Cargill, Ben worked as the General Manager of Operations for a publicly listed cotton and grain agribusiness. He was also previously the Chief Executive Officer of the national farm lobby group in Australia, the National Farmers’ Federation.

Ben, who grew up on a farm in Australia, has a Bachelor of Agricultural Science from the University of Adelaide and a Masters degree in Economics from the University of New England.

Bill Heague

General Manager

Mars Food & Nutrition Australia
JUST ANNOUNCED

Bill has been General Manager of Mars Food & Nutrition Australia – the producer of iconic brands loved by consumers across Australia including Masterfoods, Ben’s Original, Dolmio and Kantong – since 2019. He is a passionate advocate of sustainable solutions in business and currently chairs Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia, an industry-led initiative working towards building a circular economy for soft plastic waste.

Bill has had a long career at Mars, joining the company in 2008 and holding various key roles across the business in markets including the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Ireland. He previously worked in a number of sales roles across a range of companies in the FMCG sector.

Rita Nehme

Head of Sustainability

AFL - Australian Football League

Fiona Baxter

Group Head of Sustainability

The a2 Milk Company

Siobhan Leach

Group Sustainability Officer

Ramsay Health Care

Sarah Clarke

Group General Manager, Sustainability

Mirvac

Sarah steers Australian property company Mirvac’s globally-recognised ESG strategy, This Changes Everything, and was ranked in the 2023 and 2024 Financial Standard ESG Power 50.

Mirvac’s ESG recognition includes eliminating scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions, being top rated by Sustainalytics in 2025, acknowledged by Good Company as one of the best workplaces (ranked #3 in 2024), and named one of Australia’s leading community givers in the 2024 AFR GivingLarge report.

Beyond Mirvac, Sarah is the Deputy Chair of Cladding Safety Victoria, an AU$600m program to reduce the risk of combustible cladding, and Chaired Homes Victoria’s $5b+ investment in social housing until 2025.

She has been an executive leader across multiple sectors, industries, and jurisdictions, including property, oil and gas, energy, transport, carbon sequestration, and social policy.

Sarah received a Master of Arts (Professional & Applied Ethics) from the University of Melbourne, is a graduate of the McKinsey Executive Leadership program, the Prince of Wales Business & Sustainability Leadership program from the University of Cambridge, and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons, English) from James Cook University.

Alison Knoblauch

Climate & Environment Senior Sustainability Specialist

Telstra

Alison is a Senior Sustainability Specialist for Climate & Environment at Telstra. She holds responsibility for Telstra’s nature and biodiversity strategy, and shaping the role of Telstra’s technology, data and connectivity solutions for climate and nature action. Alison is passionate about bringing business and industry together with diverse views, perspectives and resources to learn from each other and tackle big problems together to accelerate climate & nature action.

Alison has a background in environmental management and corporate strategy, risk and governance. She holds a Master of Business (Sustainability), a Bachelor of Engineering (Environment) and Bachelor of Science.

Andrew Buay

Vice President, Group Corporate Sustainability

Singtel

Andrew is Vice President of SingTel’s Group Corporate Sustainability and was previously concurrent Vice President of Sustainability at Opus between 2015 and 2025. He has been responsible for setting up and supporting the Singtel Group’s Board Sustainability Committee and currently sits on the Industry Sustainability Advisory Committee for the Singapore Institute of Technology. Andrew previously served on the Singapore National Council of Social Services 4ST Strategic Committee helping to shape the strategic roadmap for the Singapore social services sector. He is an accredited leadership coach and had coached 180 of the Group’s talent and leadership over the past decade. He is an accredited director with the Singapore Institute of Directors. In 2025, Andrew was named No 1 Sustainability Leader in Telco by the Impact Leadership Magazine. 

Paolo Bevilacqua

Group Head of Sustainability

Frasers Property

Paolo is Group Head of Sustainability at Frasers Property, overseeing its sustainability strategy across its multinational and multi-asset class portfolio in 20 countries. He has delivered industry leading programmes and solutions at both project and organisational levels across real estate and energy sectors in multiple markets.

Prior to his current role, Paolo was the founding General Manager and Chair of Real Utilities, a green energy retailer and utilities business of Frasers Property. Before joining Frasers Property, Paolo held various sustainability and renewable energy roles at Lendlease.

With two decades of experience in the real estate sector, Paolo’s sustainability leadership credentials include serving as former Vice Chair of the International Living Future Institute and former Chair of the Property Council of Australia’s National Sustainability Roundtable.

Margaret Stuart

Public Affairs

Nestle

Euan Ronald

Head of Sustainability

Ampol

Justin Merrell

Group Sustainability Director

Lion

Justin is the Sustainability Director at Lion and responsible for setting Lion’s sustainability strategy focusing on environmental leadership, long-term positive social impact and strengthening governance. Prior to Lion, Justin held various roles in Qantas for 6 years, he was Operations Manager at the Koppers chemical plant in Kurnell for 11 years. Justin has a Chemical Engineering Degree and Master of Environmental Management. 

Hollie Hynes

General Manager – Sustainability and Environment

Laing O'Rourke

Sally Townsend

Head of Sustainability

Blackmores Group

Fiona Lawrie

Head of ESG & Corporate Affairs

Officeworks

Fiona Lawrie is Head of Sustainability, Product Safety and Corporate Affairs 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 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. 

Sara King

General Manager of Purpose

Intrepid Travel

Sara King is Intrepid’s General Manager of Purpose and is responsible for delivering the company’s environmental, social and governance commitments, including as a signatory to the UN Global Compact and a certified B Corp. Her remit includes Reconciliation, Modern Slavery, climate change, gender equality, animal welfare and the Intrepid Foundation.  

Prior to joining Intrepid, Sara held a number of roles at the International Finance Corporation, which is a member of the World Bank Group, including a posting to Vanuatu where she delivered a national investment incentive scheme for tourism to promote collaboration, innovation, and sustainability. Sara holds a Master’s in International Relations and Affairs from Macquarie University and a Graduate Certificate of Management from the UNSW Business School.  

Dr Lissa van Camp

Executive General Manager, Land, Planning, Environment & Sustainability

Suburban Rail Loop Authority

For the past 20 years, Dr Lissa van Camp has worked to ensure that some of our nation’s most complex mega infrastructure projects have appropriately considered sustainability, environmental and social outcomes.

Lissa joined Suburban Rail Loop Authority in 2020 and leads the team responsible for developing Victoria’s first fully interactive digital Environment Effects Statement – a ground-breaking and innovative piece of work that has secured the necessary approvals to build the rail infrastructure for Melbourne’s Suburban Rail Loop.

Lissa is now spearheading an unprecedented urban planning program, leading the precinct structure planning that will ensure the delivery of SRL as a rail line, while also providing for well serviced communities and more homes that will support Melbourne’s growth.

As a highly accomplished and trusted expert, Lissa provides technical advice and leadership across major infrastructure project approvals, managing complex stakeholder relationships to cultivate a collaborative, transparent and delivery-focused project culture.

Lissa has a broad range of experiences, having started her career in academia before moving into consulting where she worked on flagship infrastructure projects, ranging from channel deepening, flood mitigation and regional road and rail projects to nuclear waste storage facilities.

Lissa holds a PhD in marine molecular sciences from Flinders University in South Australia, and a Bachelor of Science with Honours from James Cook University in Queensland.

Lissa’s accomplishments include serving on the Board of the Committee for Adelaide, investigating South Australia’s opportunity to participate in the Royal Commission into the nuclear fuel cycle. She is a trusted and respected leader who has provided expert briefings to the Prime Minister, state premiers, federal and state treasurers and ministers.

Amy Hogan

Executive Manager - Group Sustainability & Climate Action

IAG

Sally Mangan

Fmr Senior Sustainability Manager

SEEK

Sally is the Group Senior Sustainability Manager for the global employment marketplace provider SEEK. SEEK provides operates market-leading online employment marketplaces in Australia, New Zealand and across South East Asia.

SEEK’s core business has a strong positive impact on people, businesses and communities. To maximise that impact, SEEK focuses on its daily activities to facilitate the quality matching of people and organisations. Beyond its core business, SEEK focuses on a range of sustainability activities including fair hiring and modern slavery, social impact programs such as SEEK Volunteer, data and insights to support policy development, our community partnerships, workplace giving program and SEEK’s First Nations Reconciliation Strategy, as well as delivering on its climate commitments.

Sally is responsible for driving SEEK’s social and environmental priorities across its APAC operations. She is an experienced sustainability and change professional and passionate about creating value and making a difference.  Sally has significant experience across various industries with a background in management consulting, global resources, healthcare and technology and has managed major organisational transformations projects as both a functional lead and change manager in the private and public sector.

Meredith Read

Head of Sustainability

Orica

Meredith Read is currently Head of Sustainability at Orica, leading the company’s global sustainability efforts across decarbonisation and climate change, social performance, governance and reporting. With nearly 20 years experience in process engineering, manufacturing and technology, and more recently in sustainability, Meredith brings deep technical insights and a passion to deliver practical, science-based climate and sustainability solutions for emissions intensive and hard-to-abate sectors, while also supporting the broader transition towards net zero.

During her time at Orica, Meredith has held a series of senior roles focused on advancing sustainability strategy, most recently overseeing key elements of the organisation’s decarbonisation program and climate response. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Science from the University of Melbourne.

Meredith’s collaborative, systems-level approach has made her a trusted leader in navigating complex industrial challenges with a strong focus on impact, innovation and integrity.

Belinda Keeffe

Group Head of Sustainability

Asahi Beverages

Belinda Keeffe has built a career spanning professional services, corporate, and not-for-profit sectors, with a focus on strategy, performance, and social impact. She has held senior leadership roles across health, disability, and aged care portfolios, leading cross-functional teams and forging strategic partnerships to drive systemic change.   Currently, as Head of Sustainability at Asahi Beverages, Belinda leads the company’s efforts to embed sustainability at the core of its business strategy—advancing climate action, circularity, and social value. She brings a pragmatic, purpose-driven approach to aligning commercial ambition with long-term environmental and social outcomes.

Cameron Brimelow

Manager Sustainability

Toyota Australia

Renea Robson

Sustainability Manager

IKEA Australia & New Zealand

Connor McCauley

Head of Sustainability - Australia & New Zealand

JLL

As the Head of Sustainability at JLL, he is a member of the executive leadership team for JLL’s Australasian business. He is dedicated to expanding our sustainability services in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) across all business segments, helping clients set and realise their sustainability ambitions. He is frequently quoted in the media and regularly presents at industry conferences and events hosted by esteemed organisations such as the Property Council of Australia, Quest Events, and ULI Australia.

His key focus is ensuring that our clients understand the current and emerging ESG trends, regulation and strategies that can impact their real estate operations and investments. In his previous role as Operations Director for JLL’s APAC sustainability consulting division, Connor was instrumental in steering the operations, team management, and strategic growth in key markets including Singapore, China, India, and Southeast Asia. He is a staunch advocate for collective action in the real estate sector and invests in nurturing emerging talent, particularly in the realm of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) matters.

Connor’s extensive background encompasses providing consulting and advisory services to preeminent real estate firms and investors globally, with a client roster that features Nuveen, Aviva Investors, Aberdeen Standard Investments, Lendlease, Goodman, The GPT Group, and Charter Hall. Moreover, his expertise benefits a wide array of entities, from pension funds to banks and retail conglomerates.

As an active member of JLL’s Australasian Executive Committee, Connor is committed to aligning JLL’s employees and clients with the company’s purpose of shaping the future of real estate for a better world. Additionally, he serves as the Chair of JLL’s RAP Working Group and Indigenous Business Resource Group, further emphasising his dedication to advancing sustainability and fostering collaboration in the areas of indigenous business and reconciliation.

Michael Anderson

General Manager, Sustainability

Graincorp

Stephen Smith

Executive GM - Safety, Wellbeing and Sustainability

NBN Co

Stephen Smith is the Executive General Manager of Safety, Wellbeing and Sustainability at NBN Co, with over 20 years of experience across international markets in real assets and infrastructure. A senior executive and people leader, Stephen drives business outcomes, resilience, and organisational excellence across Health, Safety, Wellbeing, Environment, Quality, and Sustainability portfolios.

He is a professional Engineer, a Certified Environmental Practitioner (CEnvP), and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA). Stephen has held influential roles in global networks including the IOSH Global Business Leaders Forum, World Green Building Council Corporate Advisory Board, BCO ESG Committee, and UK Green Building Council Leaders Network. He was also a founding member of Building Responsibly, advocating for worker rights in engineering and construction.

Penny Barker

General Manager Sustainability

Stockland 

Fiona Murfitt

VP, Sustainability (HSE, Risk and Social Responsibility)

Evolution Mining

Maria Helena Meinert

Director, Sustainability

Cochlear

Gigi Yuen

Head of Sustainability and Environment

Melbourne Airport

Gigi Yuen is the Head of Environment and Sustainability at Melbourne and Launceston Airports, where she leads the transformation of airport operations toward a low‑carbon future. With a deep passion for electrification, automation, and sustainable materials, Gigi drives practical climate action across complex operational environments.

Under her leadership, both airports have achieved net zero Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 2025, supported by initiatives in energy transition, electrification of ground fleets, and sustainable infrastructure development. She is pragmatic in her approach to climate solutions, ensuring sustainability is seamlessly integrated into the day‑to‑day realities of airport operations, balancing innovation with practical implementation to deliver measurable environmental impact.

Tiffany Crawford

Director City Design

City of Melbourne

Tiffany Crawford is Director City Design and Co-Chief Heat Officer at City of Melbourne. In her role as CHO she focuses specifically on heat resilience and protecting and improving the lives of Melburnians in a changing climate. Tiffany also has extensive experience as Director Climate Change and City Resilience for the City.

Tiffany has degrees in Law and Arts from Monash University and an Executive Masters in Public Administration from the University of Melbourne. She has worked in both the public and private sectors, in both USA and Australia. Tiffany has broad experience in litigation, tax and business advocacy, and public policy and strategic implementation. Tiffany has contributed to many of the City’s innovative and world renowned initiatives in urban greening, climate change mitigation, urban nature, adaptation and resilience, environmental finance, the Sustainable Development Goals and infrastructure provision.

Vanessa Shepherd

Director, Group Sustainability

Aristocrat

Cara Turnley

Sustainability Reporting, Risk & Governance Manager

Toll Group

Cara Turnley is Manager of Sustainability Reporting, Risk & Governance at Toll Group, where she leads ESG reporting, assurance readiness, and integration of climate and sustainability risks into investment decisions. With a Chartered Accountancy background, she combines financial expertise with a strong focus on decarbonisation, data governance and risk management. Cara is passionate about helping organisations translate sustainability commitments into measurable action and transparent disclosure.

Dr Sheila Nguyen

Former Head of Sustainability ANZ, FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 | Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer, Sports Environment Alliance

EVENT CHAIR

David Akers

Chair, AIRA ESG & Sustainability Committee | Director, Wolf Ridge Advisory | GM, Investor Relations, MYER

STREAM CHAIR

Susan Mizrahi

GM, Sustainability, Allianz Australia | Non Executive Director, UN Global Compact Network Australia

STREAM CHAIR
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Content by leaders, for leaders

Our content is expertly researched and curated with insights from Connect Media’s network of industry specialists. Timely and tailored, it sparks innovation, tackles key industry challenges, and provides the skills and tools for future business success.

Agenda

Day 1 Wednesday, 11 March 2026
8:30 AM
Registration, Refreshments & Networking
9:00 AM
Welcome To Country
9:05 AM
Opening Remarks from the Chair

Dr Sheila Nguyen

Former Head of Sustainability ANZ, FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 | Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer, Sports Environment Alliance

9:15 AM
Opening Keynote

Embedding Sustainability Where It Matters Most: Lessons from High-Volume, Consumer-Facing Operations

Simon Lowden

Chief Group Public Affairs, Communication & Sustainability Officer

Woolworths Group
9:40 AM
Event Partner Keynote
10:05 AM
Outlook Session

The CSO Imperative: Leading Through Uncertainty

  • What are the biggest challenges currently facing CSOs today?
  • How are leaders turning sustainability challenges into opportunities for innovation and growth?
  • How are leaders staying true to their business and sustainability commitments amongst global instability?

Paolo Bevilacqua

Group Head of Sustainability

Frasers Property

Margaret Stuart

Public Affairs

Nestle

Fiona Walmsley

GM Sustainability

Virgin Australia

Richard Pittard

Chief Sustainability Officer

Australia Post
10:45 AM
Revolutionary Global Keynote

Optimising the Energy Technology Revolution for Competitive Advantage

Brigadier Tim Symonds OBE

Head Climate Change and Sustainability

British Army (UK)
11:10 AM
Morning Refreshments & Networking
11:55 AM
Breakout 1: Financing the Future
Breakout 2: Conservation & Adaption
11:55 AM
Breakout Partner Keynote
Breakout Partner Keynote
12:15 PM
Breakout Keynote + Q&A

Ben Fargher

Group Sustainability Lead, Cargill Agricultural & Trading, APAC

Cargill
Breakout Keynote + Q&A

Sarah Clarke

Group General Manager, Sustainability

Mirvac
12:40 PM
Keynote
Keynote
1:05 PM
Lunch & Networking
2:05 PM
Silver Partner Keynote
Silver Partner Keynote
2:45 PM
Finance

Financing the Future: Unlocking Opportunities in Green & Blue Economies

  • How are leaders approaching nature and the interdependence between nature and the financial system today?
  • What are the most promising investment opportunities in sustainability currently and how can businesses balance profit with impact?
  • What innovative financing tools are currently driving sustainability projects, and how can businesses access them?

Meredith Read

Head of Sustainability

Orica

Tiffany Crawford

Director City Design

City of Melbourne

Sara King

General Manager of Purpose

Intrepid Travel
Adaption & Resilience

From Risk to Renewal: Unlocking Climate-Resilient Business

  • What are the most pressing climate risks facing businesses today, and how are companies integrating climate adaptation into their long-term strategies?
  • How can leaders leverage nature-based solutions to enhance resilience while addressing climate risks?
  • How can we move beyond adaptation to embrace regenerative practices that not only build resilience but restore ecosystems and communities?
  • What bold steps can businesses take today to future-proof their operations and supply chains against climate risks?

Hollie Hynes

General Manager – Sustainability and Environment

Laing O'Rourke

Justin Merrell

Group Sustainability Director

Lion

Cameron Brimelow

Manager Sustainability

Toyota Australia
3:05 PM
Keynote

David Young

Director of Sustainability

Accor
Keynote

Andrew Buay

Vice President, Group Corporate Sustainability

Singtel
3:25 PM
Afternoon Refreshments & Networking
4:05 PM
Chair: 5 min chat about streams among the table
4:10 PM
Platinum 1 Keynote
4:30 PM
Nature Solutions Session

The Nature-Business Nexus: Integrating Biodiversity with Sustainability Strategy

  • How can CSOs best align their business strategies with biodiversity frameworks to contribute meaningfully to global environmental objectives?
  • What are the most effective ways for leaders to integrate nature-based solutions into their operations, supply chains, and overall corporate strategy?
  • How can leaders measure and report their impact on biodiversity, and what metrics or frameworks are most useful for demonstrating progress to stakeholders and investors?

Sally Townsend

Head of Sustainability

Blackmores Group

Michael Anderson

General Manager, Sustainability

Graincorp

Alison Knoblauch

Climate & Environment Senior Sustainability Specialist

Telstra

Bill Heague

General Manager

Mars Food & Nutrition Australia
5:10 PM
Closing International Keynote

From Supply Chain to Social Impact: Driving Change Through Transparency and Innovation

Anne-Laure Descours

Sustainability Advisor & Fmr Chief Sourcing Officer

Puma (HK)
5:35 PM
Closing Remarks from the Chair

Dr Sheila Nguyen

Former Head of Sustainability ANZ, FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 | Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer, Sports Environment Alliance

5:40 PM
Networking Drinks Remarks
5:50 PM
Networking Drinks Reception
6:50 PM
Close of Day One
Day 2 Wednesday, 11 March 2026
9:00 AM
Registration, Refreshments & Networking
9:15 AM
Opening Remarks from the Chair

Dr Sheila Nguyen

Former Head of Sustainability ANZ, FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 | Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer, Sports Environment Alliance

9:20 AM
Innovator Interview

Andrew Savage

Founding Team & VP of Sustainability

Lime (USA)
9:45 AM
Social Sustainability Session

Beyond Green: Delivering Social Sustainability Through Business Leadership

  • How can businesses align profit and purpose to drive meaningful social impact?
  • What strategies can businesses use to engage local communities and create shared value through social sustainability initiatives?
  • How can businesses integrate human rights due diligence into their core strategies, and
  • What frameworks or tools have proven most effective?
  • What advice would you give to leaders looking to bridge silos in the ‘E’ ‘S’ and ‘G’ in ESG?

Fiona Lawrie

Head of ESG & Corporate Affairs

Officeworks

Rita Nehme

Head of Sustainability

AFL - Australian Football League

Penny Barker

General Manager Sustainability

Stockland 

Amy Hogan

Executive Manager - Group Sustainability & Climate Action

IAG

Sally Mangan

Fmr Senior Sustainability Manager

SEEK
10:25 AM
Diamond Keynote
10:45 AM
Morning Refreshments & Networking
11:15 AM
Spotlight Keynote

From Compliance to Strategy: Lessons from a2 Milk’s Climate Reporting Journey

Fiona Baxter

Group Head of Sustainability

The a2 Milk Company
11:40 AM
Reporting & Compliance Session

Beyond Compliance: Transforming Reporting for Transparency & Impact

  • What are the biggest challenges currently in scaling transparency and traceability in supply chains, particularly for Scope 3 emissions?
  • How are businesses integrating nature-related data into ESG reporting and transition planning?
  • How can robust reporting frameworks drive better business outcomes while meeting compliance requirements?
  • How can leaders simplify complex reporting to deliver clear, actionable insights for executive decision making?

Gigi Yuen

Head of Sustainability and Environment

Melbourne Airport

Maria Helena Meinert

Director, Sustainability

Cochlear

Euan Ronald

Head of Sustainability

Ampol

Belinda Keeffe

Group Head of Sustainability

Asahi Beverages

Vanessa Shepherd

Director, Group Sustainability

Aristocrat

Cara Turnley

Sustainability Reporting, Risk & Governance Manager

Toll Group
12:20 PM
Platinum 2 Keynote
12:40 AM
Innovative Keynote

Fiona Messent

Chief Sustainability Officer

Qantas
1:00 PM
Lunch Welcome Remarks
1:10 PM
Lunch & Networking
2:10 PM
Outlook Interview

Driving Transformation: Embedding Sustainability across Global, Multi-Brand Organisations

Dirk Voeste

Chief Sustainability Officer

Volkswagen Group (DE)
2:30 PM
Sustainable Challengers Session

Scaling Solutions: Redefining the Future of Sustainable Business

  • How are CSOs currently disrupting the sustainability landscape through innovative, environmental solutions?
  • How do you balance the need for creativity and innovation with the pressures of maximising profitability and impact?
  • How can leaders take calculated risks with sustainability innovation while ensuring long-term business viability?

Connor McCauley

Head of Sustainability - Australia & New Zealand

JLL

Fiona Murfitt

VP, Sustainability (HSE, Risk and Social Responsibility)

Evolution Mining

Siobhan Leach

Group Sustainability Officer

Ramsay Health Care

Stephen Smith

Executive GM - Safety, Wellbeing and Sustainability

NBN Co
3:10 PM
Closing Vision Keynote

Megan Born

Head of Sustainability

Canva
3:35 PM
Closing Remarks from the Chair

Dr Sheila Nguyen

Former Head of Sustainability ANZ, FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 | Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer, Sports Environment Alliance

3:45 PM
Close of Event
4:00 PM
Workshop 1: The CSO Playbook

Integrating Nature-Based Solutions into Business Strategy

This workshop will provide a comprehensive understanding of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for CSOs, specifically how these solutions can enhance disaster and climate resilience while contributing to biodiversity protection. Delegates will gain practical insights into the business case for NbS, global frameworks for implementation, and how to integrate NbS into corporate strategies to mitigate environmental risks and drive sustainable growth.

Workshop 2: Unlocking ESG Value

Unlocking ESG Value: The Strategic Tools & Frameworks for Every CSO

This interactive workshop will provide Delegates with a comprehensive understanding of the core concepts, frameworks, and practical tools needed to build a robust ESG strategy to navigate a dynamic sustainability landscape – all while delivering business value at scale.

6:00 PM
Close of Workshops

Workshops

Wednesday, 11 March 2026
4PM - 6PM

The CSO Playbook: Integrating Nature-Based Solutions into Business Strategy

This workshop will provide a comprehensive understanding of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for CSOs, specifically how these solutions can enhance disaster and climate resilience while contributing to biodiversity protection. Delegates will gain practical insights into the business case for NbS, global frameworks for implementation, and how to integrate NbS into corporate strategies to mitigate environmental risks and drive sustainable growth.

Unlocking ESG Value: The Strategic Tools & Frameworks for Every CSO
This interactive workshop will provide Delegates with a comprehensive understanding of the core concepts, frameworks, and practical tools needed to build a robust ESG strategy to navigate a dynamic sustainability landscape – all while delivering business value at scale.

Event Pricing

SINGLE DELEGATE PASS

EARLY BIRD

$1595 + GST

Early bird price valid until 4/12/2025

STANDARD

$1995 + GST

GROUP 5 DELEGATE PASSES INCLUDES 2 FREE

EARLY BIRD

$4785+GST

Early bird price valid until 4/12/2025

STANDARD

$5985 + GST

Workshops Add to single or group passes

WorkSHOP 1:

The CSO Playbook

WorkSHOP 2:

Unlocking ESG Value

$395 + GST

What’s included in my delegate pass
Access to Full Event Program
Exclusive Networking Opportunities
Executive Insights & Event Content

Delegate Registration is strictly for in-house Sustainability Executives and Professionals from consumer or government facing organisations. If you are a Service Provider to sustainability executives, please email duncanh@connectmedia.com to discuss your involvement.

Registrations will be reviewed for the correct rate, Connect Media reserves the right to refuse entry to anyone not paying the correct rate. Furthermore, we will not be responsible for travel costs if you do not pay the correct rate.

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Our Partners

At Origin Zero we work with large businesses to help them achieve their decarbonisation targets and transition to a net zero future.

We can orchestrate and optimise energy assets to help businesses reduce energy costs and carbon emissions, and find innovative ways to unlock new revenue streams, all while providing reliable energy through the transition.

Global leaders in full-spectrum sustainability solutions: providing clients with strategic advice and on the ground technical support, partnering with them in Making Sustainability Happen.

Carbon Neutral and BCorp certified, Talent Nation is Australia and Aotearoa New Zeland’s leading sustainability and environmental executive search and recruitment specialist. Having been at the forefront of sustainability recruitment since 2012, Talent Nation brings the experience, sector knowledge and deep industry contacts that enables us to accelerate impact by placing the right person in the right role, every time.

Platinum Partner originzero.com.au
Associate Partner slrconsulting.com
Associate Partner talentnation.com.au

Become A Partner

The Sustainability Leaders is Australia’s premier event for in-house sustainability professionals. We focus on actionable insights and real-world solutions by bringing together the leading voices shaping the sector. Every year we refine our event model to unlock greater value for our partners and to ensure that our delegation’s expectations are exceeded. 

Whether you’re looking for brand visibility, lead generation or exclusive event networking opportunities, our sponsorship packages are tailor made and designed to maximise your ROI. 

Please get in touch if you’d like to discuss what these opportunities could look like for you and your brand. 

PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Duncan Hladik
Partnership Executive
Tel: +61 411 636 010
Email: duncanh@connectmedia.com

GENERAL ENQUIRIES

Tel: +61 2 8004 8590
Email: team@connectmedia.com

Connect with these companies attending

Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with the industry’s most prominent brands at The Sustainability Leaders. Explore the companies already confirmed and secure your chance to network with the best in the business.

Your event expErience starts here​

Venue & Accommodation

PULLMAN MELBOURNE ALBERT PARK

Grand Ballroom, 65 Queens Rd, Albert Park VIC 3004.

Content Council

Our content council includes industry experts and influential voices from across Australia to shape the summit discussions. Their insights ensure the agenda addresses the most pressing challenges, emerging opportunities, and groundbreaking innovations driving the future of sustainability.

Sheila Nguyen

Former Head of Sustainability ANZ |
Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer

Stephen Forshaw

Chief Representative ANZ
& the Pacific

Brooke Sprott

Head of Sustainable
Business & Communications

Amanda Bartley

Head of Sustainability, Communication,
Diversity and Inclusion

Sally Mangan

Fmr Senior Sustainability Manager

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s included in my delegate pass?

A Delegate Pass includes access to all sessions, refreshment breaks, networking lunches, and access to provided speaker presentations. Please note: Sharing of speaker presentation’s is subject to approval from the guest speaker. One delegate ticket is entry for one person only, passes cannot be shared. Organiser’s reserve the right to deny entry to anyone not registered.

Is there a group booking discount?

Yes – groups of 3 people or more are entitled to a discount. Full discount information is available on our registration page. If you have any questions about how group bookings work, please contact team@connectmedia.com

Can I transfer my pass?

A delegate pass is entry for one person only, passes cannot be shared. A substitute delegate is welcome at any time prior to the event, provided the request is made in writing to team@connectmedia.com

How do I receive my delegate pass?

Following the completion of your registration, you will receive an email confirmation. We will contact you via email the day prior to the event with a QR code, to make your arrival as seamless as possible have your QR e-ticket ready and visible on your device.

Is media registration available?

No, this is a closed and confidential event. Media registrations are not available.

Cancellation Policy:

A full refund less a $250 (GST Inclusive) processing fee is applicable on cancellation requests made in writing within 10 days of registration. No refunds are available for cancellations made more than 10 days after registration. Where Connect Media is required to reschedule the event in the interest of the event partner’s and guests, your pass will be automatically transferred to the rescheduled dates. Should Connect Media be unable to offer, deliver or fulfil any engagement within 12 months, you will be entitled to a full refund.

What is a Service Provider?

A service provider refers to an individual or organisation who supplies products and/or services to the primary audience of the event.

Will there be a delegate list available?

No, Connect Media does not provide delegate lists to non-partner attendees.

Fraudulent activities

We’ve been alerted to instances of companies proposing to purchase and sell lists of attendees for our events. Please be assured, we do not engage in the sale or distribution of event-related data. Such companies have no association with us, and we are actively working to halt these deceptive practices.

Regrettably, this type of scam is not uncommon in the media industry. Any information purported to originate from our events and offered by a third party would be completely fabricated. Should you have doubts about the legitimacy of a potential supplier, we urge you to contact us directly.

For any additional questions please contact us on 02 8004 8590 or team@connectmedia.com.

Delegate Pass:

Delegate Pass includes access to all sessions, refreshment breaks, networking lunches, networking drinks reception, and access to approved speaker presentations/on demand content. Please note: Sharing of speaker presentation’s is subject to approval from the guest speaker. One delegate ticket is entry for one person only, passes cannot be shared. Organiser’s reserve the right to deny entry to anyone not registered.

Digital Pass (only applicable for digital events):

A digital pass is valid for the use of 1 user and provides access to live content, inclusive of all keynotes, and sessions. The pass also includes access to approved speaker presentations/on demand content; this will be available to you via email in the week following the event. Please note: Sharing of speaker presentation’s is subject to approval from the guest speaker. Access must not be shared by multiple user’s or redistributed in any way. Organiser’s reserve the right to deny access to anyone who is found violating the above terms.

Payment & Discounts:

Only one promotional discount code can be applied per registrant. All prices and promotions are valid at the time of purchase only and may not be redeemed after the point of purchase.

Registrations will be reviewed for the correct rate, Connect Media reserves the right to refuse entry to anyone not paying the correct rate. Furthermore, we will not be responsible for travel costs if you do not pay the correct rate.

Organiser’s Rights:

Connect Media and Communications Group Pty Ltd endeavours to ensure the conference programme and speaker line-up is correct at the time of the event. All advertised details are correct at time of publishing. Due to unforeseen circumstances Connect Media and Communications Group Pty Ltd reserves the right to alter the programme prior to the event without notice. We also reserve the right to cancel or postpone the event. Where Connect Media is unable to run the event in the next 12 months (from the date of the event), you will be entitled to a full refund. In the unlikely event that it is cancelled or postponed, no compensation will be provided for cancelled/amended travel arrangements.

Connect Media and Communications Group Pty Ltd reserves the right to deny access to any individual that engages in or is alleged to engage in practices that are considered unprofessional and inappropriate for a business conference. We reserve the right to deny access to delegates that may affect the client / vendor ratio of attendance in favour of the interests of sponsors and commercial partners of the event.

In registering for this event, delegates grant permission to Connect Media and Communications Group Pty Ltd to take and to have full and free use of video/photographs containing their image/likeness for promotional use. Should a delegate not agree to the above image release, they must advise team@connectmedia.com.

Cancellation Policy:

A substitute delegate is welcome at any time provided the request is made in writing. A full refund less a $250 (GST Inclusive) processing fee is applicable on cancellation requests made in writing within 10 days of registration. No refunds are available for cancellations made more than 10 days after registration. Where Connect Media is required to reschedule the event in the interest of the event partner’s and guests, your pass will be automatically transferred to the rescheduled dates. Should you be provided with a credit note at the discretion of the event organisers, this credit is valid for the specified amount of passes, and not the monetary value. Should Connect Media be unable to offer, deliver or fulfil any engagement within 12 months, you will be entitled to a full refund.

Event Delivery:

In case of a change in government restrictions and advice, Connect Media reserves the right to make the decision to deliver the event completely digital, or completely in person. Should you hold a different pass, you are entitled to move your registration to digital/in person, or receive a credit for the following edition of the event.

Privacy Disclosure:

We take your privacy seriously. Information collected on this registration will be held in the strictest of confidence on a secure database. This information may be used in order to contact you regarding future events, product development and services offered. If you do not wish to be contacted please email team@connectmedia.com. To view our full privacy policy please visit: https://dashboard.connectmedia.com/privacy-policy/.

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