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UNSW SMaRT Centre Director Prof Veena will be guest speaker at the Regional Circular Economy Summit on 5 June 2025, World Environment Day.
Hosted by the Bass Coast Shire Council in Victoria, the Summit brings together a range of experts and leaders from government, industry and academia to explore practical and strategic applications of the Circular Economy as well as on-ground solutions for the region and beyond.
Veena will share her vision for a sustainable future, highlighting the importance of creating a circular economy and how using waste as a resource must be at the centre of our manufacturing future and innovative decarbonisation efforts, in collaboration between researchers and industry.
She will highlight that using innovations such as UNSW SMaRT Centre's recycling and MICROfactorieTM technologies that recover valuable materials from waste and reform them into new manufacturing feedstock and products through collaborators, are central to help achieve the sustainability needed for the future.
Event website and registration
Bass Coast Shire Mayor, Cr Rochelle Halstead, said the summit provides an important opportunity for cross-sector collaboration on a challenge that affects every level of our economy.
“The transition to a circular economy is not only essential—it’s a game-changer,” said Cr Halstead. “Local governments and industry have a vital role to play in designing out waste, supporting circular systems, and driving the innovation needed to transform materials currently considered waste into new resources.”
The summit will bring together international and national thought leaders and practitioners, including:
- Professor Veena Sahajwalla, Hub leader and Director of SMaRT@UNSW
- Dr Martin Geissdoerfer, Monash Sustainable Business Institute
- Andrew Taylor, Bega Circularity Group
- Dr Martino Malerba, RMIT Centre for Positive Nature Solutions
- Chris Francis, Sustainability Victoria
Andrew Taylor from the Bega Circularity Group agreed with the Mayor stating, “Governments and organisations across the country are transitioning or exploring transition pathways from shortsighted ‘linear’ economy practices to operations that realise the opportunities to recover and re-generate previous waste items into resources for new products.”
“What makes this Summit especially valuable,” said Cr Halstead, “is the diversity of expertise—from manufacturing and materials science to community and business-led innovation. It’s about real solutions, not just theory.”
The Bass Coast Regional Circular Economy Summit aims to catalyse regional leadership and foster partnerships that deliver long-term economic, environmental and social value.
Event hosts say:
Setting the Circular Economy scene for decision-makers at the highest level. Providing practical on-ground solutions for the implementation and integration of Circular Economy within, across and beyond organisations.
Hear from national and international specialist presenters on the Circular Economy.
- Panelists, presentation and discussion in the morning
- Workshop table discussion in the afternoon
Who should attend?
- Decision-makers who want to know how to progress and implement CE within organisations
- Policy and strategy practitioners interested in the way forward in the implementation and integration of Circular Economy goals and principles
- Sustainability and Waste professionals needing to understand why the linear economy cannot continue along its current trajectory
Why should you attend?
- Update your knowledge and understanding of Circular Economy opportunities for your organisation and sector
- Hear from a range of global specialists, speakers and presenters on the Circular Economy
- Network and meet with positive and proactive individuals interested in progressing and integrating Circular Economy goals, outcomes across policy and strategy areas
- Identify potential opportunities for your organisation (ahead of electioneering or Productivity Commission findings) on Circular Economy
- Be part of the learning and prioritisation of practical solution-based Circular Economy outcomes.
What will you get out of attending?
Hear from experts with meaningful Circular Economy experience, opportunities and practice to influence, motivate and activate decision-makers and sustainability practitioners on the importance and integration of Circular Economy into all relevant policy and decision-making frameworks
- Understand and apply Circular Economy principles within your organisation
- Accelerate policy and strategy decisions to progress Circular Economy within and beyond organisations
- Integrate Circular Economy with Net Zero and Nature Positive pathways
- Practical Circular Economy solutions
- Defining the Circular Economy opportunities and options for your sector
- Learning the value of environmental, financial and social outcomes of on-ground Circular Economy developments and implementation