The inaugural meeting of the Australian Circular Economy Hub (ACE Hub) Advisory Board was conducted on Friday last week to officially announce the Board members and the role it will fulfil in the development and ongoing success of the ACE Hub.
The Hon. Trevor Evans MP, Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management, was in attendance to welcome the Board members and offer advice to the group now tasked with providing guidance to Australia’s national circular economy platform.
The meeting was led by the Advisory Board Chair and Director and Senior Circular Economy Specialist at KPMG Australia, Dr. Scott Valentine. Dr. Valentine’s current consultancy work focuses on helping firms to create and implement circular economy strategies, working with governments to establish circular economy support strategies and advising on energy efficiency and energy transitions.
The ACE Hub Advisory Board holding its first meeting.
The primary purpose of the Board is to ensure that the ACE Hub plays a leading role in the transformation to a circular economy within Australia, specifically, but not limited to, matters including:
Advising Planet Ark on the development and ongoing operation of the Australian Circular Economy Hub, including regular review of the strategic plan.
Recommending progressive improvements to the Australian Circular Economy Hub in line with the principles and values described in the Advisory Board Terms of Reference.
Recommending further research.
Advising on any matters that may impact on the effectiveness and uptake of the Australian Circular Economy Hub.
Approving the formation of Working Groups and potentially referring suitable members.
Advising on any matters that may impact on Australia’s transition to circularity.
A consistent theme discussed during the Board’s opening meeting was the importance of moving beyond waste-centric discussions when it comes to the design and implementation of an Australian circular economy. Rather, multiple Board members emphasised how critical systems-thinking and integrated problem-solving would be in driving a successful transition to circularity.
The Advisory Board is comprised of members representing local, state and federal government, senior members of the Australian business community and technical experts on the circular economy. Members of the Advisory Board are listed below:
Dr. Scott Valentine (Board Chair) – KPMG Director and Senior Circular Economy Specialist
Maria Atkinson – Maria Atkinson Consultancy P/L Director
Jane Coram – CSIRO Land and Water Business Unit Director
Brooke Donnelly – Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation CEO
Jan Gardberg – IKEA Australia/New Zealand CEO & CSO
Paul Klymenko – Planet Ark CEO & Executive Director
Ross Lambie – Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chief Economist
Ashleigh Morris – Coreo Pty Ltd. CEO
Craig North – Indigenous Impact Managing Director
George Osborne – Hume City Council Economic Development Manager
Mark Weaver – Department of Industry, Science, Energy, and Resources General Manager
More information on the ACE Hub Advisory Board members and regularly updated meeting summaries can be found at https://acehub.org.au/impact/working-groups/advisory-board.