About2024-01-22T18:26:21+11:00

About us

ACTS is the only independent not-for-profit member-led organisation of its kind in the Australasian region. We exist to engage, empower and exemplify organisations working to tackle complex social, economic and environmental challenges and support meaningful change towards a more sustainable future.

2020

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ACTS Conference is cancelled for the first time in 20 years.


At a Special General Meeting, ACTS members unanimously vote to transition the organisational structure from an Association Incorporated in Queensland to an Australian Company Limited by Guarantee.


The STARS Cohort continues for the second year and welcomes the University of Tasmania as the first Australian university to receive a rating.

Our history

For more than two decades ACTS has represented a network of passionate people working to tackle complex social, economic and environmental challenges and support meaningful change towards a more sustainable future.

From humble beginnings as an email group in the mid 90s; officially incorporated as a not-for-profit charity in 2006; and transitioning to an Australian Company in 2021; ACTS has earned it’s reputation as Australasia’s most well respected member-led organisation that supports campuses to play a pivotal role in the transformation toward a world that is fair, just and equitable for all.

ACTS has evolved beyond recognition since it was first incorporated. Initially run completely by volunteers and representing just seven foundation members, today ACTS is managed by a small yet dedicated staff team and represents 75% of universities within Australia and New Zealand.

We continue to grow and strengthen our valued network and build a new generation of resources to meet our members’ needs.

Our influence extends globally as we continue to build cross-sector partnerships, collaborate with stakeholders and bring together educators, practitioners and change-makers to create a community for positive engagement, capacity building and impact.

Click through our timeline on the left to see some of our major milestones over the years. 

Our people

Paramount to the success of ACTS is the time and dedication provided by our voluntary Board of Directors and the core operations and development undertaken by our small staff team.

This passionate group of sustainability-minded professionals and educators has guided the strategic direction of ACTS, supported its initiatives and broadened the standing of ACTS regionally and in an international arena.

President

Corey Peterson, ACTS President

Corey Peterson
Chief Sustainability Officer, University of Tasmania

Vice-President AU

Sue Hopkins, ACTS Board Director

Sue Hopkins
Sustainability Manager, University of Melbourne

Vice-President NZ

Andrew Wilks
Director of Sustainability, Victoria University of Wellington

Treasurer

Edward Maher
Manager, Sustainability, Charles Sturt University

President Elect

Lin Stevenson
Senior Manager, Sustainability
RMIT University

Director

Amy Croucher
Nature Lead, Project Officer, Sustainability Advantage

Director

Suzanne Davis
Principal Sustainability Officer, University of Queensland

Director

Dr Usha Iyer-Raniga
Professor, Sustainable Built Environment,
RMIT University

Director

Dr Ray O’Brien
Tumuaki Head of Sustainability,
University of Otago

Director

Dr Carmen Primo Perez
Sustainability Manager (Strategic Analysis & Reporting), University of Tasmania

Director

Theodoor Richard

Dr Theodoor Richard
Research Fellow, National Chung Hsing University

Director

Theodoor Richard

William Van Ausdal
Principal Sustainability Strategist, Flinders University

Secretary

Sally Northover, ACTS Secretary

Sally Northover
Sustainability Officer, Macquarie University

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Rhiannon Boyd
Chief Executive Officer

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Jessica Taylor
Program Officer

Our governance

Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability (ACTS) Limited is an Australian Public Company Limited by Guarantee. As a not-for-profit member-led organisation, our members make ‘big picture’ decisions, including whether to change our governing constitution (including its purpose), the appointment of directors and decisions about winding up the organisation.

Our partners

ACTS actively seeks relationships with partners that share our vision and can help advance our mission to engage, empower and exemplify all types of campus based organisations to lead on the transformation towards a sustainable future. Our relationships with partners take many forms, including strategic, joint initiatives, sponsorships and more.

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