About us

ACTS aims to inspire, promote and support change towards best practice sustainability across all types of campuses. We do this by building cross-sector partnerships, bringing together sustainability educators, practitioners and change-makers to create a community for positive engagement, capacity building and impact.

RMIT’s Ngarara Place Indigenous garden © Moorina Bonini

Governance

Past AGM minutes

People

Paramount to the success of ACTS is the time and dedication provided by our voluntary Executive Board and the core operation and development is 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.

Associate Director – Sustainability

I have been active in the education sector for decades whether as a student, researcher or employee. My Masters degrees in Environmental Science and Public Administration have enabled me to combine my personal and professional interests and allowed me to be active in sustainability issues generally, but specifically in Tasmania since arriving via an Antarctic research vessel in 1996.

I have been active in the not-for-profit sector, including 5 years as President of Sustainable Living Tasmania, and am a graduate of and mentor in the Tasmanian Leaders Program. I have led award-winning sustainability efforts in water conservation, renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, student involvement, food gardens and sustainable transport at both MacKillop College and at the University of Tasmania as Sustainability Manager since 2010. I also have a Certificate IV in Carbon Management and have International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP) certification.

Corey Peterson
President

Sustainability Officer

I came to Australia in 2007 to work as an academic in marine conservation, but my increasing interest in sustainability led me to a career change in 2012. As Sustainability Officer at the University of Tasmania, I am involved in various projects, but my passion is carbon management. I am a numbers person, and confident that I can contribute to ACTS as a Treasurer and in other ways to bring our tertiary education sector to the next level in sustainability.

Dr Carmen Primo Perez
Treasurer

Manager, EcoCentre

I have been working in the sustainability space for the last 17 years as manager of the Griffith University EcoCentre. The EcoCentre is a key element of the Griffith Sciences Group, promoting sustainable development, environmental education and community engagement. Collaborating with many organisations, I get to work with government, industry and the wider community in the education and public awareness of sustainability. I am very fortunate to work with many sustainability leaders and sit on several environmental working groups. In 2007 I became a member of Al Gores Climate Reality Leadership Program and still play an active part in the organisation. Proudly I am the founding Secretary/Treasurer of ACTS and still remain the Secretary. Watching ACTS grow from a networking group of university sustainability champions to an international influencer and leader in sustainability in the higher education sector, has been a highlight of my career.

Delwyn Langdon
Secretary

Former ACTS President

I am currently CEO of a disability-focused non-profit association in Far North Queensland. Involvement with non-profits has been a huge emphasis in my life, particularly having been an active member of the ACTS community for over 14 years, 10 of which I held the role of President. While no longer in the education sector, my passion and commitment to sustainability are still strong – as is the role that an organisation like ACTS can play in supporting the sustainability movement. I truly believe that working together we can make a difference and change the course of history to become a more sustainable, equitable and just society. I am honoured to continue to serve on the ACTS Board.

Leanne Denby
Director

Co-Lead, Sustainable Buildings and Construction,
One Planet Network (United Nations 10 Year Framework)

I have worked in government, and industry before recommencing work in academia. As a ‘reborn’ academic, I am even more interested in walking the talk in relation to how we achieve sustainability outcomes in teaching, research and showcase examples of best practice in university. We can use our universities as exemplars of teaching and learning for our students as a living laboratory. I look forward to working towards this in my role as VP for EfS.

Assoc. Prof. Usha Iyer-Raniga
Director

Manager, CSU Green

Ed considers himself to be pretty lucky. He earns his living doing something he thinks is very important and which he just happens to really enjoy. Ed and his team at CSU Green cram their working days implementing projects that reduce Charles Sturt University’s footprint as well as showing students and staff at the University how they can make the world a more sustainable place, particularly through the skills that they pick up via their CSU degree and the knowledge that is created through their research. He is proud to be associated with Australia’s first certified Carbon Neutral University.

Ed’s particular areas of interest and experience include:

Sustainability leadership
Carbon reduction
Energy & water efficiency
Student/staff engagement
Waste minimisation and resource recovery

Ed has 14 years’ experience working in resource efficiency roles and possesses formal qualifications in Environmental Science, Carbon Management, Small Business Management and University Leadership.

Edward Maher
Director

Head of Sustainability

Danielle has been working in the tertiary education sector since 2011, previously working as a sustainability consultant in Australia and London. She believes that ACTS provides a great forum to share knowledge and recognise success across the research, learning, operations and engagement sectors. Danielle is responsible for improving the University of Technology Sydney’s sustainability performance through the planning, delivery and communication of sustainability initiatives. With her experience in integrating sustainability into the built environment, Danielle provides strategic sustainability advice and review for University building projects and infrastructure. She also works collaboratively across the governance, operations, engagement, research and teaching/learning areas of the University to deliver sustainability outcomes.

Danielle McCartney
Director

Head of Sustainability

Ray stepped into the role of Kaiwhakahaere o Tiotū Taiao / Head of Sustainability at the start of 2020.

As the Head of Sustainability, Ray provides leadership and strategic direction for the Sustainability Office. The role involves the linking of activity across operational and academic areas, in order to weave sustainable practice into all that they do. Ray leads a team working on greenhouse gas emissions, student engagement, and communications.

Ray relocated to New Zealand in 2005 from the UK where he had worked for the military developing leadership through adventure activities. Since then he has worked in tourism, primary, secondary, and tertiary education. Most recently, he worked for Otago Polytechnic in a variety of learning design roles where he was responsible for the integration of sustainability into learning and teaching.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rayobrienlearning/

Ray O’Brien
Director

Engagement Project Officer

I’ve been involved in sustainability projects for seven of the ten years I’ve worked at the University of Adelaide and see positive relationships as key to making meaningful change. I manage the Ecoversity (sustainability engagement) Program which incorporates events, campaigns and initiatives to engage staff and students in sustainable action on campus. I’m really pleased to be part of the ACTS Board and look forward to bringing a fresh perspective, and ideas as to how ACTS can continue to be relevant, supportive and inspiring to institutions of all sizes and stages in their sustainable evolution.

Phillipa Schliebs
Director

Senior Manager, Sustainability

Lin Stevenson has been working at RMIT University since 2009, having previously worked in various UK local government sustainability roles. As the Senior Manager, Sustainability and Deputy Chair of the RMIT Sustainability Committee she leads a team which provides strategic advice to the executive and the wider community on sustainable management of assets and operations. Based within the Property Services Group, responsibilities include strategy development, project coordination, infrastructure planning, reporting, partnership development and communication to enhance the University’s profile as a sustainable organisation.

Lin Stevenson
Director

Associate Director, Sustainability

I have been at The University of Melbourne for eleven years now, currently in the role of Associate Director, Sustainability. I provide strategic direction and governance, overseeing the integration of sustainability into all University activities – research, teaching, engagement, operations and governance. My role includes EO responsibility for the University’s Sustainability Executive, which has led the development of the University’s Sustainability Charter, Sustainability Plan 2017-2020 and annual public reporting.

I bring to the ACTS Board my earlier corporate background, academic study across business, psychology and environmental science, and a deep commitment to sustainability and the environment. I feel very fortunate to be elected to serve on the ACTS Board and look forward to taking a more active part in this vibrant organisation.

Clare Walker
Director

Sustainability Manager

After several years of championing sustainability in tertiary education and working with outstanding colleagues across the sector, I am very excited to be part of the ACTS Board. I started my career in the energy efficiency industry and then joined Victoria University of Wellington over a decade ago. My role has evolved over time in line with the University’s growing commitment to sustainability.

I hope that ACTS can provide the tools and resources to help sustainability practitioners prove the value of sustainability and embed it as part of core business. The tertiary education sector collectively has a huge role to play in delivering a sustainable future.