ACTS Board Member Spotlight: Carmen Primo Perez, University of Tasmania

Member Spotlight: Carmen Primo Perez, ACTS Director

Carmen is a highly respected sustainability leader and currently serves as Sustainability Manager – Strategic Analysis and Reporting at the University of Tasmania. With over a decade of active involvement in ACTS, Carmen has played an integral role in shaping the organisation’s impact and community as both a Director and Treasurer. She continues to be a driving force behind ACTS initiatives, coordinating multiple peer support and working groups and contributing widely across the network. Known for her thoughtful, behind-the-scenes leadership and commitment to collaboration, Carmen has helped strengthen both institutional sustainability outcomes and the broader ACTS community, making her an invaluable contributor to the sector and just one of our favourite people here at ACTS. Learn more about Carmen and her ACTS journey below.

How long have you been a member of ACTS and why did you first get involved?

I have been an ACTS member since 2012, when I started as Sustainability Officer at the University of Tasmania. Since then, I have become more and more involved with ACTS, becoming a Director in 2008 (and serving five years as Treasurer) and now coordinating three peer support and working groups, and participating in many other activities.

What’s your favourite ACTS event and why?

What’s not to like? But if I must choose, my favourite event is the Green Gown Awards Australasia ceremony. This event brings together people from institutions across our region who are driving sustainability in the sector, and the ceremony becomes a celebration of their creativity, commitment, and impact. The showcase of innovative ideas is incredibly motivating and inspiring. It also highlights that we are all working towards the same goal of shaping the future of sustainability in tertiary education.

What’s one of your biggest professional accomplishments so far?

I’m not always sure how to speak about my own contributions, but throughout my sustainability career at the University of Tasmania I’ve focused on quietly shaping my role to support others and help our collective efforts succeed. My aim has always been to contribute meaningfully behind the scenes—helping UTAS progress as a genuine leader in sustainability while ensuring our work remains grounded, authentic, and transparent.

With that in mind, I’m proud to have led the UTAS submission to become the first STARS-rated institution in Australasia, and to have supported our progression from a Silver to a Gold rating, with our sights now set on achieving Platinum this year. I am also proud to serve on the STARS Steering Committee—time zones and all—and to play a small part in making STARS increasingly relevant and accessible to institutions internationally.

What was the last book you read?

Although I read a lot of sci-fi/fantasy literature, the last book I read was The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown. What I liked most about it was how it combined high-stakes thriller energy with fascinating scientific and philosophical ideas. It’s classic Dan Brown with lots of codes and symbols (I do enjoy a good puzzle!) and full of unexpected twists, but it also dives into interesting theories around the nature of human consciousness and the possibility that the mind extends beyond the physical brain. Noetic science seems quite interesting!

What characteristic do you admire most in others?

I value transparency and trustworthiness in others. When people are open about what they think and follow through on what they say, it creates real confidence and makes working together so much easier. Those qualities build relationships where you don’t have to second-guess anyone’s intentions, which leads to better communication, better teamwork, and ultimately better results. For me, these qualities are the foundation of any strong and positive connection.