2024 Awards

The 2024 Green Gown Awards Australasia, held in partnership with the ACTS Conference – The Future of Sustainability was held at the Hotel Grand Chancellor in Launceston on Thursday 7 November. The ceremony celebrated 12 winners and 6 highly commended entries in recognition of excellence in sustainability within the tertiary education sector. Marking its 15th anniversary, this year’s awards featured 38 outstanding finalists from 18 unique institutions across Australia and New Zealand, reflecting the sector’s leadership in advancing environmental and social responsibility.

The awards gala, hosted by the witty and engaging Trent McCarthy—Director of Clean Economy, Engagement & Experience at Melbourne Polytechnic—brought together sustainability champions for an inspiring night of celebration. In a special event, New Zealand finalists were honoured at the NZ Hub event in Wellington, ensuring participants on both sides of the Tasman could celebrate their contributions to sustainability.

The Sustainable Institution of the Year award went to University of Technology Sydney (UTS) for “UTS Making a Splash in Global Impact,” highlighting UTS’s comprehensive integration of sustainability practices. The UTS approach is characterised by a whole-of-institution strategy that prioritises the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), climate action, and social justice, leading to global recognition and tangible outcomes in sustainability performance.

The University of Tasmania also emerged as the top institution, winning awards in multiple categories. The university was recognised for its broad-reaching programs, including Climate Action with “Effective Climate Action through a Holistic Lens”, the Student Engagement award for “Sustainable Food Solutions” and the Creating Impact award for the Kelcey Tiers Extinction Matters BioBlitz organised by Adjunct Research Dr. Clare Hawkins in collaboration with the Bookend Trust and Devonport City Council. The University of Tasmania was also joint winner in the Next Generation Learning & Skills award for its interdisciplinary “Sustainability University Major” sharing the accolade with TAFE NSW for “Skilling up the next generation of Sustainability Professionals”.

The evening also showcased Powerful Partnerships, with the Tertiary Education Sector Climate Futures Group recognised for their “From Sweet As to Oh Bugger” climate scenarios project, demonstrating the strength of cross-institutional collaboration for all universities, Wānanga, and Te Pūkenga (Institute of Skills and Technology) in Aotearoa New Zealand.

This year’s awards were made possible through the support of key sponsors, including COS (Sustainable Institution of the Year), Sumday (Climate Action), and Veolia (Sustainability Leadership), underscoring a shared commitment to driving sustainability across the education sector.

The ACTS Conference provided the perfect backdrop for the awards, creating a vibrant space for dialogue, learning, and celebration of these initiatives.

We encourage you to explore the efforts of all winners, highly commended and finalists. Simply click on a postcard below to open the case studies, which include overview of the initiative, top three learnings and highlights across environmental and social benefits, leadership and governance and significance to the sector.

Organisational

Climate Action   International Green Gown Awards blank badge
University of Tasmania  Winner
The Australian National University  Highly Commended

Creating Impact   International Green Gown Awards blank badge
University of Tasmania  Winner
AUT  Highly Commended

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion   International Green Gown Awards blank badge
Monash University  Winner
RMIT University  Highly Commended

Nature Positive   International Green Gown Awards blank badge
La Trobe University  Winner
The University of Melbourne  Highly Commended

Next Generation Learning and Skills   International Green Gown Awards blank badge
TAFE NSW Winner
University of Melbourne  Highly Commended

Powerful Partnerships   
Tertiary Education Sector Climate Futures Group (TESCFG) Winner

Student Engagement  International Green Gown Awards blank badge
University of Tasmania  Winner

Sustainability Institution of the Year   International Green Gown Awards blank badge
University of Technology Sydney (UTS)  Winner


International category   International Green Gown Awards blank badge

Individual

Sustainability Leadership
Linh Do, The University of Melbourne  Winner
Emilia Bisogni, The University of Melbourne  Highly Commended

Sustainability Champion – Staff  
Emily J Flies, University of Tasmania Winner
Heather Gill, The University of Melbourne  Highly Commended

Sustainability Champion – Student
Anthony Brady, Monash University  Winner

  • Climate Action/Winners

    University of Tasmania

    Effective Climate Action through a holistic lens

    The University of Tasmania is carbon neutral certified in the Commonwealth Climate Active program since 2016. Subsequently, we joined Race to Zero; completed fossil fuel-exposed divestment; became the first Australasian CANIE Accord signatory; published our Emissions Reduction Strategic Plan 2022-2030 to reduce gross emissions by a minimum 50% by 2030 on a 2015 baseline through 42 actions across all three emission scopes; ranked #1 globally in the 2022, 2023, and 2024 THE Impact ranking for SDG13 Climate Action; received a Green Gown Award Australasia for our Curious Climate education program; became a Climate Action Barometer (CAB) in International Education founding and advisory board member; compiled whole-of-institution submissions to State Government on climate legislation and emissions management; support Tasmanian GBEs in establishing climate-focused sustainability approaches; tabled in the Tasmanian Parliament a 2023 Annual Report that includes a new section addressing proposed climate and sustainability-risks reporting requirements prior to being mandatory; and, are now implementing an ‘internal carbon price’ to drive behaviour change

  • Climate Action

    University of Auckland | Waipapa Taumata Rau

    Aotearoa’s highest scoring green building

    The redevelopment of Building 201 embodies the sustainability and net zero carbon ambitions and aspirations of Waipapa Taumata Rau University of Auckland. Through an innovative adaptive reuse strategy, the project has transformed a 50-year-old end-of-life building into a future-focused facility for three faculties. Critically, the project has dramatically reduced embodied and operational carbon while achieving ecological and community benefits. Narratives of cultural significance weave throughout the design and signal partnership with mana whenua, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei. With 6 Green Stars for design and the highest score to date, the 26,500sqm building is one of Aotearoa’s most sustainable developments and has been deemed ‘world-leading’ by the New Zealand Green Building Council.

  • Climate Action

    The Australian National University

    Heat Pumped – Fossil-free heating for cold Canberrans

    Electric heat pumps now provide space heating to eight buildings on the ANU campus, having replaced fossil fuel gas boilers. Heat pumps are an attractive alternative to gas boilers as they run at 250-300% of the energy efficiency of natural gas boilers, reducing their running costs, and in the ACT, are powered by 100% renewable electricity, deeming their operation carbon neutral. However, retrofitting electric heat pumps in buildings designed for high temperature gas boilers, and in cold climates such as Canberra, poses a number of technical challenges and complexities. Our creative implementation of heat pump configurations successfully demonstrates that these challenges can be overcome and provides a prototype for further degasification projects across our campus, and for other building owners facing similar challenges. This project has so far reduced the University’s carbon footprint by 900 tCO2e per annum, which is 6.5% of our total emissions from gas.

  • Climate Action/Highly Commended

    The Australian National University

    Carbon Smart Travel

    University travel is one of the largest sources of emissions mapped by the Australian National University (ANU). In 2023, it accounted for 40 per cent of our reported carbon footprint. To minimise our impact, we committed to reducing our travel emissions by 50 per cent by 2025 from 2019 levels. With some new ways of working that have come to stay after the pandemic, our  2023 emissions have reduced from our 2019 levels. As travel is part of how we work, and our travel activities may be linked to positive impacts on our careers. However, every trip we make adds to our environmental impact. Therefore, we created tools and resources for informed decision making including a travel emissions tracker app, the carbon smart travel guide, and we  provide ongoing institutional support for individual action and collective measures that enable our community to be successful with a lower carbon footprint. 

  • Creating Impact

    QUT

    Clothes for Careers Student Wardrobe Project

    Clothes for Careers Student Wardrobe Project is a second-hand corporate workwear pop-up shop for QUT students heading into the world of work, filling a need for those completing Work Integrated Learning, graduate employment, or essential work while studying. 

    The project provides gently used corporate workwear, donated by QUT staff and alumni, free of charge to QUT students to assist with the cost of being work ready in a time students are struggling with even basic necessities. Organised and run by QUT staff for QUT students, and aligned with career advice, a successful pop-up shop was run in May 2024. Further pop-ups are now being planned with the next event scheduled for the 7th August to support QUT’s CareerCon event. 

    The project contributes to QUT priorities social justice and inclusion and sustainability and environment. During shifts, it became clear that giving and receiving also contributed to student and staff wellbeing.

  • Creating Impact/Highly Commended

    AUT

    No time to waste at AUT!

    AUT’s Sustainability Plan includes a target to reduce waste by 50% by 2025. To ensure as much waste as possible is diverted from landfill and help AUT achieve this target, AUT’s Estates team introduced a pilot project – on-site sorting of all the contents of the waste, recycling and organic waste bins – initially at the majority of the City campus and South campus with the remaining sites at City and North campus about to be introduced.

    With the refurbishment of AF building and construction of the new A1 building at the North campus AUT included a clause in the contract with Naylor Love (construction company) to divert 90% of the construction and demolition waste from landfill. This was an ambitious target that was achieved – to date over 90% of the waste was diverted from landfill.  

  • Creating Impact

    The University of Sydney

    MyLab: Innovating sustainable solutions for research

    Established in 2019, MyLab at the University of Sydney enhances the management of laboratory reagents used in research and education, including chemicals, gases, drugs, radioactive, and biological materials. The service includes a digital platform to track the full lifecycle of these materials, supported by three distribution hubs that receive orders, deliver across campus, stock over 500 products, and operate a chemical repository. MyLab staff have been working tirelessly to deliver services without additional resourcing or funding, that create an impact for sustainability in laboratory spaces. This includes providing a solvent decanting service, where MyLab users can purchase common solvents in 1L and 2.5L returnable bottles directly from the hubs, reducing solvent and bottle waste. Users return used bottles to hubs or campus collection points for reuse. In 2023 alone, this service has saved 11,483 bottles from landfill. Additionally, researchers are encouraged to return unused or surplus chemicals to repository in the hubs. These chemicals are then made available for free to other researchers. Since its inception, MyLab has facilitate the reuse of 1213 chemicals from this repository, saving them from being incinerated or disposed, and reducing the procurement and of additional products.

  • Creating Impact/Winners

    University of Tasmania

    A 30-hour festival of science in nature: Kelcey Tier Extinction Matters BioBlitz Tasmania

    For the ‘festival of science in nature’, the Kelcey Tier Greenbelt Reserve Extinction Matters BioBlitz (Oct. 2023), Biological Sciences Adjunct Researcher Dr Clare Hawkins partnered with Devonport City Council. Clare regularly organises large scale ‘Extinction Matters’ community BioBlitzes in lutruwita / Tasmania with the Bookend Trust. Alongside the Council, Clare assembled numerous interested local organisations, individuals and university community members with expertise in a wide range of species to guide the surveys and identification. Over 300 community members participated in the event, including >90 school-aged students and their teachers, to identify and record >400 distinct species across the 30-hours with 140 species identified as new records for the Reserve. Species ranged from microscopic tardigrades and rotifers, through to slime moulds, ferns, and burrowing crayfish, to birds, bats and wallabies. Of special interest was a previously unknown population of the threatened curved riceflower (Pimelea curviflora var. gracilis)).

  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion/Winners

    Monash University

    The Global Immersion Guarantee

    The Global Immersion Guarantee Program (GIG) is a fully-funded, international unit that explores the human impact on the environment with a focus on sustainability. Across eight countries (China, Fiji, India, Italy, Indonesia, Malaysia, Samoa and Vanuatu), GIG is available to eligible first-year students at Monash enrolled in over 80 degrees with 1,871 participants to date. Over two weeks, students engage with domestic leaders to better understand local perspectives on different sustainability issues. The program is co-designed and delivered with partner institutions including universities, social enterprises, non-government organisations, and youth groups. GIG students are partnered with local students to develop their understanding of their immersion country and build people connections. Through a combination of classroom-based activities and field site visits, students gain first-hand insight into the challenges associated with developing and implementing innovative and sustainable solutions to issues such as over-tourism, waste management, gender inequality, urbanisation, and renewable energy.

  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

    The University of Sydney

    The University of Sydney Library: Creating culturally safe and significant spaces

    The University of Sydney Library exemplifies commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, adopting sector-leading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural protocols that promote culturally safe practices across services, spaces, and resources. In the early stages of implementation, the protocols have influenced the design of physical and digital library spaces across three notable projects. Partnering with IndigiGrow, an Aboriginal-owned social enterprise, the Fisher Library rooftop terrace has been revitalised with Indigenous gardens. Plans to name the terrace in Gadigal language are in progress, alongside the development of placemaking signage to share Aboriginal cultural narratives. Simultaneously, the Library’s new website integrates a dedicated First Nations presence, enhancing digital cultural safety. Complementing these initiatives, the commissioned artwork “Walking on Country” by Jessie Waratah bridges digital and physical spaces, connecting the Library with local Gadigal Country. Together, these projects demonstrate a collaborative and transformative approach to embedding diversity and cultural sustainability within higher education spaces, enriching educational experiences, and fostering a more equitable and environmentally conscious campus community.

  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion/Highly Commended

    RMIT University

    Weaving together our values

    How do we weave the strands of institutional values together and create an applied approach to hold decision-makers accountable and build capabilities in our community? The Sustainability & Equity Evaluation (SEE) Tool at RMIT does just that in an innovative project that integrates equity, sustainability, and governance considerations into the core strategic processes of the University. A team of purpose-driven professionals from across sustainability, diversity & inclusion and Indigenous engagement, have been collaborating for over two years to fundamentally change how social and environmental impacts can be considered in a large institution’s governance model, whilst ensuring our community is empowered to drive the University’s values forward without creating an additional ‘cultural load’ for those staff members responsible for representing and sharing the perspectives of their communities. This tool allows RMIT to take a universal design approach to developing policy, process and procedure.

  • Nature Positive

    University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha

    Catching on

    The overall aim of this project is to increase native biodiversity on the University of Canterbury campus, which will, in turn, improve the ecological health of the local environment. We are working with a variety of both university and local community members, to reduce predation risks on native fauna and flora, and to increase birdlife and cryptic biodiversity. Reducing introduced predators will allow more native birds to nest successfully and increase available food sources for them. It will also increase other native vertebrate and invertebrate populations. Together, this will enhance the campus’s key role as a stepping stone in the establishment of an ecological corridor through the city of Ōtautahi|Christchurch. The project has involved a student-led society and a community organisation to work with the university to achieve the desired outcomes collaboratively across the campus and in the surrounding neighbourhood.

  • Nature Positive/Winners

    La Trobe University

    The Nangak Tamboree: Embracing Biodiversity and Indigenous Cultural Learning in a University City

    Nangak Tamboree is pronounced: nan-ynack tam-bor-ee, which means respecting, sharing, and looking after the waterway in the Woiwurrung language of the Wurundjeri people. Nangak Tamboree is a 2 km waterway and open space network that runs through the heart of La Trobe’s Bundoora Campus. We seek to share our story about and success in delivering the Nangak Tamboree vision in collaboration with community, where in 2023: 1,343 species of flora and fauna were recorded.

    • Over 9,419 people were engaged across education, citizen science activities and events.
    • Over 4,645 volunteer hours were dedicated to plant production, land management, and seed collection.
    • 175 Hours of Narrap Crew Work were carried out in land management, cultural burning and biodiversity monitoring. 
    • 574 Internship Hours were made available to students.
    • 600 School Work Experience Hours undertaken.
    • Over 148,000 Indigenous Plants were grown and used for local revegetation projects.

  • Nature Positive

    Te Herenga Waka | Victoria University of Wellington

    Growing our Future

    Te Herenga Waka | Victoria University of Wellington is reforesting a 26 hectare block of land in the Outer Green Belt of Wellington. The project – ‘Growing Our Future’ is enhancing the biodiversity of the city; strengthening the connection between the University and the city; providing volunteer opportunities for staff, students and alumni; generating applied teaching and research opportunites; and sequestering carbon.

    The University has urban campuses with limited opportunities for extensive biodiversity restoration. The City Council has recently acquired a block of land, but lacks the resources to actively regenerate the native forest cover. The partnership formalises the collaboration and the carbon credit sharing through a 33-year peppercorn lease, where the University gets access to the land and takes on responsibility for managing the forest restoration.

    The project is delivering environmental benefits while bringing the University community together and forming closer ties with the city.

  • Highly Commended/Nature Positive

    The University of Melbourne

    Understanding, protecting & enhancing biodiversity

    The University has committed to no-net-loss of on-campus biodiversity by 2025 and a net-gain by 2030. These ambitious targets were informed by the Biodiversity Baseline Data Project. Since 2019, the BBDP has harnessed expert knowledge to develop seven preliminary metrics aimed at quantifying on-campus biodiversity. Led by the Sustainability Team, the project has been a collaborative effort between academics, students, and community members. Today, data collection across seven biodiversity metrics is 95% complete and the project is forecasted to be finished by the end of 2024. However, the University has already begun efforts to meet its 2025 and 2030 targets by committing ~$250K (to date) to improving the health of the University’s Dookie Bushland Reserve and working with student volunteers to plant 3,200 plants at our Parkville, Southbank and Werribee campuses in 2023. The BBDP enables the University to understand, protect and enhance its on-campus biodiversity while providing an intuitive framework for other institutions to adapt.

  • Next Generation Learning & Skills

    Macquarie University

    Global citizenship starts here

    The Global Leadership Program (GLP) is a co-curricular program open to all undergraduate, postgraduate and study abroad and exchange students at Macquarie University. It is a transformative Macquarie experience that motivates its students to become active global leaders. The GLP opens up new possibilities for its students by giving them a critical understanding of diverse issues and perspectives, as well as the skills and experiences they need to confidently connect and communicate across cultures, and ultimately, to make a positive societal impact in their lives and careers post-graduation. 

    With over 3300 active participants, the GLP allows offers an extensive suite of engaging, interactive workshops and the opportunity for each students to curate a suite of immersive practical experiences, which are either sourced themselves or designed in-house by program staff.  

     Our vision is for GLP graduates is to have the skills, experience, and knowledge they need to be confident global leaders.

  • Next Generation Learning & Skills

    Monash University

    Future skills for the SDGs: Change agents for social and commercial enterprise

    Collaborative curriculum development involving networks of universities, industry, government, communities, and NPOs represents a mutually beneficial proposition that is agile and disrupts current education paradigms. As challenges like sustainability, climate change, and extreme environmental events escalate, the Monash Innovation Guarantee (MIG) exemplifies the goals of SDG 17 by grounding itself in necessary partnerships to equip students with the skills and mindsets to tackle these challenges.

    MIG is a cross-sectoral, intergenerational, and interdisciplinary network and community comprising students, academics, and diverse industry and innovation leaders. They unite under a shared vision to generate positive social and environmental impacts. This groundbreaking teaching program pushes boundaries, empowering students and bridging the academia-industry divide. Through a 3-week, credit-bearing industry experience, MIG allows students from 93 degrees to collaborate with hundreds of industry leaders and Australian innovators, aiming to develop solutions for critical global challenges.

  • Next Generation Learning & Skills/Winners

    TAFE NSW

    Skilling up the next generation of sustainability professionals

    The TAFE NSW’s Higher Education (HE) Diploma of Sustainable Practice (DoSP) is aligned with the knowledge and skills determined by the International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP) to empower students in becoming effective sustainability professionals with the knowledge, confidence, and skills to drive lasting change, reduce risk, and increase resilience in any organisation or community context. The course is learner-centred and project-based in design, fostering real-world impact and reducing the risk of academic misconduct. Learning and teaching is online with networking and coaching opportunities with industry experts. Students have spearheaded many impactful initiatives during their studies and beyond, contributing to significant organisational and community economic, social and environmental improvements. The program boasts a high employment rate with many students and graduates securing leadership roles. This innovative program not only prepares students for immediate employment but also ensures they lead sustainability efforts that deliver long-term value to their employers and community.

  • Next Generation Learning & Skills/Winners

    University of Tasmania

    Sustainability University Major SUMs up appetite for interdisciplinary focus

    In 2023, building on the nation-leading success of a pre-degree in Sustainable Living (GGAA winner 2022, IGGA commendation 2023) and the University’s #2 Times Higher Education Impact Ranking, the University of Tasmania began a major transformation – creating an innovative new type of curriculum structure to enable students across most degree programs to study sustainability as a major. This decision has been driven by both top-down executive leadership and bottom-up advocacy and initiative from a university-wide network of sustainability educators (Education for Sustainability Community of Practice, IGGA winners 2018). The Sustainability University Major (SUM) is now available to most undergraduate students as a second major. Jointly governed by all Colleges of the University, SUM has grown rapidly to 150 students and is on target to be over 250 in 2025 with continued growth expected beyond this. This model pioneered by SUM is anticipated to be replicated by other cross-curriculum imperatives including decolonisation.

  • Next Generation Learning & Skills

    Victoria University

    The Smart Farm @ Wyndham Tech School

    Located at Wyndham Tech School, the Smart Farm is a controlled environment vertical farming system housed within a shipping container. This project has engaged over 1600 high school students and 40 secondary school teachers in hands-on learning about sustainable agriculture and food security – surpassing initial engagement goals within six months. Students from diverse curricular backgrounds (including biology, STEM, engineering, and business) collaborate to explore cutting-edge farming technologies and the business aspects of food production. Strategic partnerships with industry leaders, including Velisha Farms,  enhance the curriculum with real-world insights into agribusiness and entrepreneurial strategies. The project’s sustainability focus is underscored by its efficient water usage and solar-powered operations, making a significant impact on local food systems by supplying low-mileage produce to community facilities. Looking forward, the program aims to expand its reach by integrating agritech and agribusiness into vocational training for secondary students, addressing the critical global challenge of food security.

  • Powerful Partnerships/Winners

    Tertiary Education Sector Climate Futures Group

    From Sweet As to Oh Bugger – Sector-wide climate scenarios

    In 2023, Aotearoa New Zealand’s Universities, three Wānanga (tertiary education institutes based on tikanga and mātauranga Māori), and Te Pūkenga (Institute of Skills and Technology) came together to consider the question, ‘How will climate change impact Aotearoa New Zealand’s tertiary education sector between now and 2100?’ In 2024, the project culminated in the publication of the ‘Climate change scenarios for the Aotearoa New Zealand tertiary education sector’ report.

    Throughout the collaborative project, a broad range of perspectives and expertise was gathered to create a flexible framework for tertiary providers to build on to ensure their climate change planning follows a consistent approach, while adaptable to their own needs. 

    Developing scenarios allowed creative thinking about the future. By imagining plausible scenarios for Aotearoa New Zealand’s tertiary education sector within the framework of climate projections, we can guide strategic planning now to address future challenges and to realise potential opportunities.

  • Powerful Partnerships

    University of Tasmania

    Tasmanian Policy Exchange – partnering for a sustainable community

    The Tasmanian Policy Exchange (TPE), created in 2020, is a work unit within the University of Tasmania that uses evidence-based research, analysis and stakeholder engagement, to help provide solutions to policy challenges in Tasmania with relevance to the world. The TPE applies academic skills and research as well as the practical experience of staff within our institution itself to these issues to support the University’s positive impact on the Tasmanian community and to contribute to an environmentally, economically and socially sustainable future for all Tasmanians.

    Unlike traditional consultancies, the TPE leverages the considerable skills and knowledge available across the University. Subject experts partner on projects when needed, with the TPE acting as a bridge between academia and government, industry and community. TPE projects are a mix of strategic University and projects with external partners. The TPE is evidence-based and objective, only taking up projects that seek to make Tasmania a better place for all.

  • Student Engagement

    Mannix College, affiliated with Monash University

    Green cuisine: waste not, want not

    In partnership with Monash City Council, Mannix College students and staff launched an innovative food and organic waste redirection project, revolutionising waste management at the college by diverting 9,600 kg of organic waste from landfills in six months.

    Spearheaded by the student-driven Environment & Sustainability Advisory Committee and supported by dedicated staff, the project included a complete overhaul of the dining hall’s food waste system. Following extensive community education and engagement, organic waste bins were installed in the dining hall, which the council collected and composted weekly.

    Since its inception in July 2023, this student-led initiative, with strong staff support, has resulted in a 60% reduction in food waste, with the remaining waste redirected to beneficial uses. By diverting 9,600 kg of organic waste from landfills in six months, the project has prevented 15.84 tCO2 equivalent emissions. Projected annually, this impact increases to 31.68 tCO2e, significantly reducing the college’s environmental footprint and promoting sustainability. The project has produced roughly 3,840 kg of nutrient-rich compost, contributing to Monash University’s sustainability and UN Sustainable Development Goals. However, young adults actively engaging in sustainable behaviours daily is possibly the project’s greatest outcome.

    The entire Mannix community, driven by engaged and proactive students and bolstered by supportive staff, has united to drive this successful sustainability effort. This collaboration demonstrates the powerful impact of collective action and effective student-staff partnerships in achieving environmental goals.

  • Student Engagement/Winners

    University of Tasmania

    Sustainable Food Solutions

    With more than 50% of students experiencing food insecurity, UTAS has launched its Healthy, Sustainable and Equitable Food Strategy 2023-2028, a multifaceted approach to ensure students have access to enough nutritious, sustainable, and affordable food. 

    Sustainable Food Solutions consists of three of the Food Strategy’s priorities, each of which increase student access to healthy food as well as increasing knowledge about important food-related issues.

    • Edible Campus involves students in the process of growing, harvesting, and distributing fresh produce. 
    • The Student Foodies Program run by Health & Nutrition Science students, teaching food literacy and healthy eating through cooking and sharing low-cost, nutritious meals. 
    • Tasmanian University Students Association (TUSA), operates the Food Hub and Food Education Program providing free food and cooking classes to students in need. 

    All three initiatives are achieving high level student engagement, an essential aspect in reducing hunger amongst the student population and helping ensure ongoing sustainability.

  • Sustainability Institution of the Year

    TAFE Queensland - Robina Campus

    Engage, empower, embed - Sustainability excellence at Robina Campus

    TAFE Queensland Robina Campus is an exceptional educational institution that prioritises sustainability in all aspects, from infrastructure to curriculum. As TAFE Queensland’s flagship, it showcases our unwavering commitment to social and environmental sustainability aligned with the UN SDGs. Our educators undergo professional development to integrate sustainability into teaching, assessment, and campus life, ensuring students are well-informed about crucial sustainability issues. Our campus serves as a living laboratory, engaging students in eco-friendly live training venues, green-skilling programs, interactive activities, and collaborations with partners. Moreover, our learning spaces are unmatched in Australia, equipped with cutting-edge technology using interactive environments and global streaming cameras. This fosters a flexible and immersive educational experience. We generate 25% of our own power with more solar panels to be installed, and we rigorously manage our waste. We empower students to become global citizens, raising their awareness of sustainability challenges and inspiring them to act.

  • Sustainability Institution of the Year

    University of Tasmania

    Leveraging leadership to inspire bolder action

    The University of Tasmania (UTAS) continues to be an authentic sustainability leader in the higher education sector regionally and globally as well as more broadly within Tasmania and Australasia. Since our 2021 win in this category, we have delivered significant new initiatives, improved our Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) in 2022 from a Silver rating to first Australasian Gold rating and improved annually in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings rising from 76th in 2021, 25th in 2022, 5th in 2023, to equal 2nd in 2024. These external assessments reflect our increasingly broader and deeper institution-wide action to deliver positive impact as a leading sustainable university across curriculum, research, engagement, operational, and governance improvements. Our collective sustainability commitment, based on the Sustainable Development Goals, is embedded in our University Strategic Plan 2019-2024 and has formed the backbone of our strategy refresh process for 2025-2030.

  • Sustainability Institution of the Year/Winners

    University of Technology Sydney

    UTS making a splash in global impact

    UTS ranked equal 13th among 1,963 institutions globally in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024 and achieved a standout number one world ranking in the only mandatory category, Sustainable Development Goal 17 Partnerships for the Goals. UTS was thrilled to be recognised for the university’s capacity for global partnerships, engagement and collaboration and its commitment to making a positive social and environmental impact aligned with the UN SDGs.

    These results were achieved by applying a whole of institution approach over the past 15 years and executive level commitment. UTS has numerous research centres developing solutions to sustainability challenges and is committed to systematically embedding sustainability into the curriculum. There is an operational focus on addressing the Climate Emergency via the Climate Positive Plan. Strong governance includes the newly updated Sustainability Policy, Sustainability Strategy 2023 – 2027, Sustainability Steering Committee and commitment to transparent reporting via our public Sustainability Impact Dashboard.

  • Highly Commended/Sustainability Leadership

    The University of Melbourne

    Emilia Bisogni

    Sustainability Coordinator

    Since joining the University in 2019, I have led innovative sustainability initiatives that have transformed campus operations and fostered a culture of sustainability. Through programs like Choose to Reuse and Green Caffeen, I have managed the diversion of over 880,000 items from landfill, engaged thousands of students and staff, and established vital communication pathways between stakeholders. My efforts have not only improved waste management on campus but also provide practical and transferable demonstrations of sustainability, promoting education and awareness. By conducting the biennial Student and Staff Sustainability Survey, connecting to students via volunteering, and a comprehensive waste audit, I have been able to drive data-based decisions which lead to significant environmental impacts. These initiatives serve as models for other institutions, reflecting my commitment to embedding circular economy principles and creating a sustainable future.

  • Sustainability Leadership

    Monash University

    Shane French

    SENIOR SUSTAINABILITY COORDINATOR

    I am a sustainability educator and enabler, with over twenty years experience developing, leading, and delivering sustainability programs to a wide range of audiences, including primary and secondary schools, tertiary and higher education, community groups and industry professionals. 

    Highly skilled in the areas of environmental awareness, corporate social responsibility, community engagement, education and climate action, I have chosen to work with organisations which strongly align with my values, including Zoos Victoria and CERES Environment Park. I am currently the Senior Sustainability Coordinator within the Net Zero & Sustainability team at Monash University.

    In 2018, I rounded out my expertise with the completion of my Masters of Sustainability and Environment, focused on leadership and  behaviour change.

  • Sustainability Leadership

    University of Tasmania

    Dr Catherine Elliott

    Sustainability Manager (Experience & Engagement)

    I lead meaningful, place-based sustainability programs for our university community. Since 2019, I have designed sustainability projects for over 750 students with a strong focus on diversity, equity and inclusion. I embrace this unique chance to work with an incredibly diverse, passionate, committed and highly skilled community, and empower sustainability. I mentor 20-50 students annually on sustainability projects, identify sustainability challenges for major projects across the university, lead our University’s Sustainability Engagement Plan with a team of four part-time staff, co-ordinate staff engagement through facilitating the University of Tasmania’s Education for Sustainability Community of Practice and Green Impact Program, I co-ordinate community sustainability engagement at major events and host community workshops. Recently I designed the Sustainability Placement Experience unit, which I coordinate and co-teach. I am a founding member of the ‘Campus Living Lab’ International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN) Working Group to share best practice with universities around the world.

  • Sustainability Leadership/Winners

    The University of Melbourne

    Linh Do

    DIRECTOR, WATTLE FELLOWSHIP

    We all have responsibilities to one another and our planet as citizens. I wake up feeling fortunate that I get to work on the issue I care about every single day. I’m currently the Director of the Wattle Fellowship (a sustainability leadership program for students at the University of Melbourne) and chair of Climate Action Network Australia. My commitment to change was borne as a high school student driving legislative change through community organising on energy efficiency, and has since seen me work with multilateral institutions including the United Nations. I am regularly asked to comment in the media and advise government and corporate Australia on their sustainability and community engagement initiatives. Through the Wattle Fellowship, I am fostering Australia’s next generation of sustainability leaders and I can’t wait to see what they go on to achieve across Australia and the world in the decades to come.

  • Staff Champion/Winners

    University of Tasmania

    Dr Emily J Flies

    Lecturer, Environments and Sustainable Communities

    I am a sustainability-focused educator, researcher and equity, diversity and community engagement champion. In my teaching, I have led several sustainability-focussed units and the development of a major in sustainability, an effort for which I was awarded the highest University honour: a Vice Chancellor’s Award in Sustainability. My approach to teaching, which is evidence-based and student-focussed, consistently results in excellent student feedback and has demonstrated benefits for student subjective wellbeing, and sustainability knowledge, attitudes and outcomes.

    As a leader in the $17M Sustainable Communities and Waste Hub, I have co-designed a national research program on sustainable people-environment interactions. This work is impact-focussed and transdisciplinary; my team works with partners and policy-makers to ensure sustainability outcomes. 

    Outside my University role, I do award-winning science communication and community engagement, working to advance equity in science by founding and directing two not-for-profit organisations and the Inspiring Women in STEMM Fellowship program.

  • Highly Commended/Staff Champion

    The University of Melbourne

    Heather Gill

    Queen's College

    The Queen’s Op Shop is the first of its kind established at any of the colleges at Melbourne University. It addresses the ubiquitous problem of what to do with the huge amount of landfill that is created at the end of the college year by exiting students, maintaining a consistent focus from year to year and finding the best destination for the things we collect.  The drive to address this problem by establishing and running our Op shop comes from my own deep-seated hatred of waste and a passion for using existing materials in creative ways. The University recognised my contribution with a Community Engagement Award at the 2023 Sustainability Awards Ceremony.

  • Staff Champion

    Monash University

    Dr Tatiana Pinedo Rivera

    Senior Process Engineer - Team Lead

    For the past six years, under my leadership, MCN’s Green Impact team has earned multiple awards for our efforts, including Platinum, Most Labs Actions and Overall Monash Winner and Diamond. Recently, our cleanroom has received the highest level of My Green Lab certification. This journey required countless hours of volunteer effort from team members across MCN.

    Beyond MCN, I have extended my impact to inspire other labs across Australia and internationally to adopt sustainable practices. I have founded and led ANFF’s Sustainability Expert Working Group, aiming to spread sustainability principles throughout Australian micro and nanofabrication facilities and beyond. Additionally, I have organized international meetings and workshops to start a global network of sustainable cleanrooms, showcasing our progress at prestigious conferences.

    I am passionate about leading by example and engaging others in the sustainability movement, with the hope of inspiring more labs to join us in caring for the environment. Each achievement and award earned is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the entire team, and I am humbled by the impact we have been able to make.

  • Staff Champion

    The Australian National University

    Thomas Biedermann

    Project Manager

    I brought together two strategic priorities of the Australian National University (ANU), by establishing and leading an award-winning sustainability team within the ANU School of Cybernetics (the School). This informal “living lab” operates at the intersection of the ANU commitment to contribute to global environmental sustainability and the School’s mission to establish cybernetics as an important tool for navigating major societal transformations. 

    This work started mid-2023 and is ongoing. It seeks to identify, test and reinforce the synergies that exist between sustainability action and the unique attitudes, techniques and methodologies that Cybernetics provide. It builds on knowledge and networks established during a prior secondment as Program Manager for Below Zero (the ANU decarbonisation program) to pilot and embed sustainable ways of thinking and acting in the day-to-day operations of the School and its future orientations. Sharing our learnings, in turn, establishes reinforcing feedback loops of practice towards sustainability.

  • Student Champion

    The University of Melbourne

    Adele Roeder

    Bachelor of Science (Environmental Science)

    Sustainability issues cannot be addressed solely by individuals and instead require the intersectoral and intergenerational collaboration of community groups. After starting Moonee Valley City Council’s (MVCC) first youth environment group, I have subsequently created partnerships including with Moonee Valley Sustainability (MVS) and Glenbervie Stationeers by hosting a 3-day ‘Grassroots Youth Summit’ as part of my internship with MVCC’s Conservation Team that engaged numerous young people. As a third-year undergraduate Environmental Science student at the University of Melbourne (UoM), working in the University’s Sustainability Team as a Green Impact (GI) Officer and Vice President of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), I consistently utilise my networks to deliver impactful sustainability initiatives. This was recently exemplified through my Wattle Fellowship project where I collected +1330kg of household items from UoM student accommodation venues to host a ‘Thrift Market & Circular Economy’ Fair in partnership with 11 external sustainability organisations to raise $1723.28  for environmental and social charities.

  • Student Champion/Winners

    Monash University

    Anthony Brady

    Bachelor Environmental Engineering and Science

    I am an Environmental Engineering and Science student at Monash University, due to complete my studies at the end of 2024, and I am deeply passionate about the intersection of climate action and human rights. 

    My experience spans a spectrum of community engagement activities, from coordinating impactful events, facilitating peer-led workshops, delivering strategic communications and providing leadership in a range of diverse roles. This includes roles with Monash Residential Services (MRS) and Precious Plastic Monash (PPM), both of which have taught me about my leadership strengths in engaging with, and empowering people to, work towards a collective vision.

    I intrinsically gravitate towards experiences which allow me to contribute to my community in a meaningful way, and constantly strive for a more sustainable and equitable world.

  • Student Champion

    University of Tasmania

    Liam McLaren

    Bachelor of Science (Geography)

    Hailing from Smithton in Tasmania’s far northwest, I now am based in Hobart, Tasmania and completing my honours in a Bachelor of Science – Geography. I am passionate about the environment and building a sustainable future, particularly with a focus on regenerative agriculture. Over the last few years, I have been involved in a range of sustainability and environmental initiatives. From being a co-founder of our now over 150 members strong – Tasmanian University Environment Society. To building a full events calendar including our Annual Environmental Careers Expo. And even moving into a much larger student union and ensuring broader organisations include an environmental focus and strategy. My proudest achievement over the last few years would be the formation of the now annual careers expo, created with a central goal of allowing environmentally minded students to connect with careers and futures that align with their values.