Following the overwhelming success of our launch event, that attracted over 180 change-makers, join us for our second EM+I event. It will be an evening of espresso martinis and thoughtful dialogue around the social impact space.

Panel topic: Zero Waste: How can Australia escape the recycling crisis?

Do you know what happens to your recycling after you put it in your yellow bin?

When China stopped taking Australia's recyclable plastics at the beginning of last year, it became apparent how dependent our industry was on shipping waste overseas.

Industry leaders admit Australia's recycling industry is in crisis, but they also say there are some very simple ways it can be fixed.

What is the current situation, what are the biggest problem areas but mainly, how can we move forward?

Vollie, Pro Bono Australia and Nexus Australia present "Espresso Martinis + Impact" 🍸 An event series that brings together Melbourne's two favourite things...Espresso Martinis and that burning desire to make the world a better place. Our second event addresses the topic of Zero Waste, and how we can all contribute to our country avoiding a recycling crisis. We have an incredible panel lined-up for this event featuring leaders from the environmental space. Ticket price includes an espresso martini on arrival, grazing table, and drinks throughout the night.

6.00pm - 6.30pm
Drinks + appetisers

6.30pm - 8.00pm
Panel discussion

8.00pm - 9.00pm
Networking

PANEL LINEUP:

Moderator: Helen Millicer - Manager, Waste and Resource Recovery, Victorian Government Dept of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP)

Helen Millicer is one of the first in Australia to explore and speak on Australia’s transition to a more circular economy. She won a Churchill Trust Scholarship to investigate how Australia could shift to a more circular economy, with a particular focus on plastics. In 2018 she was appointed by the EU as chair of the EU-Australia Leadership Forum on Circular Economy. She has worked in national sustainability roles for two decades on energy, carbon, water and materials, a decade in local government, and throughout her life various roles involved in behaviour change and communications – from market research to radio broadcasting. In late 2018 Helen concluded her role as national recycling industry strategy manager for the Vinyl Council of Australia and commenced in policy and strategy as manager of waste and resource recovery in the Victorian government. She is national president of Renew, previously known as Alternative Technology Association, that advocates for sustainable living and liveable homes, and is now chair of the Churchill Trust Victorian industry selection panel.

Panelist 1: Erin Rhoads, Founder of The Rogue Ginger (https://www.therogueginger.com/)

Erin Rhoads has been writing about her zero-waste journey since 2013. Her blog, The Rogue Ginger, quickly became one of Australia's most popular eco-lifestyle websites, and Erin is now a prominent commentator on zero-waste living. She is on a mission to engage with individuals to redefine what is waste and how to create less of it. Erin is the author of two zero-waste lifestyle guide books Waste Not and Waste Not Everyday. She was a consultant on Australia's War on Waste and is a regular contributor for ABC Radio. She has been featured on BBC World, The Project, Sunrise, Marie Claire, Australian Womens Weekly, The Age, The Guardian, Peppermint magazine and many more.

Panelist 2: Oliver Moles, Director Economic Development and Planning at Moyne Shire Council (http://www.moyne.vic.gov.au)

Oliver Moles (BA and MUP) is a geographer and town planner by qualification. He has spent more than 38 years working in government and the private sector in Victoria and overseas involving planning and development. During his career he has worked for metropolitan municipalities and agencies, and the state government. He served as a member of Planning Panels Victoria for three years and as a member of the Western Coastal Board for Victoria for seven. He is currently a director at Moyne Shire Council where he runs a large portfolio of services to the community.

Panelist 3: Nick Aberle, Campaigns Manager at Environment Victoria (https://environmentvictoria.org.au/)

Dr Nicholas Aberle is the campaigns manager at Environment Victoria, where he has worked on campaigns to transition Victoria’s electricity system from coal to renewable energy, protect threatened species and improve energy efficiency for low income homes. Prior to this, he spent three years as a senior policy analyst at the Victorian Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability, contributing to the 2013 State of the Environment Report. He was also the founding director of the Environmental Film Festival Australia. In a previous career as a research scientist, Nicholas earned a PhD from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and spent three years trying to cure AIDS at Yale University in the USA. He has degrees in Law and Science from the University of Melbourne, and is passionate about leaving a better world for his two young daughters.

Panelist 4: Robert Pascoe, Founder and Managing Director, Closed Loop (https://closedloop.com.au/)

Robert Pascoe is the founder and managing director of Closed Loop, an Australian company providing comprehensive environmental solutions across industries including aviation, events, hospitality and health. Robert is particularly passionate about waste and regards it as a valuable resource that we shouldn’t simply throw away. In recent years, he has invested in technology for onsite composting of food waste which reduces the amount of organic waste sent to landfill and in place produces a nutrient rich soil conditioner. Robert is also deputy chairman of Australia’s largest outdoor education provider The Outdoor Education Group. He is serving as a director of the Sydney Swans Australian Rules Football Club.

Panelist 5: Mark Smith, Executive Officer, Victorian Waste Management Association (http://www.vwma.com.au/)

Mark Smith is the head of the Victorian Waste Management Association. He was appointed last year – at the start of what’s been penned as a recycling crisis. He has over 16 years of experience working across VicRoads, Toyota, EPA, Sustainability Victoria in the areas of audit, environmental crime, regulation and behaviour change. He has also worked on projects for NGOs: Thorn Harbour Health, Centre for Multicultural Youth and Hockey Victoria. He studied consumer behaviour at RMIT and recently completed a 12 month leadership program with Liberated Leaders. Mark’s energised by working on complex problems and believes that the triad: business, government and community, need to reconcile and recognise the shared responsibility we play in creating, but also solving society’s challenges and problems.

Check out the video from the first event to see what's in store:

EVENT PARTNERS

VOLLIE (https://www.vollie.com.au/)

Vollie's vision to see the worlds biggest problems solved through skilled volunteering. Vollie's mission is to advance volunteering in Australia and around the world, applying it to the digital age, and providing modern day professionals with meaningful opportunities to give back. Vollie is an online volunteering marketplace that connects individuals and businesses with causes they care about, driving meaningful and lasting change. To drive your business's next social impact initiative with Vollie, click here: HERE

PRO BONO AUSTRALIA (https://probonoaustralia.com.au/)

Pro Bono Australia is one of the country’s best known social businesses. Since 2000 we have provided news, jobs, education, skilled volunteering opportunities and other resources to support purpose-driven organisations to maximise their impact. We are the number one media service for Australia’s social economy, with over one million people using our services annually. To join our community of 60,000 subscribers and receive free social sector news delivered to your inbox twice a week, click here.

NEXUS AUSTRALIA (https://nexusglobal.org/australia/)

We are a network of young philanthropists, social entrepreneurs and impact investors catalysing change in Australia and the world. We do this through a BUILD, LEARN, SHARE and CREATE strategy: BUILD a common understanding, LEARN from each other’s perspective, SHARE ideas and lessons learned in solving problems and CREATE ways to solve challenges.

Thank you to Wake by Reach for hosting our event

Wake exists to bring teams to life. To deepen human connection and inspire success. If you are interested to understand more about how we can do that for you and your people, please contact Kim Smiley : kim@wakebyreach.com.au