-- THIS EVENT HAS ALREADY OCCURED --

Wednesday 20th of June 2018 6:00 pm

As Victoria’s population increases, so does our waste. Landfills are overflowing, recycling is backed up, and our everyday consumables are having significant impacts on our environment. What can be done?

This Game Changers Conversation will investigate the innovations that are turning waste into opportunity, minimising waste creation, and helping everyday consumers break ingrained habits.

Of the millions of tonnes of waste generated (353kg per person!), over 60% is diverted for recycling and reuse whilst the rest goes to landfill. However, recent reports have highlighted that warehouses across Australia are filling up with recyclable waste with nowhere for it to go. It is clear that we are faced with a waste crisis, and one that needs to be combatted not only by the various levels of government, but also the individual.

Now more than ever, entrepreneurs, businesses and researchers are emerging as leaders in this field, developing innovations that are helping individuals make small changes to their lifestyle and subsequently reducing their impact on the world.

Join Tanya Ha, an award-winning environmental campaigner, and our panel of experts for an insightful discussion that will cover everything from the issues of waste, how value can be extracted from it, the innovations already doing this, and what opportunities there are in the future.

Speakers

• Tanya Ha (moderator), award-winning environmental campaigner, best-selling author and presenter
  Warm, engaging and more hip than hippie, Tanya is a rare breed of environmentalist – one with a sense of humour. She makes complex issues easy to understand and offers practical, accessible advice that people can incorporate into their lifestyle. Tanya’s work has included reporting for ABC TV’s Catalyst, being a delegate to the Australia 2020 Summit, a term on the board of Sustainability Victoria and her popular books Greeniology and Green Stuff for Kids.
• Ben Young, CEO & Founder of Frank Green
  A Melbourne-based entrepreneur, Ben recognised that we need to change the behaviours that create waste in the first place. This led to a 4 year self-funded and rigorous design process before the first Frank Green SmartCup and SmartBottle were sold in 2015. Innovation and flawless product design continues to be Ben’s vision to encourage more people to take up reusable products and reduce the devastating impact of single use plastic on our planet.
• Michelle Fisher, Founder & Coordinator of Melbourne Repair Cafe 
  Michelle established the Melbourne Repair Cafe (inner west), a meeting place where volunteer fixers show people how to mend their broken goods, in 2016. She is a passionate member of the local community, where she engages in initiatives that aim to connect neighbours, promote food security and edible gardening, and create a more localised economy where we value and share we we already have, do and know.
• Donavan Marney, Industry Support and Outreach Scientist at the Australian Synchrotron
  The Australian Synchrotron produces a powerful source of light enabling researchers to study the structure and properties of materials at unprecedented levels of detail. In his role, Donavan brings awareness to this unique technology. At Victoria University Donavan has also been involved in the development of new construction materials from kerbside recycled collected glass and soft plastics.

Ms Tanya Ha appears by arrangement with Claxton Speakers International.

About the Game Changers Conversation Series

The Game Changers Conversation Series presents pivotal ideas, personalities and moments in Australia’s evolving story for public discussion and debate. It is a Footscray University Townproject – a partnership between Maribyrnong City Council and Victoria University that sees education, jobs, creativity and opportunity at the heart of the future of Footscray.

The events are free and open to the whole community. Join the conversation online using the hashtag #FUTIdeas.

Presented by:

When
Wednesday 20th of June 2018
6:00 pm to 7:30 pm

Where
VU at MetroWest, 138 Nicholson Street
Footscray, VIC 3011

Contact
VU at MetroWest
metrowest@vu.edu.au
+61 3 9919 7043

Event/Ticketing Links
https://www.vu.edu.au/about-vu/news-events/events/game-changers-conversation-your-waste-is-my-business
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/your-waste-is-my-business-a-game-changers-conversation-tickets-45465764325?aff=efbeventtix

Areas of Interest

• Education
• Waste and consumption