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Australia's waste policies are at the crossroads.

Sydney: Thursday 15th May 2008, 7:00am - 10:00am

• What is the fate of EPR in NSW & Nationally

• what is the future of the National Packaging Covenant?

• how do we stop millions of computers and other e-waste being dumped?

• will we get national schemes for a dozen priority wastes or should NSW go it alone?

Chair: 

Murray Hogarth, Group Strategy Director - ECOS Corporation

Murray Hogarth is head of strategy for Ecos Corporation, one of the world’s oldest specialist firms advising business on sustainability strategies. Murray has worked with leading companies in Australia and internationally on major social and environmental issues, including climate change, since he joined Ecos in 1999.
He is the author of The 3rd Degree: Frontline in Australia’s Climate War, published by Pluto Press in April 2007. His book explores Australia’s climate awakening, and how the nation will fight its greatest challenge from five main perspectives – politics, business, the media, the environment movement and consumerism.

Before joining Ecos, Murray had an award-winning career in print and television journalism. He reported for flagship ABC-TV current affairs programs Four Corners and The 7.30 Report, and with top newspaper mastheads such as The National Times and The Australian, culminating with a spell as Environment Editor at The Sydney Morning Herald.

urray is a regular speaker, writer and media commentator on climate and sustainability issues. He is a director of Wattwatchers, a new consumer-focused energy efficiency technology company, and his pro bono roles include membership of the advisory panel for the Total Environment Centre’s Green Capital Program, serving as a longstanding Board member of the Environmental Defenders’ Office of NSW, and advising community action group the Australian Climate Coolers. 

Keynote Speakers: 

The Hon. Verity Firth MP, NSW Minister for Climate Change & the Environment

Minister Verity Firth has been a councillor on the City of Sydney Council since March 2004, where she has also served as Deputy Mayor. She previously worked as a lawyer for the respected national firm Slater & Gordon, and has practiced in asbestos litigation, workers compensation and industrial law.
Verity has served on the board of the Law and Justice Foundation - an organisation dedicated to improving access to justice for socially and economically disadvantaged Australians – and Aidwatch, a campaigning body that monitors the flow of Australian Aid overseas.
Verity was elected to the State Member for the new seat of Balmain at the 2007 NSW state election, when she was elevated to the ministry as Minister for Women, Minister for Science & Medical Research, Minister for Health (Cancer) and Minister Assisting the Minister for Environment.  Verity was given full responsibility for the areas of Environment and Climate Change in February this year.

Jane Castle, Resource Conservation Campaigner - Total Environment Centre 

Panel:

Jeff Angel, Director – Total Environment Centre

Jeff is the Executive Director of Total Environment Centre and is, without doubt, one of Australia's most vocal and respected environmental activists. He has been an environmental campaigner since 1973 on a wide range of issues including: urban sustainability, waste management, air pollution, public transport, forest protection, threatened species, coastal planning, corporate environmental sustainability and renewable energy.
Jeff was a key figure responsible for the introduction of lead free petrol in Australia and the high profile environmental successes to save the South East Forests and Snowy River. Jeff is also the Community Representative on the NPCC.

Ken Kanofski, Chief Executive Officer – WSN Environmental Solutions

Ken Kanofski has been CEO of WSN Environmental Solutions (formerly Waste Service NSW) since 2001.
Since 2001 WSN has been transformed from a waste disposer of last resort to a fully integrated environmental service provider of choice, particularly to local councils.  
WSN is now enjoying profitable growth having been though a period of radical transformation and having successfully dealt with a number of past legacy issues.
WSN has lead the introduction of new technologies to Australia that recover resources and divert waste from landfill and has taken a leadership position in the industry in the introduction of independently verified triple bottom line reporting, publishing of the organisations ecological footprint and support for the inclusion of future waste to landfill in the Australian Emissions Trading Scheme.

Peter Netchaef, General Manager, Group Sustainability - Sims Group

Peter is the General Manager, Group Sustainability for Sims-Group Limited, the largest recycling company in the world. In this capacity he holds senior corporate responsibility for all sustainability and environment issues within the Group and its more than 200 operations in 16 countries. He has been closely involved with the Australian UN delegation for more than 14 years and is a member of the Australian Policy Reference Group on Hazardous Waste and the Federal Task force on the Stockholm Convention among many other external activities.
A former mountaineer, Peter turned to civil engineering for a living and holds a Master’s degree in fluid dynamics and hydrology. He has held a number of senior commercial positions and worked extensively in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North and South America.

John Gertsakis, Executive Officer - Product Stewardship Australia

John Gertsakis is a Senior Sustainability Associate with WSP Environmental in Australia. He works across a range of product-oriented environmental areas including Design for Sustainability, product stewardship strategy and environmental communications. He consults to a diverse range of clients related to commercial furniture, consumer electronics, copiers and printers, textiles and flooring.
As part of his work with WSP Environmental, John is also the part-time executive officer of Product Stewardship Australia Ltd, a producer responsibility organisation that has developed (and proposed) a national take-back scheme for end-of-life televisions.  PSA members include Sharp, Panasonic, Philips, Sanyo, Sony, LG, Samsung and NEC.
WSP Environmental works with brand-owners and government to make eco-improved products and product systems a reality. In particular he works with product designers,  engineers, manufacturers, associations and government agencies. Prior to WSP Environmental, John was director of his own consulting practice – Product Ecology Pty Ltd.

Russell Peel, Chair - National Packaging Covenant

Russell is a chemical engineer who, during his career at Carlton & United Breweries and then Foster’s, worked on water and energy efficiency improvements, wastewater treatment technologies, and then brewing technology and cleaner production.  He participated in international industry research bodies during this time. 
For the past 10 years Russell has been responsible for Foster’s global health, safety and environmental performance, as well as Foster’s Australian product stewardship responsibilities.  He has been Chair of the Beverage Industry Environment Council (BIEC, now the Packaging Stewardship Forum), and for the 2008 financial year is Chair of the National Packaging Covenant. 
From 2004 to 2008 he was a Board Member of Sustainability Victoria, and since late 2007 is an Al Gore Ambassador doing climate change presentations to raise community awareness of the issue.

Genia McCaffrey, President – Local Government Association NSW

Cr Genia McCaffery holds a Bachelor of Economics degree with Honours in government from the University of Sydney.
Cr McCaffery began work as a researcher with the National Trust. Her experience spans work in youth issues, unemployment, and public advocacy.
Cr McCaffery was elected as full-time Mayor of North Sydney by popular vote in 1995 and was re-elected in 1999 and again in 2004. As Mayor, Cr McCaffery is committed to managing development within North Sydney, responsible financial management of Council, protecting the environment, and maintaining strong community involvement in local government.
In October 2004, Cr McCaffery was elected President of the NSW Local Government Association for a two-year term. Cr McCaffery was re-elected as President in 2006. She has identified planning, natural resources management and infrastructure investment as the key issues to address during her term as President.
Cr McCaffery has been a member of the Local Government Executive since 1998, She is on the Board of the Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Authority, the NSW Environment Protection Authority, the NSW Environmental Trust, and the Natural Resources Advisory Council.
Cr McCaffery is married and has two children.

Simon Smith, Deputy Director General - NSW Department Environment of Climate Change

Simon heads the group responsible for delivering the NSW government’s policies and programs on climate change, air quality, environmental water, flood preparation and coastline management, protection of native vegetation, and investment in landscape and biodiversity health and restoration. The Group also delivers industry and community sustainability programs, including a particular focus on energy and water efficiency, waste minimisation and recycling. 

Booking Form - Sydney ONLY [PDF 157Kb]  

Melbourne: Thursday 17th April 2008

On April 17 2008, Federal and State Environment Ministers will convene the first Environment Protection & Heritage Council (EPHC) under the Rudd Government. Heading the Agenda will be whether to adopt a range of Extended Producer Responsibilities Schemes to tackle Australia’s growing waste crisis.
 
Will Extended Producer Responsibility finally become a reality? Will Minister’s dump the controversial National Packaging Covenant in favour of a scheme like South Australia’s Container Deposit System? How will they tackle the growing mountains of TV’s and computers heading to landfill? A ban on plastic bags? A take back scheme for batteries? Uniform national waste levies? What is the greenhouse opportunity in tackling waste?

In an unprecedented event, 3 State Environment Ministers will take the Green Capital stage immediately before this watershed meeting to conduct a final interrogation of leading environmentalists and industry representatives on their views regarding the state of waste management and the solutions to resource recovery.

Chair:

Terrie-Ann Johnson, Chief Executive - Clean Up Australia 

Keynote Speaker:

The Ministers:

Panel:

Jeff Angel, Director – Total Environment Centre
Dave West, Director – Boomerang Alliance
John Phillips OAM, Director - Keep South Australia Beautiful
Genia McCaffrey, President – Local Government Association NSW
Peter Netchaef, General Manager, Group Sustainability - Sims Group
Alec Wagstaff, Chair - National Packaging Covenant Industry Association
John Gertsakis, Executive Officer - Product Stewardship Australia

Closing Address:

Ken Kanofski, Chief Executive Officer – WSN Environmental Solutions

Presentations

Waste Reform? What really needs to be done. [PDF 2,930 Kb]
Mike Ritchie, SITA Environmental Solutions 

Container Deposits: The common sense approach to a zero waste Society May 2008 [PDF 765 Kb]
Dave West & Abby Symes, Boomerang Alliance

Container Deposits: National CDS Model and Analysis May 2008 [PDF 432 Kb]
Dave West, Boomerang Alliance

Keynote Presentation - Text [PDF 31Kb]
Keynote Presentation - Power Point [PDF 2.03 Mb]
Jane Castle, Recource Recovery campaigner - Total Environment Centre

Ticket Prices

Green Capital Annual Subscribers: Complimentary ticket to either Sydney OR Melbourne

*To become a Subscriber click here (PDF 496Kb) 

All Prices include GST 

Booking Form 

Booking Form [PDF 105Kb]

Senate Inquiry into the Management of Australia's Waste Streams - Link

The closing date for submissions is close of business on Friday, 23 May 2008.

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