UNAA Victoria and Spark Strategy have combined to produce a practical handbook to help organisations align to the SDGs.

More than 20 businesses, government authorities, universities and community sector organisations have been interviewed, with all providing tips and advice to help organisations wanting to get started and those looking to build on what they have done so far.

Panellists

Anna Yanatchkova, Acting Head of Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging, Sydney Opera House

Anna is passionate about driving positive social change through purpose-driven business. She leads the strategic direction for the Opera House’s social sustainability function, which includes the development and implementation of the organisation’s new Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Strategy, and providing strategic oversight of its Reconciliation Action Plan and commitment to the UN Global Goals. Prior to her current role, she looked after government relations for the Opera House for eight years. Anna holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and BA (Media and Communications), both from the University of Sydney.

Mindy Leow, Head of Community Building, B Lab Australia & New Zealand

Mindy started her career in the corporate sector and for the last decade has been working at the intersections of purpose and profit -- firstly in the social enterprise sector and now with the business community. At the not-for-profit B Lab, Mindy worked with hundreds of companies to pursue purpose and increase their social and environmental impact. Over five years, she has built a community of more than 300 certified B Corporations in Australia and New Zealand -- these are companies verified to meet a high standard of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. Mindy is also a Climate Reality Leader, and a founding member of the B Corp Climate Collective who are engaging businesses to achieve Net Zero by 2030, and a graduate of the Melbourne Business School MBA program at University of Melbourne.

Matthew Brennan, Head of Sustainability, Transurban

Matthew is passionate about advancing sustainability in infrastructure and, in particular, encouraging the sector to embrace and bring the UN Sustainable Development Goals to life. With over 25 years’ experience across the public and private sectors in the infrastructure and real-estate areas, he is a Director on the Infrastructure Sustainability Council’s Board and heads up sustainability at Transurban, an ASX top 15 company that manages and develops urban toll road networks in Australia and North America.

Catherine Brown, CEO, Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation

Catherine leads the largest and oldest community foundation in Australia, which focuses on such priority areas as housing, sustainable Melbourne (energy, food and water), the health impacts of climate change, social cohesion and youth unemployment. The Foundation uses a climate lens to inform its work across all impact areas. Catherine is a lawyer with a commitment to community philanthropy and philanthropy’s role in supporting innovative solutions to tough environmental and social problems.

Kiam Yoong, Senior Manager Environmental Sustainability, Zoos Victoria

During his time at Zoos Victoria, Kiam’s expertise has led to the development of world leading environmental sustainability policies and strategies relating to zero waste to landfill, resource efficiency and environmental, social and governance procurement. He has also overseen integration of climate change mitigation activities and Zoos Victoria’s Carbon Neutral certification.
Kiam is also Convenor of the Zoo Aquarium Environmental Sustainability Specialist Advisory Group and a member of the Task Force on Single-Use Plastics for the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.