Chats for the Goals: Careers within Sustainability

Are you interested in working in sustainability and curious about the different career paths you could explore? We’ve assembled an exciting panel of UTS graduates now working in areas as diverse as ESG Investment to sustainable infrastructure, consulting and research. Leading the discussion will be UTS Business School academic, Rosemary Sainty, who is the founding Australian Representative to the UN Global Compact – the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative. (Panelist information will be updated here closer to the event). 

About the panel moderator: Rosemary Sainty

From 2008 Rosemary Sainty established the National Responsible Business Practice Project funded by the Australian Federal Government (through Treasury), based at St James Ethics Centre, building a world first 'HUB' of international initiatives and local resources. These included the Australian focal points for the UN Global Compact, the world's largest corporate citizenship initiative, and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the most widely used sustainability reporting framework.The Project received endorsement from the Federal Treasurer, Business Council of Australia and HRH the Prince of Wales. As the elected Secretariat, Rosemary then grew the UN Global Compact Australian Network to become the strongest corporate citizenship movement in Australia, incorporating leading Australian businesses across banking and finance, extractives, retail and professional services. Rosemary has recently completed a PhD at UTS Business School. Her doctoral research examined corporate sustainability and responsibility leadership at board level. She is teaching across a number of Business School undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Rosemary has published research articles and resources and spoken widely on corporate responsibility and business ethics, both locally and internationally. 

Event panellists

Kate Burgess
Climate, Energy and Resources Correspondent - Capital Brief

Kate Burgess is a financial journalist and editor with more than two decades of experience in print and online media. Her career spans publications in Australia and the UK, including the Australian Financial Review, BRW, ICIS, Mergermarket, and several property trade media titles. Kate was the founding Asia Pacific Editor for Inframation, the infrastructure news service owned by Mergermarket. In this role, she managed a team of reporters spread across several cities and time zones, reporting on events and issues pertinent to the region.

Kate took a break from journalism in 2021-2022 to undertake a Masters of Sustainability at the University of Sydney and managing the Meta Australian News Fund with the Walkley Foundation for Journalism, before returning to journalism full-time to report on sustainable business for The Fifth Estate, an independent publication for the built environment based at the UTS DAB Faculty. Most recently she has joined the foundation reporting team at Capital Brief, a recently launched national business publication from Scire Media, a generational media company established by two former Fairfax/Nine executives with quality Australian journalism at its core.

In her role as Climate, Energy and Resources Correspondent, Kate covers all aspects of the net zero transition in across industries, including energy, resources, manufacturing, property, infrastructure and transport. Kate holds a Master of Arts in Journalism and a Bachelor of Business majoring in Finance, both from UTS.

Rory Duff
Consultant - Deloitte | Climate & Engineering

Rory joined Deloitte's graduate program in 2021 after completing global internships in startups, venture capital, and social enterprise. He built his foundations of consulting in the Transformation & Operations division before entering the Climate & Engineering team where he has pushed to accelerate decarbonisation through accelerating the climate technology ecosystem, Improving NSW’s transport systems and providing clarity for green hydrogen developers. Rory’s purpose driven approach to his work drives better outcomes for his clients, his team, and the communities impacted by their projects.

Alex Thomson
Industry Engagement Manager, Climate Change Cluster (C3) - University of Technology Sydney

Industry Engagement Manager for the Climate Change Cluster (C3) research institute at the University of Technology, former lecturer in the School of Life Sciences at UTS, marine ecologist and ‘Superstar of STEM’. Advocate for science research and partnerships for Australia and contributor to collaborative industry roadmaps and legislative guidance for the Australian research sector. Working in partnership with SMES, Startups, scientists, government and industry to drive science-based innovation to support a science-driven and sustainable future. Enthusiastic and creative science communicator with a broad reach, from primary school and high school children to the general public. Committed to developing the careers of emerging researchers, particularly women in STEM. Driven to create meaningful impact, strategic connections, and developing solutions to drive change.

Extensive experience in leading creative science engagement projects such as the “Living Lights” algae-filled installation for Vivid Sydney (2018), and the ""Deep Green Forest"" tent activation at Splendour in the Grass (2019, 2022). Co-Producer and programmer of the Splendour in the Grass Science Tent (2022, 2023).

Through the Deep Green Biotech Hub, spearheaded the world’s first dedicated algae accelerator program - joining biotechnology and entrepreneurship, and creating opportunities for STEM-preneurs across NSW to accelerate algae innovation and engage with science.

David Eokstein
Sustainability and Environment Manager - Hansen Yuncken

Professional, Pragmatic and Passionate Environmental Performance and Sustainability Strategist.
Over 20 years’ experience working to improve building and precinct environmental performance by focusing on viable solutions and using consultative approaches.
Ecologically sustainable design, development and policy expertise across multiple contexts.
Experience in NSW State & Local government implementing urban sustainability planning and design standards and strategies; applying policy and undertaking referral assessments for mid and large scale residential, commercial and mixed use development".

Ashleigh Buckett
Associate Legal Director - National Justice Project

A human rights lawyer with over 10 years' experience in Australia and internationally. Ashleigh is currently an Associate Legal Director at social justice law firm, the National Justice Project ( based at UTS and co-located with partners at the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research). Her work has included securing urgent medical care for refugees detained in offshore immigration detention & seeking accountability for racism and discrimination in the police, prison and healthcare systems. Previously Ashleigh has worked in international legal policy and international criminal law.

Tim William
Lecturer - UTS Business School

Dr Tim Williams is a Lecturer at the UTS Business School. His work is focused on the management challenges and opportunities relating to society and the environment. This is a hybrid agenda for organisations and Tim researches and teaches in the increasingly interlinked areas of corporate sustainability, strategic management and innovation. The heightening impact of ecological and societal crises requires a fundamental shift in the way that we do business, and Tim's overall aim is to understand how organisations transition toward sustainability and how this can be encouraged.

Tim is an active researcher in how sustainability can best be embedded within management education to equip current and emerging business leaders with the skills and knowledge to navigate an increasingly complex and challenging environment. Tim has a background as a leading corporate sustainability and public affairs practitioner, including 15 years' experience at the Westpac Group. Given this industry experience, he has a particular interest in connecting the worlds of research and practice.