Melbourne Circular Economy Precincts Accelerator | 28 October 2025

Want to get a circular precinct up and running?

Circular Australia and Aurecon are delighted to invite you to our 4th Circular Economy Precincts Accelerators taking place in Melbourne.

Join this deep dive workshop on activating circular economy outcomes in both existing and future precincts by registering at the button below (discount available for Circular Australia Taskforce members and Circular Leaders - contact emma@circularaustralia.com.au).

Circular Economy Precincts Accelerator | Melbourne, 28 October 2025, 12 PM - 4 PM, Aurecon Office

• The Australian Circular Economy Context: Circular Australia’s CEO Lisa McLean

• Circular Economy Precincts and Hubs: Practical guidance from Circular Australia and Aurecon’s Circular Precincts Report

• Precinct Case Studies: Analysis of practical case studies from around the world

• Breakout groups for deep dive into implementation:

  • Four steps to activating circular hubs/precincts

  • Embedding in plans and strategies

  • Engagement collateral and approaches

  • Opportunities & challenges

• Present back activation plans and strategies for group discussion

This program is for industry, local government and government agency practitioners wanting to:

• Implement circular economy hubs and precincts.

• Overcome challenges in activating precincts and applying the circular economy framework to business practices.

• Understand the benefits of circular economy to communities and supply chains.

• Support businesses in the economic transition to Net Zero and zero waste.

• Gain insights into future business models, policy and funding opportunities that support circular precincts implementation.

Participants will be able to hear practical case studies from, and work with three of Australia’s greatest minds in circular economy Lisa McLean, Sophie Green and Jessica Bennett

Lisa McLean

CEO, Circular Australia and Member of the Ministerial Advisory Group Circular Economy

Lisa McLean is a circular economy and zero-carbon business transformation leader and Managing Director, CEO of Circular Australia, a national independent NFP leading the transition to a zero-carbon circular economy in Australia. She has been successfully advising industry and governments in developing new policy frameworks and regulations that bring about market change to enable the circular zero-carbon economy over the past 20 years. This work has covered the supply chains, infrastructure, energy, water, waste and mobility sectors in the UK and Australia.

Sophie Green

Manager, Sustainability and Climate Change, Aurecon

Sophie brings experience across local and state government and industry, and is recognised for embedding and measuring circular solutions in infrastructure, transport, and water. She combines deep expertise in waste, resource recovery, and material circularity with strong skills in strategy, policy, and market development. Sophie has led high-profile projects that map and quantify place-based circular opportunities in both emerging and established precincts, including Western Sydney Parklands, the Gladstone Industrial Precinct, Melbourne CBD, and Central Victoria.

Jessica Bennett

Jessica leads Aurecon’s Sustainable Buildings team in Victoria and has over 12 years of experience leading sustainability and wellbeing across the built environment,

She specialises with clients and design teams to define their well-being and sustainability goals. With experience across complex projects like renewal precincts, heritage sites, infrastructure, education, and office buildings in Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore, Jessica brings broad expertise.

As a member of the IWBI’s WELL Faculty and WELL City Advisory, as well as the GBCA’s Sustainable Buildings Expert Reference Panel, Jessica is working with industry to continuously improvement and adapt sustainability rating tools, shaping the future of the built environment. Her work in the industry has led to successful implementation of several initiatives that positively impact on people’s well-being and sustainability of projects. Jessica has an excellent reputation for her innovative work leading sustainability and wellbeing such as the University of Melbourne’s Ian Potter Southbank Centre (MCM) and New Student Precinct projects; the Arden Renewal Precinct; the Suburban Rail Loop; as well as the award winning One Malop Street Geelong project.

Hosted by Aurecon

Afternoon tea and refreshments provided.