23-24 JUL 2025 | ICC SYDNEY
The ReGen Advisory Board, comprised of circular economy leaders from around Australia, is playing a vital role in shaping ReGen’s upcoming two-day speaker series. The Board, chaired by our event director, is curating engaging discussions around the circular economy’s key challenges, innovations, and opportunities.
Experts representing the entire circular economy supply chain from research, regulation and industry are collaborating to ensure our free programs deliver practical insights and transformative ideas to help drive us collectively towards
Australia’s goals of doubling circularity by 2035.
Aleasha works in a transdisciplinary capacity between MSDI and faculty-based colleagues across Monash, building and managing partnerships with external academic, industry and government stakeholders to achieve program outcomes. In 2019, Aleasha and colleagues co-founded the Circular Economy Textiles Program which investigates what is required to transition the textile, clothing and footwear (TCF) industry in Australia to a circular economy model. In 2020 Aleasha co-led The Renewal Workshop’s circular education programs, circular mapping and recycling projects with major brand partners.
Alex has been with AORA since 2019, bringing with her two decades of experience in community engagement, events and marketing in the not for profit and association sector. Alex has spent 15 years working in the environmental sector including sustainable water management, waste management and litter prevention. Alex is also an Independent Board Member with the Fleurieu Regional Waste Authority. Alex has Bachelors Degrees in Media and Communications, Marine Biology and Environmental Biology.
Amy is an Assistant Director in the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. Working in the Circular Economy Policy Section, Amy has supported the recent launch of Australia’s Circular Economy Framework. With a diverse career spanning 15 years across the not-for-profit, government, and private sectors, Amy brings a strong commitment advancing Australia’s circular economy.
Bonnie works in the National Retail Association’s Policy Team. Before joining the team, Bonnie served 12 years in the Australian Federal Parliament as a Chief of Staff, campaign lead, policy adviser and media and communications manager. She has provided advice on key legislative areas including advanced manufacturing, energy policy, STEM and education, international relations, regional job creation, agriculture and dairy and social issues such as homelessness and women’s safety. Her work has seen her establishing a Manufacturing Taskforce, and providing policy feedback in areas such as advanced manufacturing, energy and critical supply chains as well as advising on policies relating to Net Zero emissions, clean energy, medical technology and preventative health.
Brett has a strong background in the Waste and Recycling industry as well as other sectors with a strong focus on environmental impacts and sustainability. Brett is currently the Executive Director of the Waste Contractors and Recyclers Association of NSW and ACT, having previously held similar, senior roles across various sectors spanning both NSW and Vic. He has significant experience working with NGOs, legislators, regulators, various statutory authorities, and research institutions across multiple jurisdictions.
Caitlyn Touzell is the General Manager at Boomerang Labs, Australia’s first Circular Economy Accelerator. Caitlyn holds unique insight into the evolving landscape of circular economy startups in Australia, working with early- and late-stage founders to scale and commercialise their emerging businesses. She is experienced in government, industry & community liaising, and acts as a matchmaker between circular entrepreneurs and private sector partners and mentors.
Dr. Heinz leads CSIRO’s Circular Economy Initiative, coordinating research efforts in this field. Dr. Schandl serves on global platforms, including the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) International Resource Panel. His research focuses on social theory, industrial metabolism, and environmental and sustainability policy. This expertise forms the backbone of his commitment to promoting evidence-based policies focused on resource efficiency, waste minimisation, greenhouse gas abatement, and the circular economy.
Dr Lisa Lake is the Director of the Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Fashion + Textiles at UTS and TAFE NSW; the Centre has a mission to aid the sustainable transition of the Australian fashion industry through education, research and advocacy. Lisa is a pioneer in the Australian sustainable fashion movement having authored Sustainability with Style in 2012, and co-founded Clean Cut, an organisation that brought the first sustainable fashion show to Sydney Fashion Week in 2014.
Marcelle has worked in the waste and resource recovery sector for over 20 years. Over the past 12 years’ she has held various roles within the EPA developing and delivering waste and recycling programs, advising on waste policy and strategy. Previously Marcelle has worked in local councils, environmental consultancy and the Not-for-Profit reuse and repair sector. She currently leads on implementing EPA’s joint waste procurement program, aimed at helping councils drive down costs, address waste infrastructure gaps and help navigate challenges in procuring waste services.
Martin Geissdoerfer is Associate Professor of Circular Economy Transitions at the Monash Sustainable Development Institute, where he leads the Circular Economy Labs, building a leading circular economy research centre in the region. Martin has authored some of the most influential scholarly publications on the circular economy and is among the most highly cited sustainability scientists globally. His research focuses on circular economy transitions, business model innovation, and sustainability strategies, with his work widely adopted in academia and policy and management practice.
Dr Nicole Garofano is the Head of Circular Economy Development for Planet Ark. In her role, Nicole leads the strategy implementation for the Australian Circular Economy Hub (ACE Hub), the national reference platform for circular economy knowledge and collaboration in Australia. For 20 years, Nicole has worked in environmental education and action with a focus on waste management, and in recent years, circular economy. Nicole has a PhD from research focused on the plastic food and beverage packaging value chain, identifying innovation to improve chain activities and outcomes.
Professor Simon Lockrey from RMIT School of Design is the REDUCE Program Leader in AU$121 million End Food Waste CRC. The domains in which Professor Lockrey has managed research include LCA, design innovation, green marketing, resource efficiency, food waste reduction and the circular economy for companies including Chep, Visy, Nestlé, Lendlease, and Breville, as well as governments and NGOs. As a result, he has generated millions of dollars of ‘industry facing’ research, creating global impact through policy changes, commercial outcomes, and media coverage.
Simran leads and manages research into plastics, packaging and food packaging, mining, metals and chemical sectors. She is Principal Advisor to the Australian Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence and serves on the board of the International Society for Industrial Ecology and strategic partner to Circular Australia. Simran is Program 3 Lead for the Solving Plastic Waste CRC, which secured $40 million funding from the Commonwealth over a 10-year period from 2024-2034.
Suzanne Toumbourou is the CEO of the Australian Council of Recycling (ACOR) the peak body for resource recovery, recycling and remanufacturing, committed to leading the transition to a circular economy through the recycling supply chain. Suzanne is an organisation leader with deep experience in public affairs, executive management, stakeholder relations, governance strategy of not-for-profits, with a strong reputation as a sustainability, recycling and circular economy subject matter expert.