Heinz Schandl

Dr. Heinz Schandl holds a PhD in Sociology and an MA in Social and Economic Sciences. As a senior science leader at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in Canberra, he is the director of CSIRO’s Circular Economy Initiative. In this capacity, he coordinates circular economy research endeavours. Beyond his primary role at CSIRO, he is an adjunct professor at the Graduate School of Environmental Studies at Nagoya University in Japan. His affiliations extend to global platforms: he is a member of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) International Resource Panel, an expert member of the UNCRD Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum for Asia and the Pacific, and a past president of the International Society of Industrial Ecology. At the core of his research are themes like 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 minimization, greenhouse gas abatement, and the principles of the circular economy.