JOBS NEWS: Andrew Gissing has been announced as incoming chief executive officer at Natural Hazards Research Australia, starting on 25 July in the Sydney office. He is moving over from Risk Frontiers as general manager of resilience, and previously held the position of deputy chief officer and director of emergency management and communication with the Victoria State Emergency Service and the director of enterprise risk management at the NSW Department of Family and Community Services.
Mr Gissing takes over from inaugural chief executive Dr Richard Thornton who will be retiring after leading the centre through establishment, leading the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre for eight years, and steering the research agenda of the sector for the past 18 years.
Dr Matthew Bell is the new global leader of the EY climate change and sustainability services team. With a background in science and over 20 years experience supporting businesses transition towards sustainability, Mr Bell previously worked as the UK lead of the team, and prior to that managing partner Asia Pacific. With a PhD in biotechnology and genetic engineering, he has been the non-executive director at the Carbon Market Institute, and head of climate change projects at the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
EY is considering a rebrand of its consulting arm along with a split of the business into a standalone company. The company is in the midst of controversy as it has been ordered to pay $144 million over exam cheating and misleading investigations – in the biggest ever audit fine.
Built environment movers and shakers
Cundall associate director Oliver Grimaldi has been named a member of the state design review panel for new large scale building developments at the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage. The panel delivers independent design quality advice on projects that have or will undergo assessment by the state. He has stepped down from the design review panel at the City of Vincent.
Michael Holt has been named associate director in urban advisory for Aecom in the UK. Previously he was an urban strategist for Hassell, and principal of design and research at the Government Architect of NSW working on policy, leadership, programmes and guidance. Mr Holt has more than 15 years’ professional experience across residential, education, commercial, urban design and masterplanning projects, and has also been editor at the Architectural Review Asia Pacific. He will continue on as honorary senior research associate in The Bartlett School of Architecture at University College London, and director of SandStone Holt.
David Stoneley has left GHDWoodhead to become director of health architecture at dwp. Mr Stoneley has extensive experience in the management and delivery of health, commercial, and multi-residential projects, and previously worked at architecture and interior design firms ThomsonAdsett and Hames Sharley.
Admir Dulic has stepped up into the role of development manager for WA premium apartment developer Edge Visionary Living from the role of assistant development manager. He previously worked at now-failed construction company Probuild Constructions.
Director of sustainability and infrastructure in the strategic planning team at the Greater Sydney Commission, Ed Steane will be commencing a six month secondment with Transport for NSW. He will be working in the active transport and cities division led by Kiersten Fishburn, focussing on governance and cities revitalisation opportunities. The Greater Sydney Commission is now looking to temporarily fill his role.
Property development and corporate real estate business leader Brian Tasker has been made head of Australian operations at Habitat for Humanity Australia in Sydney, where he has been on the advisory board since 2016. He previously worked at Boral Shared Business Services as national general manager and at Penrith Lakes Development Corporation as non-executive director.
Copper producer Austral Resources chief executive Steve Tambanis will step down from leadership on 31 July 2022. Dan Jauncey will remain as executive director and take on the chief executive officer role as of 1 August 2022. Mr Jauncey has prior experience in this role and will be responsible for the business as a principal executive officer.
Growth in demand for fighting food waste
Fight Food Waste Ltd has filled a number of roles recently as it continues to grow. One of its two divisions, Stop Food Waste Australia (SWFA) has appointed three new technical account managers in Dr Dianne McGrath (most recently the REDUCE program leader with the Fight Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre, with over 25 years of experience and a PhD in foodservice food waste), Melissa Smith (with over 20 years’ experience in agriculture), and Nick Cork (with 25 years in the food industry internationally).
Food industry specialist Leanne Singleton has been appointed technical specialist with over 20 years experience in food safety and supply chain risks. She is also principal at food safety consultancy FoodSure and food safety auditor and trainer at the British Standards Institution.
The federal environment minister launched the organisation (led by Fight Food Waste Limited and backed by partners and a government investment of $4 million) in December 2020, to aid in delivering the National Food Waste Strategy to halve Australia’s food waste by 2030. The non-profit now has voluntary commitment from big food businesses including Woolworths, Coles and McCain to combat food waste, and since January this year has expanded with at least seven new roles filled.
Michael Anderson has taken over as head of sustainability at agribusiness and food-ingredients processor GrainCorp in Sydney, moving over from regional APAC food company Goodman Fielder where he worked for 11 years. This new role has been created as part of sustainability efforts to embed ESG into company operations and identify areas where more work is required.
Demand for sustainability professionals still high
Sustainability strategy, policy and stakeholder engagement expert Richard Griffiths has stepped up as global head of growth at Edge Environment, after five years as head of industry engagement and principal consultant at the global sustainability consultancy. His prior experience includes a stint at the Supply Chain Sustainability School Australia, the UK Green Building Council, and the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change.
Brodie Akacich has been made environment and sustainability manager at Downer Defence, which provides manufacturing and heavy industry capability to the Australian Defence Force, the New Zealand Defence Force and other government agencies. He was previously stakeholder engagement lead at the Australian Rail Track Corporation.
Andrews government announces new appointments
The Andrews government has announced new appointments following the retirement of deputy premier James Merlino, health minister Martin Foley, sports minister Martin Pakula and police minister Lisa Neville late last week.
MPs Ben Carroll, Lily D’Ambrosio, Natalie Hutchins, and Mary-Anne Thomas have been promoted to senior cabinet roles. Lizzie Blandthorn has been appointed the new minister for planning, Danny Pearson becomes minister for housing, Melissa Horne adds suburban development and local government to existing responsibilities. Harriet Shing is the new minister for regional development, and Gabrielle Williams takes on a revised portfolio of treaty and first peoples.
Jacinta Allan has been appointed new deputy leader of the Labor Party, and becomes deputy premier of Victoria, keeping her portfolios of transport, infrastructure and suburban rail loop, and adding the new portfolio of commonwealth games delivery.
The Fifth Estate publishes a weekly column on jobs news every Tuesday. Send submissions to: rose@thefifthestate.com.au
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It’ll be interesting to see whether with the steep increases in food pricing there is less waste? Hope someone will gather that data.