CEBIC expert advisory group
Our virtual centre is supported by an expert advisory group called the Circular Economy Innovation Advisory Committee. The group is made up of business and academic leaders, who will provide advice on industry needs, CEBIC priorities and further support us to build effective partnerships.
Frances Blundell
Chief Legal and ESG Officer and Company Secretary, KMD Brands
Frances is a legal professional with over 15 years of experience working in international law firms, specialising in technology and intellectual property in high innovation environments.
Frances joined KMD Brands (formerly Kathmandu) in 2017 as legal counsel and now leads the company’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategies as well as holding company secretary responsibilities. KMD brands is considered a leader in ESG practices. The Kathmandu brand is a Certified B Corporation, and the Rip Curl and Oboz brands are working towards B Corp certification.
Kathmandu is a previous recipient of CEBIC grant funding, so Frances brings the critical grantee cohort perspective to the Committee along with her legal and governance expertise.
Jodie Bricout
Circular economy expert, researcher and board member
Jodie is one of Australia’s leading circular economy experts, with over twenty years’ experience working alongside research, government and industry in Australia, Dubai and Europe.
While undertaking a PhD with the University of Adelaide, Jodie is also circular economy leader at design and engineering consultancy Aurecon and Board Member of the NSW Circular Economy Innovation Network.
Since returning to Australia after a successful career abroad, Jodie has engaged with hundreds of professionals to adapt European best practice to the unique needs of our country, co-founding the ground-breaking not-for-profit Loop Circular Economy Platform.
She has trained more than 200 professionals in circular economy approaches and been engaged by four states, a capital city, two group of 8 universities and corporates big and small to develop circular economy projects and strategies.
Calum Drummond
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation and Vice-President at RMIT
Calum is a well-respected academic leader in the field of materials science with over 30 years’ experience. He has a strong interest in building and enhancing innovation capability and a passion for the commercialisation of research outcomes.
Calum joined RMIT University in 2014 from CSIRO where he was Group Executive for Manufacturing, Materials and Minerals. In this role he oversaw one of Australia’s largest IP portfolios and the CSIRO SME Engagement Centre.
Calum will bring strong insight on achieving effective collaboration between industry and research organisations, and in leveraging Victoria’s materials science, design and engineering expertise.
Jane Kern
Head of Impact Management Bank Australia
Jane is a sustainable development and finance specialist with experience providing support to sustainable energy programs in Australia.
She joined Bank Australia in 2015 and leads work on its approach to responsible banking, including supporting the development of Bank Australia’s Clean Energy Home Loan. Prior to joining Bank Australia, she worked with the Basel Agency for Sustainable Energy (BASE), a Swiss foundation focused on driving clean investment.
Jane holds a Master of Sustainable Development from the University of Basel, Switzerland and provides invaluable advice on finance as a key enabler of the circular economy transition.
Kanish Nadarajah
Head of Strategic, Sustainable and Responsible Sourcing Coles Group
Kanish is a sustainability, procurement and supply chain management executive with local and international experience across multiple industries including retail, manufacturing, communications, and oil and gas.
He has a proven track record for delivering strategic sustainability initiatives and recognises procurement as a critical lever for delivering circular economy outcomes.
He also worked as a Senior Sourcing and Project Manager with the Department of Treasury and Finance in Victoria, so is well placed to bring both the government and large business perspectives.
In addition to this Committee role, Kanish also sits on Planet Ark’s Australian Circular Economy (ACE) Procurement Advisory Group and the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation’s (APCO) Collective Action Group and is an Ambassador for the Sustainable Procurement Pledge.
Andrew Petersen
CEO, Business Council for Sustainable Development Australia (BCSD Australia)
Andrew has over 25 years’ environmental and planning law and policy experience as well as 10 years at a CEO and Director level in the not-for-profit sector initiating and driving systems change in policy and sustainable development through project design and delivery.
He currently leads BCSD Australia, a CEO-led organisation of more than 60 Australian businesses and non-governmental bodies working together to accelerate the transition to a sustainable world. He is also a Director at the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation and the Banksia Environmental Foundation.
He has previously been a Partner at Gadens Lawyers and was one of the founding Partners of the PriceWaterhouseCoopers Sustainability and Climate Change practice. Andrew is passionate about the industry opportunities presented by a transition to a circular economy and brings with him extensive business networks.