Hall of fame

Hall of fame

2021 Hall of Fame

The Hall of Fame is new category for standout colleagues whose efforts on sustainability action deserve recognition.  These are the winners for 2021 and why they are Sustainability Champions.

Congratulations to this year’s winners.

 

Name

Sanjeet Singh

Organisation

Commonwealth Bank of Australia

Title

Energy and Sustainability Manager


Sanjeet has a clear vision for achieving ambitious sustainability outcomes for the CBA Group Property portfolio, not only for tenancy performance - but the organisation as a whole. Sanjeet understands the responsibility he has in managing one of the largest occupier portfolios in Australia, and that the decisions he and his team make around commitments (e.g. RE100, Climate Active. long term renewable power purchase agreements, energy efficiency programs and installation of onsite renewables) have a huge impact on the direction of the property industry as a whole. He has followed the principles of the CitySwitch program of pursuing ambitious targets around energy efficiency first up, then pursuing onsite solar then supplementing this commitment with offsite solar through a power purchase agreement. To complete a longterm strategy in this particular hierarchy has meant CBA have benefited from a 65% reduction in their carbon footprint from 2009 levels. It also means that the organisation has achieved significant cost reductions in the process making this case study an attractive option for other organisations to follow. Sanjeet has been a champion in being steadfast in his pursuit of this impressive result.

Nominated by: Lisa Hinde, Head of Sustainability, Colliers

Name

Meg Cummins and Bright Pryde

Organisation

Aurecon

Title

Water Engineer and Senior Consultant, Integrated Transport and Mobility


This team effort is leading the way on integrating the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) internally and with their
client’s projects. Bright and Meg with the support of the NSW/
ACT Sustainability Committee have developed a monthly
program of SDG materials including presentations on the SDG
compass, a global tool used to guide business on aligning with
the goals. Each project is broken down to spotlight how it has
considered and contributed to the SDGs. Bright and Meg have
also coordinated annual sustainability design competitions
with teams across the region. These competitions are held with
Aurecon’s clients, industry SMEs and sustainability SMEs as
judges. The work that they have done in the region is currently
being expanded globally as an example of best practice.

Nominated by: Adam Agazzi, Quality, Environment and Sustainability Business Partners NSW and ACT, Aurecon

Name

Kate Kremin

Organisation

Shine On

Title

Business Improvement Manager


Katie has worked tirelessly over the years with her team
and the CitySwitch program to move Shine On to a high
performing office with sustainability at its core. Despite
the many challenges over the past few years she has
set up and maintained their Sustainability Committee,
pushed through ISO 14001 Environmental Management
systems accreditation, run several internal waste and
efficiency programs, and been the driving force behind
improvements to move from a 3 Star indicative NABERS
to a 6 Star indicative NABERS (without GreenPower).

Nominated by: Danielle King, CitySwitch program manager, City of Melbourne 

Name

Mathuran Marianayagam

Organisation

Cundall

Title

Principal ESD Consultant


Mat is a highly-qualified building consultant whose
name is associated with multiple CitySwitch awards
and a number of sustainability firsts. Not only does his
organisation set the standard for sustainability, Mat has
inspired other CitySwitch signatories go carbon neutral
and even beyond. Mat produced the strategy for WA’s first
carbon neutral office building working in partnership with
Knight Frank. He has created a five-year sustainability
roadmap to guide progress, including carbon emission
reduction, health and wellbeing, tenant engagement,
waste and achieving the science-based target.

Nominated by: Phill Raso, CitySwitch program manager, City of Perth

Name

Justin Smith

Organisation

Baenziger Coles

Title

Architect


Justin Smith has been a keen advocate of Baezinger
Coles’ long association with the CitySwitch program.
Justin achievements include listing the firm’s participation
in the Architects Declare movement, carbon neutral
certification of the business and leading the team
through the BCorp assessment process. Justin Smith
is a CitySwitch sustainability champion, passionate for
the environment, learning as much as he can about
energy efficiency and sustainability and integrating
this knowledge into creating a built environment that is
healthier, and less harmful to the environment.

Nominated by: Sue Coles, Director, Baenziger Coles

Name

Kashmir Palou

Organisation

Jones Lang LaSalle

Title

Customer Relationship Manager, Darling Park Management Team


Kashmir has been a incredible driver of sustainability at
Darling Park, Sydney over the past few years. Working
with both the commercial tenants and the buildings waste
consultants, EDGE Environment, the commercial towers
have improved their NABERS Waste ratings by 0.5 – 1 Star
over the period. For Cockle Bay Wharf, she engages with
the restaurants and retail tenancies with on-site education
sessions with the buildings waste contractor, ORG. Her
positive approach to all things sustainability keeps Darling
Park at the forefront of best practice. Kashmir’s standard
of excellence has been part of a case study and used to
develop training material for the sector.

Nominated by: Ian McDonald, Energy and Sustainability Services, JLL

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CitySwitch Signatory of the Year and New Signatory Awards - category judging criteria

  • Delivering outcomes as demonstrated by an improved or maintained current NABERS Energy rating and achieved energy savings* (up to 28 points)
  • Implementing one or more energy saving initiatives (up to 10 points)
  • Demonstrating leadership by undertaking innovative, creative or progressive office energy efficiency activities (up to 10 points)
  • Engagement of staff/ customers/suppliers and/or stakeholders to educate and create market transformation (up to 10 points)
  • Participation in CitySwitch local program activities (up to 10 points).
Note, new Signatories submitting for New Signatory of the Year Award need only complete an indicative rating – all other submissions must be accredited.

CitySwitch Partnership of the Year Award - category judging criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Submitted projects should:

  • Involve more than one registered company 
  • Demonstrate that they are  innovative and over and above “business as usual”
  • Demonstrate that they catalyse “market transformation” and or “address a market barrier”
  • Deliver a reduction in energy consumption and carbon emissions within the built environment 

Judging Criteria

  • Delivering outcomes as demonstrated by an improved or maintained current NABERS Energy rating and achieved energy savings* (up to 14 points)
  • Implementing one or more energy saving initiatives (up to 10 points)
  • Demonstrating leadership by undertaking innovative, creative or progressive office energy efficiency activities (up to 17 points)
  • Engagement of staff/ customers/suppliers and/or stakeholders to educate and create market transformation (up to 17 points)
  • Participation in CitySwitch local program activities (up to 10 points)
  • The submitting entity MUST be a CitySwitch Signatory
Note, Signatories submitting for the Partnership of the Year Award may submit an accredited NABERS tenancy, whole building or base building rating.

It’s easy and free to join the program. Your good-will commitment to the program is an acknowledgement of the business sector’s role in
contributing to environmental sustainability and your intention to reduce your own energy consumption and associated carbon emissions.

As part of this, Signatories to the program commit to achieve an accredited NABERS Energy tenancy rating (between 4 and 6 stars) and
work with CitySwitch to improve their tenancy’s environmental performance.

Find out more about how obtaining a NABERS Energy rating ensures you can benchmark your performance, better manage your progress
over time and promote your star rating achievement.