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.
Sanjeet Singh
Commonwealth Bank of Australia
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
Meg Cummins and Bright Pryde
Aurecon
Water Engineer and Senior Consultant, Integrated Transport and Mobility
This team effort is leading the way on integrating theSustainable Development Goals (SDG) internally and with theirclient’s projects. Bright and Meg with the support of the NSW/ACT Sustainability Committee have developed a monthlyprogram of SDG materials including presentations on the SDGcompass, a global tool used to guide business on aligning withthe goals. Each project is broken down to spotlight how it hasconsidered and contributed to the SDGs. Bright and Meg havealso coordinated annual sustainability design competitionswith teams across the region. These competitions are held withAurecon’s clients, industry SMEs and sustainability SMEs asjudges. The work that they have done in the region is currentlybeing expanded globally as an example of best practice.
Nominated by: Adam Agazzi, Quality, Environment and Sustainability Business Partners NSW and ACT, Aurecon
Kate Kremin
Shine On
Business Improvement Manager
Katie has worked tirelessly over the years with her teamand the CitySwitch program to move Shine On to a highperforming office with sustainability at its core. Despitethe many challenges over the past few years she hasset up and maintained their Sustainability Committee,pushed through ISO 14001 Environmental Managementsystems accreditation, run several internal waste andefficiency programs, and been the driving force behindimprovements to move from a 3 Star indicative NABERSto a 6 Star indicative NABERS (without GreenPower).
Nominated by: Danielle King, CitySwitch program manager, City of Melbourne
Mathuran Marianayagam
Cundall
Principal ESD Consultant
Mat is a highly-qualified building consultant whosename is associated with multiple CitySwitch awardsand a number of sustainability firsts. Not only does hisorganisation set the standard for sustainability, Mat hasinspired other CitySwitch signatories go carbon neutraland even beyond. Mat produced the strategy for WA’s firstcarbon neutral office building working in partnership withKnight Frank. He has created a five-year sustainabilityroadmap to guide progress, including carbon emissionreduction, health and wellbeing, tenant engagement,waste and achieving the science-based target.
Nominated by: Phill Raso, CitySwitch program manager, City of Perth
Justin Smith
Baenziger Coles
Architect
Justin Smith has been a keen advocate of BaezingerColes’ long association with the CitySwitch program.Justin achievements include listing the firm’s participationin the Architects Declare movement, carbon neutralcertification of the business and leading the teamthrough the BCorp assessment process. Justin Smithis a CitySwitch sustainability champion, passionate forthe environment, learning as much as he can aboutenergy efficiency and sustainability and integratingthis knowledge into creating a built environment that ishealthier, and less harmful to the environment.
Nominated by: Sue Coles, Director, Baenziger Coles
Kashmir Palou
Jones Lang LaSalle
Customer Relationship Manager, Darling Park Management Team
Kashmir has been a incredible driver of sustainability atDarling Park, Sydney over the past few years. Workingwith both the commercial tenants and the buildings wasteconsultants, EDGE Environment, the commercial towershave improved their NABERS Waste ratings by 0.5 – 1 Starover the period. For Cockle Bay Wharf, she engages withthe restaurants and retail tenancies with on-site educationsessions with the buildings waste contractor, ORG. Herpositive approach to all things sustainability keeps DarlingPark at the forefront of best practice. Kashmir’s standardof excellence has been part of a case study and used todevelop training material for the sector.
Nominated by: Ian McDonald, Energy and Sustainability Services, JLL
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Eligibility Criteria
Submitted projects should:
Judging Criteria
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.