What does the future of Australia’s infrastructure look like, when seen through a low-carbon lens?

Infrastructure influences around 70 per cent of Australia’s annual greenhouse gas emissions. Now that Australia is committed to net zero emissions by 2050, how do we adapt infrastructure planning to enable this?

On Tuesday 23rd November 2021, our expert panel discussed the future of infrastructure in Australia and what needs to shift in infrastructure decision-making, policies, and investments to succeed in the race to net zero emissions.

The panel included:

  • Romilly Madew, Chief Executive Officer for Infrastructure Australia
  • Henri Blas, Chief Content Officer, Global Infrastructure Hub
  • Margot Delafoulhouze, Cities System Lead for Climateworks Australia

The panel was joined by host Professor John Thwaites. You can watch the full recording below:

This event was produced by Written & Recorded.

PANEL

Romilly Madew AO FTSE
Chief Executive Officer, Infrastructure Australia 

Romilly Madew AO FTSE was appointed Chief Executive Officer, Infrastructure Australia, in early 2019 and is responsible for overseeing Infrastructure Australia’s critical role in helping governments prioritise projects and reforms that best serve our communities.

Before joining Infrastructure Australia, Ms Madew was CEO of Green Building Council of Australia for 13 years. In acknowledgment of her contribution to Australia’s sustainable building movement, Ms Madew was awarded an Order of Australia in 2019.

She is currently a Member of Placemaking NSW Advisory Committee, Independent Chair of the Currawong State Park Advisory Board (NSW) and a member of the City of Melbourne’s Design Excellence Advisory Committee.

Henri Blas
Chief Content Officer, Global Infrastructure Hub

Henri joined the Global Infrastructure Hub in July 2020 as Chief Content Officer and leads the strategy and delivery of content initiatives and research, tools and products for the Hub.

Prior to joining the GI Hub, Henri was the Resilience Finance lead and acting COO for the Global Resilient Cities Network – an initiative across 100 cities pioneered by the Rockefeller Foundation. He had previously been leading Aecom infrastructure advisory practice in Asia, advising on asset valuations and sale/acquisitions for Macquarie in North America and consulting on transport projects across Europe and APAC for Systra.

Henri holds an MSc of Civil Engineering from ENTPE (France) and an MSc of Science from New York University (USA).

Margot Delafoulhouze
System Lead – Cities, Climateworks Australia

Margot leads Climateworks’ Cities team, aiming to accelerate the transition to net zero across cities and the urban environment through the decarbonisation of buildings, transport and infrastructure.

Prior to joining Climateworks, Margot worked for WWF France as Head of Advocacy and Campaigns for Sustainable Cities. She led campaigns and programmes on climate action, transitions and plastic pollution at the subnational level.

Previously, Margot worked for Ernst and Young’s Climate Change & Sustainability team in Paris. Margot also seconded to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, and led the organisation of the Low-emissions Solutions Conference at COP22. She has also worked for Aurecon Australia and the Port of Melbourne Corporation on environmental impact and stakeholder engagement.

Margot holds a Masters Degree in Urban Policy and a Bachelor of Social and Political Sciences from the Paris Institute of Political (Sciences Po Paris).

HOST

Professor John Thwaites AM
Chairman at Climateworks Australia

John Thwaites is a Professorial Fellow, Monash University, and Chair of the Monash Sustainable Development Institute and Climateworks Australia.

John is Chair of Melbourne Water and a Director of Fair Trade Australia New Zealand. He is also Chair of the National Sustainable Development Council. He is a Co-Chair of the Leadership Council of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (“SDSN”). John was Deputy Premier of Victoria from 1999 until his retirement in 2007. During this period he held various Ministerial portfolios including Health, Planning, Environment, Water and was Victoria’s first Minister for Climate Change. In these portfolios he was responsible for major reforms in social policy, health, environment and water.