Today the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) announced that its Executive Director, Suzanne Toumbourou, has been appointed CEO of the Australian Council of Recycling (ACOR), and will conclude her tenure at ASBEC at the end of June 2021.

Paying tribute to Ms Toumbourou, ASBEC President Professor Ken Maher AO said: “Under Suzanne’s leadership, ASBEC’s impact, reach and productivity has grown immensely.  Suzanne has been outstanding in her roles with ASBEC over her almost 10-year tenure, and through her significant contribution to sustainability in the built environment.  She has leveraged the incredible collaborative spirit of ASBEC’s membership to build broad peak-level coalitions, bringing industry together with the community sector to push for improved building standards, and successfully engage politicians and advisors at all levels to gain traction for ASBEC’s policy agenda.”

“Suzanne has guided numerous projects that have had impact and influence in the sector. Most recently, in partnership with ClimateWorks Australia, Suzanne stewarded the delivery of Built to Perform, which informed the COAG Energy Council’s ‘Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings’, paving a cross-jurisdictional pathway for net zero buildings in Australia. She will be missed, and all of us at ASBEC congratulate her on her new appointment. I thank Suzanne for her enormous contribution to ASBEC’s work improving Australia’s current and future built environment, and am sure she will continue her wonderful contribution in her new role.”

Suzanne Toumbourou, ASBEC’s outgoing Executive Director said: “It has been an immense pleasure and privilege to work with ASBEC’s members over the past decade. We have achieved so much real impact together, from mapping the emissions reductions possibilities presented by our buildings and infrastructure to securing cross government support for improved energy performance measures in Australia’s Building Code. While I’m proud to have been part of the journey up to now, I know ASBEC’s members will continue to pursue their collective vision of a sustainable and resilient built environment in Australia.”

Professor Maher added “We are delighted to welcome Alison Scotland, former Senior Stakeholder Engagement Manager at Standards Australia, as ASBEC’s Interim Executive Director. Alison will work closely with Suzanne during an initial handover period, and continue in the role until later in 2021.”

He concluded: “Suzanne leaves ASBEC in an incredibly strong position, with an engaged Board of industry leaders, a committed and growing network of members, and a clear plan for continued positive impact in this critical period for the built environment sector. The Board looks forward to undertaking a full and thorough search for the individual that will lead ASBEC to continued success in the 2020s.”

Download the full ASBEC media release here.