Suzanne Toumbourou moves on from ASBEC

The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) has announced that 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.

“It has been an immense pleasure and privilege to work with ASBEC’s members over the past decade,” says Toumbourou. “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.”

Alison Scotland, former Senior Stakeholder Engagement Manager at Standards Australia, has been appointed as ASBEC’s Interim Executive Director. She will work closely with Toumbourou during an initial handover period, and continue in the role until later in 2021.

ASBEC President Professor Ken Maher AO paid tribute to Toumbourou’s work.

“Under Suzanne’s leadership, ASBEC’s impact, reach and productivity has grown immensely,” says Maher. “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 advisers at all levels to gain traction for ASBEC’s policy agenda.”

Maher applauded the many projects that Toumbourou guided. Most recently, this included Built to Perform, in partnership with ClimateWorks Australia, which informed the COAG Energy Council’s Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings, paving a cross-jurisdictional pathway for net zero buildings in Australia.

“Suzanne leaves ASBEC in an incredibly strong position,” says Maher, “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.”