Jane ASLANIDIS (2009)
Jane is an award-winning global executive. She is Australia’s ‘Young Woman to Watch in International Affairs’ and in the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Business School’s ‘Hall of Fame’ in 2022.
Jane has worked in the corporate and international relations fields for more than a decade Her career spans New York and Rome United Nations (UN) postings, where she is recognised for her work as Nobel Peace Prize Laureate with the UN World Food Programme In London, Jane worked at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) as
senior manager delivering global programs for leading foundations and institutions and worked directly with high-profile leaders . She is recognised for her work as co-designer of The Earthshot Prize spearheaded by Prince William . Jane has also been a board member (GAICD) and continues to advise and work with select new and experienced private and corporate clients, continuing her in-depth knowledge of strategy, facilitation and external relations .
More recently, Jane was selected as a Max Thabiso Edkins (MTE) Climate Ambassador Here, Jane gives SPAN News readers fascinating insights into this role and how sustainability has been pivotal to her career .
You were selected from 2,700+ applications across 140+ countries as a MTE Climate Ambassador in 2023 by the World Bank Group Global Youth Climate Network (GYCN) and Connect4Climate. What does your ambassadorship entail?
Thank you for asking me back to share an update on my career journey since leaving SCEGGS Reading this piece, you may recall my interview in Light Works 2020 As a proud Old Girl, I am happy to contribute and connect with Old Girls in Sydney and across the globe . Please do be in touch!
Being a MTE Climate Ambassador is a global opportunity and responsibility that I am honoured to be undertaking this year I am contributing to meaningful climate action, stepping up our collective ambitions in pursuit of a vision of a sustainable future by 2030 .
I’ve committed my ambassadorship to be a listening role, learning in partnership with other people in my community to co-design solutions, innovations and actions together My focus is to lead global and local ideas into investible action so that I can continue to serve my community and explore issues that have meaning and impact on many people and cultures across the globe
When pursuing a vision of a sustainable future, it is not what happens tomorrow - it starts with right now
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Climate Ambassador
Was a career involving sustainability something you always aspired to?
I think growing up in Australia gives you a unique appreciation of nature and its powerful force – from the ocean to the rainforest, reefs, the desert and more Australia has it all .
From a young age, my favourite pastimes have been swimming and surfing at the beach, followed closely by hiking through national parks . However, I also remember the first feelings of disgust at the mountains of litter collected at my first beach clean up, witnessing hundreds of trees cut down and concrete poured in their place and speaking with local farmers with tears pouring down their faces, devastated that imported produce is being sold at a fraction of the price, driving them out of business: small personal experiences that began to shape my worldviews
At SCEGGS, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award contributed to turning this inner drive and appreciation for the natural world into action As I started my career, I quickly learnt that to make real progress in climate action and sustainability, you have to advocate that the environment and the economy are two sides of the same coin
Early in my career, profit-driven leaders I came across were quick to discourage me from pursuing climate action, advising me that there were more profitable endeavours than taking care of the rock we live on . While this sort of talk was and still is tough to hear, I have come to recognise that a business case can and should be made when changing the nature of the conversation . Investing in our climate and conservation of the natural world leads to game-changing innovations that firm up national security, create resilient homes and supply chains, and improve the quality of our air, oceans
and land . This is where I dedicate my energy, drive and passion when working in Australia and the international arena
What does climate action mean in the context of the work you do with global organisations like the United Nations and World Bank Group?
This matters to each and every one of us and in a historic move in July 2022, the UN General Assembly declared that access to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment is a universal human right .
Definitions from the UN can be helpful to hone in on climate action:
• Climate action means taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts .
• Climate is the average of weather patterns in a specific area over a longer period of time, usually 30 or more years .
• Climate change refers to the long-term changes in the Earth’s climate, beyond the increase in average surface temperature .
• Climate change causes weather patterns to be less predictable, affecting the balance of ecosystems that support life and biodiversity . It also causes more extreme weather events, such as more intense floods, heat waves and droughts, and leads to sea level rise and coastal erosion by accelerating the melting of glaciers .
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“Climate action means taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.”
Combining the crisis of climate change with the challenges of nature and biodiversity loss, pollution and waste can cause anxiety about the state of our planet and it is important to acknowledge the antidote to anxiety is being grounded in the present
For me, the climate actions and solutions that exist right now give reason to be optimistic I have worked with startups, organisations, cities, countries, academics, youth leaders and high profile leaders – what unites them is that they all have one goal – to restore and repair our planet, taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts . This work is happening in co-ordination with sustainable development goal targets including:
• Strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity to climaterelated hazards and natural disasters in all countries
• Integrating climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning
• Improving education, awarenessraising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning
• Implementing capital and support to address the needs of developing countries in the context of meaningful mitigation actions .
• Promoting mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and Small Island Developing States, including focusing on women, youth and local and marginalised communities .
You have had some incredible career successes in creating positive change for humanity and the environment, including winning a Nobel Peace Prize with the UN World Food Programme and co-designing the Earthshot Prize. What personal career highlights stand out to you?
Prizes are a great focal point to spotlight and scale solutions, create positive change and inspire us all to shoot for the moon and even if we miss, land among stars .
I am happy to share that as I have progressed over the 12-years of my career to date and as I look ahead, there are many more advocates than detractors these days, from heads of state all the way through to the grassroots level
The personal career highlight is really in the incredible, kind people and motivated teams I’ve been privileged to work with to date .
What advice would you share with current students seeking a career in sustainability and climate action?
Read widely and weirdly . Challenge yourself to be open to new perspectives, ideas and solutions Whether you take a generalist or specialist career path, keep your horizons broad
Be self-aware, not self-important I am so proud and encouraged to see that young people are standing up for themselves and our collective future in real, authentic ways .
Be kind to yourself Failure and rejection are essential parts of the process; don’t forget that . Look at your future with optimism, hope and empathy .
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Climate Ambassador continued
Edie MATHER (2003)
Old Girl Edie MATHER is an engineer with 12 years’ experience in the renewable energy industry. Currently, Edie develops utility scale PV Solar Farms and battery energy storage projects across Australia and New Zealand: a role that includes technical design, environmental permitting and community engagement. As a multiple finalist and winner for the Clean Energy Council’s Awards for PV System Design, Edie highlights the benefits of renewable energy both for the environment and as a career.
What career path have you followed since graduating from SCEGGS?
I finished at SCEGGS in 2003 and completed a Bachelor of Engineering in Renewable Energy at UNSW Studying engineering was challenging but also incredibly rewarding
At first it was very heavy on the foundations in physics, maths, electrical and mechanical engineering Fortunately, by second and third year, the topics were more exciting: semiconductor physics, solar cell chemistry, wind turbines, biomass, renewable energy for developing countries, building integrated photovoltaics, energy efficient building design etc At that point I could really see the endless opportunities and applications for renewable energy .
Importantly, I met lots of amazing people throughout the course who I am still friends with and still work with in the industry today . My first job out of university was designing rooftop solar systems for homes and businesses Back then, there was no such thing as solar farms in Australia . Installations were small and rooftop solar was very expensive and (at the time) heavily subsidised by the Federal Government
After a few years, I moved into project management for the design and construction of solar systems and progressively worked on bigger projects, eventually specialising in ground mounted large scale solar systems connected to the national electricity network .
Today I develop Australia’s largest solar farms and battery energy storage systems (BESS) – these projects consist of millions of solar panels across sites that are hundreds of hectares in size . It is incredible to work on these projects and see solar farms as a mainstream source of grid power today
In the past year I have had two exciting additions to my role . The first is expanding into New Zealand Setting up projects and running my processes in a new country has given me a whole new set of interesting challenges to tackle . The second and more recent has been
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Renewable Engineer
starting work on green hydrogen projects to store and transport energy Green hydrogen is the renewable energy industry’s next big thing and it’s exciting to be working on the latest energy technology .
What are your favourite aspects of your current role?
I really enjoy that my role has variety and is so much more than just the technical aspects of a project . While my engineering knowledge provides a wonderful foundation, our projects are complex and require a broad range of skills My role exercises my brain constantly; no two days are ever the same! I need to consider everything from the company strategy, technical design details and project management of resources and my team, whilst also making sure the project stacks up commercially and keeping a wide range of public stakeholders informed and positive about the project .
I also love visiting our projects once they are built and operational . It’s very
rewarding to see the results of the whole team’s work and quite a sight to see so many panels silently generating power in the sunshine, while sheep graze on the grass underneath them .
Can you share a challenging problem you have overcome in your career?
Our industry used to be nicknamed the ‘solar coaster’, in reference to the steep ups and downs faced during the first decade of solar in Australia
Swinging political support, changes in materials’ pricing, poorly allocated risk and Renewable Energy Certificate price crashes were all known to kill projects over night and even sent a few companies into receivership
Thankfully, the industry is now established, far less reliant on government support and has been stable for many years . During COVID, renewable energy projects continued to be delivered with great success and the
8 Renewable Engineer continued
Working on designs with the engineering team
“It’s very rewarding to see the results of the whole team’s work and quite a sight to see so many panels silently generating power in the sunshine, while sheep graze on the grass underneath them.”
industry growth has been tremendous
Although Australia was slow to get started with large scale renewable energy, it feels like we have caught up with the world .
Is there potential for renewable energy to create more jobs?
Absolutely! The renewable energy sector is booming I cannot hire enough people fast enough to keep up with our opportunities and project pipeline
There is huge appetite for sustainably sourced energy, largely driven by large corporates and energy retailers seeking power purchase agreements directly from renewable generators
Beyond solar farms and battery energy storage, there are new sectors of the renewable energy industry starting to take off Recently we have seen offshore wind farms being proposed around Australia Hydrogen energy hubs have been declared in South Australia, across New South Wales and in Queensland Renewable Energy Zones continue to be expanded and new ones declared by state governments
What steps should current students take if they wish to follow a similar career path?
While engineering and science are the typical entries to this industry, they are not the only pathway . We need lawyers, financiers, planners, project managers, accountants, environmental experts, analysists, health and safety advisors, communications specialists and so much more All these professions can specialise in renewable energy .
Apply for graduate programs where you are exposed to different company departments and can get a well-rounded taste of working life Even better, don’t wait until graduation; take full advantage
of student memberships to industry groups and line up an internship during your student years . The earlier you can start being involved in the industry, the sooner you will make connections, understand the opportunities available and see where you fit in and can make a difference .
Connect with people who are doing interesting or unconventional things to advance your industry . Their stories and advice can be insightful Most haven’t got to where they are via a ‘traditional’ route! Always be on the lookout for mentors, no matter your age or career stage .
In general, make sure you follow your interests and passions so you enjoy the work you do and your career continues to drive and inspire you I would encourage students to have fun, be curious, take opportunities, keep an open mind to trying new things and make sure to push yourself outside the comfort zone every now and then You never know where it may take you or the doors that can open .
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Onsite at Goonumbla Solar Farm in Parkes, NSW
Work Experience 2023
All girls in Years 10 and 11 and if appropriate Year 12, are encouraged to undertake some work experience during a holiday period during their senior years. Work experience has always been challenging to secure and that has been exacerbated more so during the last two years. Workplaces have changed, more people are working from home and stricter protocols have all impacted the opportunities for young people to experience the world of work.
SCEGGS Old Girls have always played a generous and supportive role in our work experience program, providing valuable learning experiences in a workplace setting whenever possible In addition, many Old Girls have returned to school to speak to students about their careers, sharing their experiences and knowledge of in demand careers, inspiring and motivating our students to
pursue a variety of different professional pursuits So many past students have forged remarkable and interesting career paths and it would be great to welcome you back to school to chat with the current students at SCEGGS, preferably at lunchtime (1:00pm)
Just as it was when you were at school, our students have varied interests and thoughts about their futures Although exciting, it can also be a daunting prospect to think about the future and it helps so much to hear from Old Girls who have experienced study, changing career ideas, working overseas, applying and succeeding in gaining internships, understanding industries and the tips and ideas that help forge a career in a competitive profession It does not matter what you have done, we would love to hear about it! From Anthropology to Zoology and everything in between, our girls would love to meet you and hear from your experiences In addition, if you can provide a work experience opportunity, even for just a few days, that would be so appreciated .
If you would like to visit us at SCEGGS to speak to students about your career in an informal and conversational manner or if you are in a position to offer some work experience please email Andrea Pinnock, Careers Adviser
andreapinnock@sceggs.nsw.edu.au
We look forward to hearing from you!
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Daisy Singleton Hannah Guest and Leyla Bensan at the ASX during a two-day 2022 Work Experience Program at Wilson Investment Management
Term 4 2022 saw an international panel of five women from the SCEGGS Old Girls’ community share their insights about their careers in STEM Moderated by Head of Science Luke Hanson, the distinguished panel included clinical scientist Professor Elizabeth ELLIOT (1974), software engineer Brittany EVAT (2014) who dialled in from Hong Kong, engineer Jayne LONGSTAFF (2008) joining from London, fellow engineer Edie MATHER (2003), who also features in this issue of SPAN News and Fulbright Scholar Dr Sarah THOMAS BROOME
SAVE THE DATE!
(2012) who is researching Multiple Sclerosis in the Department of Neurology at the University of California, Los Angeles Guests heard about the nature of their work, the journey they undertook from SCEGGS to where they are now, as well as the challenges and rewards of their daily work . Stay tuned for details about our 2023 event program, including a career panel on Women in Health and other inspiring discussions to bring together Old Girls, current students, staff, parents and our wider community .
WOMEN IN HEALTH
Wednesday 14 June at 6.30pm.
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Events
SPAN
Jayne Longstaff
Sarah Thomas Broome
Brittany Evat
Edie Mather
Dr Elizabeth Elliott
Featuring a diverse panel of women from the SCEGGS community who will share their insights about careers in Nursing, Physiotherapy, Psychology and more!
wasn’t the career I was looking for Of all the subjects I studied in this degree, those related to sustainability were my favourites .
My first substantial role in the built environment was in town planning Initially I assessed development applications at Pittwater Council These ranged from alterations and additions to multi-unit residential development applications and everything in between
I then moved on to land release planning This role required me to develop the masterplan for the suburb of Ingleside and implement the Warriewood Valley masterplan I really enjoyed this work, especially as it fuelled my interest in sustainability
Anja Te Wake RALPH (2003)
Quickly realising that a career in sustainability was the right career path for her, Old Girl Anja Te Wake RALPH (2003) now works at the NSW Department of Planning and Environment to help communities adapt to the impacts of climate change. Here, Anja shares how she channelled her passion for the environment into a fulfilling profession.
Tell us what you have been up to since graduating from SCEGGS.
After graduating from SCEGGS, I completed a Bachelor of Architecture at UTS I enjoyed the course, but realised that architecture
While working in planning, I completed a Masters of Environmental Planning at Macquarie University .
Pittwater Council was then amalgamated to form Northern Beaches Council, at which point I became the sustainability lead for strategic planning projects . In this role I was tasked with obtaining a Green Star Communities rating for the land release areas and developing the sustainability section of their Local Strategic Planning Statement
My next role was at the City of Sydney where I was one half of the team that developed and implemented the multi-award-winning project –Planning for Net Zero Energy Buildings This project implemented new planning rules for commercial developments, hotels and shopping centres, requiring them to have zero emissions from energy use This project was ground breaking as it was the first time in Australia that developments would be required through planning rules to obtain offsite renewables for the energy they couldn’t produce themselves
While at the City of Sydney, I also led projects that resulted in new planning rules requiring developments to increase their canopy cover by up to 15% and for the first time, implement biodiversity corridors
After leaving the City of Sydney, my family and I travelled around Australia for seven months . This was an amazing opportunity and I loved seeing all of the remarkable ecosystems, flora and fauna Australia has to offer . Our trip reinforced my commitment to working in the environment field,
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Sustainability Specialist
where I can help ensure these ecosystems are protected for future generations .
Upon returning from our travels I entered my current role in climate change adaptation at the NSW Department of Planning and Environment .
How did your contributions to the City of Sydney’s “Planning for Net Zero Energy Buildings” influence your career?
Although I’m currently working in climate change adaptation, my role in the Planning for Net Zero Energy Buildings project highlighted to me how much I like working in climate change mitigation
It also confirmed that a sustainability focused role is part of the right career path for me .
In addition, the stakeholder engagement work we did for the Planning for Net Zero Buildings project significantly expanded my network to include others working in all aspects of the built environment and sustainability
I’m sure I will draw on this expanded network and my improved stakeholder engagement skills for future projects
What does your role at the NSW Department of Planning and Environment entail?
Unlike my previous roles that focused on climate change mitigation or biodiversity conservation and enhancement, in my current Resilience Planning role I help communities adapt and become more resilient to the impacts of climate change and other shocks and stresses, such as infrastructure failure
I am currently working on the NSW Government’s response to the 28 recommendations of the 2022 Flood
Inquiry into the catastrophic floods that occurred across NSW between 2020 and 2022 . My focus is on the 10 recommendations that relate to planning
What impact has technology had on your industry?
Modelling for climate change mitigation or adaptation has had the biggest impact . Examples I have worked on where it has been beneficial include:
• modelling different scenarios of how a building functions while using different infrastructure and systems to determine the most cost-effective way to achieve net zero energy
• flood modelling to identify different flood levels and how development, cut and fill impact those levels and the flood function .
How can current students prepare for a career path in strategy planning and sustainability?
If you have a passion for sustainability or planning, studying in any relevant field will help you to secure a role in either . They are such diverse fields with a huge range of jobs, so they usually don’t require a specific qualification Your passion is the most important thing!
Another piece of advice would be, once you have started your career, don’t be afraid to move around within the field until you find the right role for you In my career, I have had many roles focusing on slightly different things and there are still many more different roles that I could try . Generally, in sustainability, there are two types of roles – policy writing and project implementation Gaining an understanding if you prefer writing or project management, will also help you to determine your career path .
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The Triple Bottom Line
Now more than ever businesses are aware that they have a responsibility to positively influence the environment and society, while remaining financially viable. Maintaining this balance is no easy feat; however, for current Primary School parent and Chartered Accountant, Julie Vasadi, helping companies succeed in achieving their Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) goals is a challenge she thrives on!
As Head of ESG Transaction Services at KPMG Australia, what does your role entail?
I work with companies (like superannuation funds or private equity firms) who are looking to buy or sell a company and help them identify ESG risks which could stop the deal from going ahead, for example, breaches of environmental licences or human rights abuses in the supply chain, as well as opportunities to create value or financial upside such as savings from carbon reduction initiatives and benefits from introducing circular economy principles .
Was a career with a focus on the environment something you were always interested in pursuing?
My environmental awareness and activism have grown stronger as I’ve grown older particularly since having children and is of course aligned with the increasing urgency of our climate crisis . I have always had a strong sense of purpose and as a Chartered Accountant, I could see that there would come a time where good environmental management, and more broadly ESG management, would make good financial and economic sense I’m very pleased that the financial sector now sees the economic value of being good environmental stewards
How important is ESG to the triple bottom line of companies today?
Management of ESG is critical to a company’s long-term viability . Investors are willing to pay more for companies that have strong ESG performance aligned with their own ESG priorities
Equally, investors are walking away from companies who aren’t able to prove they are managing ESG effectively as the reputational risks are too high .
Banks and finance providers are using ESG considerations to screen their customers and are requiring ESG performance to be included in their conditions of lending
Customers are also increasingly expecting the companies they buy from
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Panellists discussing the topic of Decarbonisation and climate change: Seizing the investment opportunity at the recent AVCJ Conference
to be operating responsibly and they are putting their money where their mouth is through their purchasing decisions .
Furthermore, companies also need to earn the trust of the communities in which they operate to maintain their social licence to operate and so ESG is critically important to local communities, as we saw with the fallout of Rio Tinto legally destroying the 46,000-year-old
Juukan Gorge sacred rock shelter in Western Australia
Organisations must also operate ethically and transparently about their ESG targets and not fall into the trap of “greenwashing”, that is, providing false or misleading information to the public about their sustainability efforts
Unfortunately, greenwashing is now rife and regulators are actively focused on cracking down on this misconduct
Two weeks ago, at the time of writing, ASIC have taken a company to court alleging greenwashing for the first time .
What has been your greatest career achievement to date?
I love the scale of the impact I am making through my work As an individual, I can make my own environmental contribution by buying renewable energy or recycling, but through my work I have a platform to influence some of the largest companies on the planet I love it when I can shift their thinking and influence their business strategies and decision-making to achieve a better ESG outcome
That’s a really powerful thing!
What three tips would you give your younger self about pursuing a career in sustainability and finance?
1 Trust your gut, take some risks and play the long game – there’s no right or wrong way to go about it . Everyone comes to this space from different perspectives (e g , engineering, finance, science, communications, policy, etc .) .
2 Don’t be afraid to change roles or specialisations The landscape is constantly changing and no knowledge or study is wasted They bring a new perspective and diversity of thought is a strength in this space
3 Innovation and creativity are literally going to save the world . Just back yourself and go for it!
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“As an individual, I can make my environmentalown contribution by buying renewable energy or recycling, but through my work I have a platform to influence some of the largest companies on the planet.”
