The Future of Sustainability
The ACTS Conference – The Future of Sustainability is the premier annual event for sustainability professionals, educators, and changemakers in Australasia, offering an unparalleled platform to inspire, connect, and drive meaningful change. With a legacy spanning over two decades, the conference serves as a dynamic hub for sharing best practices, innovative ideas, and collaborative strategies to tackle the world’s most pressing sustainability challenges.
2024
The 2024 ACTS Conference brought together 150 sustainability leaders, practitioners, educators, and students over four inspiring days in November. Hosted at the University of Tasmania’s newly developed Inveresk campus in Launceston, the event also featured a smaller New Zealand hub, co-hosted by Massey University and Victoria University of Wellington, offering attendees an engaging mix of collaboration, learning, and action.
Conference highlights:
- The conference opened with words from the University of Tasmania’s Vice-Chancellor and President – Professor Rufus Black with a powerful declaration: “Sustainability isn’t a mission of universities, but THE mission.” This ethos is exemplified across UTAS’ campuses, where sustainability principles underpin thriving communities and ecosystems. The Inveresk campus itself is a beacon of innovation and adaptive reuse. The message was clear: the most sustainable buildings are the ones that already exist.
- Keynote delivered by the iconic environmentalist Bob Brown, who urged attendees to embrace sustainability with action and joy, stating, “As we bring in the sustainacine, let’s dance!”
- Keynote delivered by Sophie Handford, New Zealand’s youngest elected councillor, shared her journey of youth leadership and the importance of community-driven action.
- Delegates reflected on the collective journey of sustainability in higher education, realising that while we may be at different stages, we are all working toward the same mission. Through storytelling, workshops, and shared practices, the ripple effects of these institutions extend far beyond their walls.
- The smaller yet impactful NZ hub emphasised interactive workshops, fostering meaningful networking opportunities, and concluded with a field trip to Zealandia, offering a closer look at ecological restoration in action.
The 2024 ACTS Conference reinforced the power of collaboration, innovation, and leadership in driving sustainability forward. It left attendees with a renewed sense of purpose, inspired by the words, actions, and achievements shared throughout the event. As the conference concluded, one message resonated: together, we are ensuring that sustainability is not just a mission but the mission of tertiary education.
To relive the conference experience, explore our photo galleries below:
