Advancing circular economy initiatives in Australia for a sustainable future

Adding another feather to his cap, Professor Yong Sik Ok, the Chair and Program Director of the APRU Sustainable Waste Management Program is partnering with the University of Sydney’s Waste Transformation Research Hub, headed by Professor Ali Abbas. The joint venture is intended to advance collaborative research and knowledge exchange on circular economy in an effort towards improving sustainability. The venture will also include hosting educational programs and the upcoming “Australian Circular Economy Conference.”

In a significant stride toward fostering cooperation in sustainability efforts, Professor Yong Sik Ok, Chair and Program Director of the APRU (Association of Pacific Rim Universities) Sustainable Waste Management (SWM) Program, and Professor Ali Abbas, Director of the Waste Transformation Research Hub, have embarked on a new collaborative initiative for sustainable waste management. The collaboration was confirmed at the University of Sydney, where Prof. Abbas is the Associate Dean of Research and Professor at the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.

Prof. Ok and Prof. Abbas have joined hands to create a collaborative platform aimed at sharing knowledge and research expertise to advance sustainability goals through effective waste management and the promotion of circular economy principles. Aligning with the APRU SWM Program's mission to foster dialogue and knowledge exchange on sustainability issues, this joint venture will also collaborate with Circular Australia and the International ESG Association (IESGA), represented by Professor Jay Hyuk Rhee— Co-President of IESGA, together with Prof. Ok and a professor at Korea University’s Business School. Additionally, Prof. Ok and Prof. Abbas will work in partnership with the Business School at the University of Sydney to conduct research for connecting waste management with business perspectives. This interdisciplinary effort will focus on integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles into corporate practices, fostering sustainability awareness and influencing future business leaders towards responsible practices.

To mark this research cooperation, Prof. Ok was invited to conduct a seminar recently on the topic of “Advancing Sustainability through Collaborative Initiatives with the APRU Sustainability Program,” at the University of Syndey, where he is also a visiting researcher. Sharing his experience and expertise with his research peers in Sydney, Prof. Ok's presentation delved into the multifaceted approach that the APRU SWM Program has adopted to tackle various environmental challenges. He also discussed the APRU SWM Program’s commitment towards promoting sustainable waste management practices at a global scale via the three integral pillars of research, namely knowledge dissemination, and media engagement. Speaking about his experience of partnering with Prof. Abbas, Prof. Ok stated, “I am honored by Prof. Abbas’s invitation to deliver this presentation. This collaboration between our organizations is the cornerstone of our efforts to create a sustainable future. The significance of teamwork in tackling global environmental challenges cannot be underestimated.”

The seminar represented a celebration of the spirit of collaboration between Prof. Ok and Prof. Abbas, whose joint efforts showcase the power of partnerships in driving innovation and inspiring a collective commitment to sustainability. The seminar was also attended by other renowned speakers and guests, such as:

• Professor Michael Goodsite, Director of The Institute for Sustainability, University of Adelaide, Australia
• Professor Mellissa Withers, Director, APRU Global Health Program, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, USA
• Professor Alex Godoy-Faúndez, Director of Sustainability Research Centre & Strategic Resource Management, Universidad del Desarrollo, Chile. Visiting Scholar, Weatherhead Center, Harvard University, USA
• Professor Bonny C. Bentzin, Deputy Chief Sustainability Officer, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
• Professor Jay Hyuk Rhee, President, Korea University ESG Research Institute and the International ESG Association (IESGA), Korea
• Professor Makena Coffman, Director, Institute for Sustainability and Resilience, University of Hawaii at Mānoa, Hawaii
• Professor Tony Capon, Director, Monash Sustainable Development Institute, Monash University, Australia

Looking into the future, Prof. Ok also unveiled a roadmap of upcoming events at the seminar underscoring the APRU SWM Program's dedicated endeavors to foster dialogue and knowledge exchange on sustainability issues. Prof. Ok is an established name in the sustainability space and is also recognized as a Highly Cited Researcher. The recent seminar at the University of Sydney was the third in a series of seminars conducted by Prof. Ok, with the first two held at the National University of Singapore in January and the University of Queensland in February. In his leadership position at the APRU SWM Program, Prof. Ok has undertaken several high-impact initiatives, some of which include student mobilization and exchange programs with renowned academic institutions, such as Stanford University and now the University of Sydney. These collaborations often engage graduate students in conducting shared research. For the partnership with the University of Syndey, Sachini Senadheera and other graduate students, will undertake joint research with Prof. Abbas and his team in Australia in conducting experiments related to the circular economy.

Prof. Abbas is known for his commitment to the field of circular economy and has been a driving force behind the APRU SWM Program's efforts towards promoting innovative approaches for waste reduction and resource efficiency. He received the prestigious IESGA Fellowship Award at the 6th Global Conference on ESG Management & Sustainability held at Korea University in November 2023. The award recognized his unwavering dedication to the field of circular economy and active engagement with the APRU SWM Program.

Furthermore, Prof. Abbas is the founding chair of the Australian Circular Economy Conference, which will have its fourth iteration from October 1st to 3rd, 2024. This year’s conference, which is co-chaired by Prof. Ok, promises to be a pivotal event in showcasing the advancements in circular economy. The conference will see a confluence of thought leaders, policymakers, and industry stakeholders who will come together to explore and discuss strategies for advancing both research and practice in the field of circular economy.

“Hosting the 4th Australian Circular Economy Conference is a tremendous opportunity to amplify our collective efforts towards sustainability. It is exciting to have Prof. Ok as chair of the conference for sharing international connections and leadership in the circular economy. For us, it is not just a conference but rather a platform for meaningful collaboration and exchange of ideas,” elaborated Prof. Abbas. In addition to the joint venture and the upcoming conference, Prof. Abbas and the Waste Transformation Research Hub will also be hosting the APRU SWM Global ESG Lecture Series in 2024. The series will feature a global lineup of speakers, who will offer insights into the latest developments in ESG practices.

By actively engaging in initiatives such as the recent joint venture with the University of Sydney and the Australian Circular Economy Conference, the APRU SWM Program and Prof. Ok are leading the charge in advocating for sustainable practices. Their efforts directly confront urgent environmental challenges, aiming to effect real change on a global scale. The program has achieved remarkable attention from its past activities including, the APRU Global Sustainability Course, the 2023 Global ESG Forum in Singapore, the 6th Global Conference on ESG Management & Sustainability, and the APRU SWM Global ESG Lecture Series, among others.

About APRU Sustainable Waste Management Program

As a network of leading universities linking the Americas, Asia, and Australasia, APRU (the Association of Pacific Rim Universities) brings together thought leaders, researchers, and policy-makers to exchange ideas and collaborate toward practical solutions to combat the challenges of the 21st century. The APRU Sustainable Waste Management Program focuses on adopting environmentally friendly practices to manage waste effectively while minimizing its negative impacts on the environment and human health. It involves various strategies and approaches to reduce, reuse, recycle, and properly dispose of waste materials together with ESG concepts. Prof. Yong Sik Ok at Korea University serves as the Chair and Program Director of the program, co-directed by Prof. William Mitch at Stanford University. For more information, visit APRU Sustainable Waste Management Program’s website.

About Professor Yong Sik Ok

Professor Yong Sik Ok is a Highly Cited Researcher and professor at Korea University. He is the Chair and Program Director of the Sustainable Waste Management Program for the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) and President of the International ESG Association and the International Society of Trace Element Biogeochemistry. He is also the Editor-in-Chief for renowned journals and holds honorary positions at several international research institutes and universities. He has published over 1000 papers with over 96000 citations. Moreover, Prof. Ok has hosted many conferences and forums on waste management and sustainability including the 2023 Global ESG Forum and 6th Global Conference on ESG Management & Sustainability.