Saffron Benner has been appointed as the centre’s first sustainability and community engagement advisor.
She was previously the sustainable development goals manager for Griffith University.
Benner will align BCEC’s strategic direction with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). She will build on the venue’s existing EarthCheck Platinum certification which represents more than a decade of continuous sustainability improvements at BCEC.
“BCEC’s aim is to integrate the goals across all operational practices, supporting our long-held commitment to working with our partners, the community and our staff to ensure our actions have positive social and environmental outcomes,” said BCEC’s general manager, Kym Guesdon.
“This is an imperative for us going forward.”
One of Benner’s major priorities will be the development of a sustainability strategy.
“It needs to be a strategy that provides a road map for the next five to 10 years to guide us and build on the strong body of work already carried out by the BCEC team in the environmental space,” said Benner.
“We’re very proud of the achievements we’ve already accomplished at BCEC, but the challenges we all face in the future are significant.
“Having a dedicated role for sustainability allows the venue to continue to have an impact, but also provides the support required to increase our ambitions through collaboration to make the differences we need.”
As she settles into the role, Benner will meet with managers and staff members across all departments of the centre.
“Sustainability is relevant to every aspect of every organisation,” she says.
“There is really no job, from cleaner to accountant to CEO, that isn’t impacted by, or important to, sustainability in some way. I need to understand how the whole of an organisation functions as an ecosystem.”
The centre has already instigated sustainability measures like dehydrating food waste onsite and harvesting rainwater.
