Conversations in sustainability

Conversations with Sylvie Ellsmore, Greens Council

On this week’s episode of Conversations in Sustainability, Horizon’s Managing Director Dr. Lisa Portolan sits down with City of Sydney Greens Councillor Sylvie Ellsmore to discuss the role of local government in building a more sustainable, liveable and equitable city. The conversation explores Sydney’s long-term environmental strategy, the challenges of balancing housing affordability with sustainability, and the importance of community-led greening initiatives. They also discuss how governments can make sustainable living more accessible and drive meaningful environmental change.

Conversations with Michael Mobbs, The Sustainable House

On this week’s episode of Conversations in Sustainability, Horizon Senior Account Executive MJ Hanna sits down with sustainability consultant Michael Mobbs to discuss eco-friendly design and the everyday changes that can make a difference. The conversation also explores Mobbs’ innovative ‘Coolseats’ food waste composting project for the City of Melbourne earlier this year, and how food waste recycling can help enrich both the environment and local communities.

Conversations with Tom Field, Bearhug

Most businesses don’t set out to create waste. But changing systems built around convenience, cost and habit is rarely as simple as finding a more sustainable alternative. In the latest episode of Conversations in Sustainability , Dr Lisa Portolan speaks with Bearhug founder Tom Field about what it takes to challenge established ways of working in logistics. Together, they explore the realities of changing business behaviour, what motivates organisations to adopt new solutions, and how Bearhug is rethinking the reliance on single-use pallet wrap across warehouses and distribution centres.

Conversations with Salem Lassoued, Muja

Most people say they care about sustainability. But when it comes to everyday decisions, good intentions often compete with price, convenience, habit and trust. In the latest episode of Conversations in Sustainability , Dr Lisa Portolan speaks with Muja founder Salem Lassoued about the attitude-behaviour gap and why understanding how people actually make decisions may be the missing piece in driving meaningful change. Together, they explore the role of behaviourally grounded synthetic research and what organisations can learn from the gap between what people say and what they do.

Conversations with Lars M. Ljung, Planet Protector

In this episode of Conversations in Sustainability, we're joined by Lars Ljung, Sustainability Manager at Planet Protector Packaging, an Australian company turning textile waste into innovative, sustainable products. From insulation made from sheep's wool to recycled denim, Lars communicates how the work that Planet Protector does is helping drive the circular economy and challenging how we think about waste.

Conversations with Emily Kate Symes, EKOLUV

Conversations with Glenn Bartlett, GreenPay

Conversations with Lina Goodman, Tyre Stewardship Australia

What happens to the millions of tyres Australia throws away every year - and why aren’t more of them becoming something new? In this episode of Conversations in Sustainability, Dr Lisa Portolan speaks with Lina Goodman, CEO of Tyre Stewardship Australia, about one of the country’s most overlooked waste challenges. From “free-riders” and illegal dumping to the limits of voluntary schemes, Lina unpacks what’s holding back true circularity and what needs to change. They also discuss TSA’s new documentary, Tyred & Wasted, which exposes the hidden cost of illegal tyre dumping and how communities are paying the price. Looking ahead, the conversation explores global best practice, emerging innovations, and whether Australia is ready for the growing pressures of EVs and more complex tyre design. It’s a conversation about accountability, innovation, and the hard realities of building a circular economy, one tyre at a time.

Conversations with Catherine Fitzpatrick, Flequity Ventures

In this episode of Conversations in Sustainability, we sit down with Catherine Fitzpatrick, founder of Flequity Ventures, to unpack the confronting reality of financial abuse, and how the systems we rely on every day can be quietly weaponised to control and harm. Drawing on her experience as a senior banking executive, Catherine shares how analysing millions of transactions revealed hidden patterns of abuse, from manipulative payment messages to the misuse of shared financial tools. What began as an internal discovery quickly became a catalyst for change, leading her to challenge the way financial systems are designed. In this conversation, she explores how her work is driving industry-wide reform through a “financial safety by design” approach, shifting over 80 organisations from reactive responses to proactive prevention. It’s a powerful and thought-provoking episode that not only sheds light on a largely invisible issue, but also redefines the role businesses must play in building safer, more equitable systems.

Conversations with Professor Veena Sahajwalla, SMaRT Centre UNSW

In this episode of Conversation in Sustainability, we speak with Professor Veena Sahajwalla, SMaRT Centre, UNSW, explores how innovative recycling technologies are transforming the way society thinks about waste. Rather than viewing discarded materials as useless, Professor Sahajwalla emphasises that waste should be understood as a valuable resource that can be reprocessed into new, high-quality products. The discussion highlights the work of the UNSW SMaRT Centre in pioneering “green tiles” and MICROfactories, which break down complex waste streams, such as electronic waste, into their core components and remake them into useful materials like advanced manufacturing inputs. The episode underscores the importance of collaboration between scientists, engineers, and industry partners to scale these solutions and create sustainable supply chains. Positioning Australia as a leader in the transition toward a circular economy, where materials are continuously reused and repurposed rather than discarded. Through this lens, recycling becomes not just an environmental necessity, but an opportunity for innovation, economic growth, and global impact.