Tackling sustainable procurement

23 Apr 2026

Agenda

12.30pm   Welcome: overview and session outline

Speaker: Katherine Featherstone, Senior Manager, Products & Materials, Green Building Council of Australia


12.35pm   Presentation: Recognising and rewarding sustainable procurement in Green Star

Green Star seeks to raise standards in sustainable procurement, hear how this can be achieved as we focus in on the specific credits that recognise and reward sustainable procurement, including the latest updates that drive best practice and achieve stronger outcomes.

Speaker: Emily Chung, Manager, Future Focus, Market Transformation, Green Building Council of Australia


12.55pm   Presentation: Building an integrated approach to procurement

Explore how an integrated procurement approach aligns internal teams, avoids overloading suppliers and uses risk frameworks to prioritise categories, tailor material strategies and build stronger supplier relationships.

Deepen Somaiya, Responsible Sourcing Manager, Mirvac


1.20pm   Presentation: Human-centred approaches to modern slavery in procurement

Hear how to move beyond compliance to embed human-centred, values-driven approaches in procurement, including practical strategies for engaging suppliers and partners, and managing high risk supply chains.

Speaker: Libby Staggs, CEO/Founder, Sustainable Business Matters


 1.45pm   BREAK


 1.55pm   Presentation: Specifications and substitutions

Gain insights and practical strategies for maintaining sustainability standards, ensuring alignment across project teams and how to make informed decisions when substitutions are necessary.

Speaker: Prue Pascoe, Associate Interior Designer, Hassell Studio


2.20pm   Advancing Sustainable Procurement for net zero public spaces

Embedding sustainability in operations can be challenging; hear how this can be achieved through a coordinated approach to procurement for precinct wide performance.

Speaker: Nermine Zahran, Senior Manager, Sustainability, Placemaking NSW, Crown Lands and Public Spaces, Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, NSW


2.45pm   Panel: Sustainable procurement in practice

Bring your questions to our experts as they explore sustainable procurement from multiple perspectives, including design, precinct operations and project delivery. This panel will provide practical insights on embedding sustainability across projects, supply chains and communities.

Panelists:

  • Katherine Featherstone, Senior Manager, Market Transformation, Green Building Council of Australia (moderator)
  • Deepen Somaiya, Responsible Sourcing Manager, Mirvac
  • Libby Staggs, CEO/Founder, Sustainable Business Matters
  • Nermine Zahran, Senior Manager, Sustainability, Placemaking NSW, Crown Lands and Public Spaces, Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, NSW
  • Prue Pascoe, Associate Interior Designer, Hassell Studio

3.20pm Wrap up