What if the smartest technologies could also be the most human?

In this episode of the Sustainable Transformation Podcast, Kiarne Treacy sits down with Ravi Kumar Mandalika, Utilities Industry Leader for IBM, to explore how digital innovation is reshaping energy, resilience and the way businesses plan for the future.

With three decades of experience helping global energy and utilities organisations navigate sustainability, Ravi’s work sits at the intersection of AI, infrastructure and climate adaptation, from grid stability and cyber resilience to AI models that can predict floods and bushfires.

Ravi shares how IBM and NASA are building open AI models to forecast climate patterns, how utilities are turning to digital systems to stabilise supply and demand and how small businesses are using the same technology to solve simple problems in smarter, more sustainable ways.

He also reveals how empathy and automation can coexist, recounting the story of an AI system trained for customer service that unexpectedly learned to show compassion.

 

You’ll hear and learn:

•  Why there’s no decarbonisation without digitisation
• How AI is helping utilities manage renewable variability and climate risk
• What happens when IBM and NASA join forces to predict natural disasters
• How even small businesses can use open AI tools to improve efficiency and impact
• Why the “utilities sector is the new sexy” — and what that means for innovation
• How AI can teach us as much about empathy as it does about efficiency

 

This episode is a must-listen for business leaders, technologists and sustainability professionals who want to understand how digital transformation and decarbonisation are converging to reshape industries from the inside out.

 

MENTIONS:

• IBM
• NASA & IBM Open-Source AI Model

 

LINKS:

Learn more about SustainabilityTracker.com

Learn more about The Sustainable Transformation Podcast

Follow The Sustainable Choice Group on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok

Follow Nova Podcasts on Instagram for videos from the podcast and behind-the-scenes content – @novapodcastsofficial

 

CREDITS:

Host: Kiarne Treacy

Guest: Ravi Kumar Mandalika

Guest Company: IBM

Find more great podcasts like this at novapodcasts.com.au

Nova Entertainment acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which we produced this podcast, the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if your mobile plan could help the planet breathe a little easier?

In this episode of The Sustainable Transformation Podcast, Kiarne Treacy sits down with Rebecca Darley, Chief Marketing Officer at TPG Telecom, home to brands like Vodafone, TPG and felix mobile — Australia’s first carbon-neutral telco powered by 100% renewable energy.

felix mobile plants a tree for every month you stay connected. With more than 4.2 million trees planted so far, the brand is proving that connection and climate action can grow together.

Rebecca shares how Felix was designed with sustainability baked in from day one — from introducing eSIMs to eliminate plastic waste to restoring koala habitats and supporting agroforestry projects around the world. She also unpacks how sustainability leadership can spark transformation across a major organisation like TPG Telecom.

 

You’ll hear and learn:

• How felix mobile turned an emissions-intensive industry into a driver of climate restoration
• Why embedding purpose from the start makes sustainability easier to scale
• The impact of tree-planting initiatives (from bushfire recovery to koala habitat regeneration)
• How leadership and purpose drive cultural change inside large organisations
• What telcos can teach other industries about innovation, loyalty and the triple bottom line

 

This episode is a must-listen for business leaders, marketers, and sustainability professionals looking to prove that growth and good can coexist.

 

MENTIONS:

• felix mobile
• TPG Telecom
• DV Safe Phone
• Mobile Muster
• CBA Green Loans
• IKEA supply chain sustainability

 

LINKS:

Learn more about SustainabilityTracker.com

Learn more about The Sustainable Transformation Podcast

Follow The Sustainable Choice Group on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok

Follow Nova Podcasts on Instagram for videos from the podcast and behind-the-scenes content – @novapodcastsofficial

 

CREDITS:

Host: Kiarne Treacy

Guest: Rebecca Darley

Guest Company: TPG Telecom - felix mobile

Find more great podcasts like this at novapodcasts.com.au

Nova Entertainment acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which we produced this podcast, the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if fixing the planet isn’t about one big breakthrough, but ten thousand small changes?

In this episode of The Sustainable Transformation Podcast, Kiarne Treacy sits down with Mick Liubinskas, Co-Founder of Climate Salad, a community accelerating the growth of Australia’s climate tech ecosystem.

Mick shares how Climate Salad’s over 800 climate tech companies are building solutions that are not just sustainable, but genuinely better. From AI data centres cooled by recycled greywater, to insect farms turning supermarket waste into fertilizer, these innovations are proving sustainability and profitability can (and must) scale together.

He also unpacks why optimism matters more than ever, and why he’s certain, not just hopeful, that by 2028, sustainable products will simply be the default.

 

You’ll hear and learn:

• Why Mick believes we only need to change 10,000 things to achieve sustainable development
• How Australia’s climate tech startups are solving real problems, from waste to energy storage
• What happens when AI and sustainability collide, and how they can actually power each other
• Why commercialisation and adoption, not invention, are the next big challenges
• How “buying Australian innovation” creates a 10x ripple effect for jobs and the planet
• What gives Mick absolute certainty that we’re on the cusp of the next great tech wave

 

This episode is a must-listen for business leaders, investors, and sustainability professionals who want to see how innovation, impact and commercial success can thrive together.

 

MENTIONS:

Climate Salad

MGA Thermal

GoTerra

Capricorn Power

DNA Energy

NRMA Insurance Help Fund

Panthalassa

Enaxiom

 

 

LINKS:

Learn more about SustainabilityTracker.com

Learn more about The Sustainable Transformation Podcast

Follow The Sustainable Choice Group on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok

Follow Nova Podcasts on Instagram for videos from the podcast and behind-the-scenes content – @novapodcastsofficial

 

CREDITS:

Host: Kiarne Treacy

Guest: Mick Liubinskas

Guest Company: Climate Salad

Find more great podcasts like this at novapodcasts.com.au

Nova Entertainment acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which we produced this podcast, the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Kiarne Treacy welcomes John Ferraro, the CEO of Paintback, an independent product stewardship scheme (made up of the five biggest paint companies in Australia) dedicated to collecting and repurposing unwanted paint and packaging.

 

And the best part of it all? Paintback isn’t gatekeeping this tech – they are opening their doors to other countries interested in implementing this circular recovery process!

 

John shares his journey from studying chemical engineering to leading a world-first initiative that’s changing how we deal with leftover paint. You’ll hear how Paintback is turning a waste problem into a circular solution and some advice we loved and hadn’t heard from anyone else.

 

So, grab your old paint tins and get ready to learn how you can keep paint out of landfill and contribute to a more circular future for Australia….just remember to remove your jellybeans first.

 

The Process:

 

You drop off your unwanted paint and packaging to a Paintback collection site > Paintback then transports that material to its facilities, where it is separated into metal and plastic containers > Solvent based paint is converted into an alternative energy source, while water is extracted from acrylic paint > The remaining by-product is reused in products such as Paintback’s Greyscale paint, or as an additive for concrete and sportscourts.

 

You’ll hear about:

• The major paint companies in Australia who came together to build Paintback to take sustainable action across their own industry.
• The importance of accessible drop-off points for people to drop off unwanted paint (with more than 165 locations across the country in every state and territory).
• How Paintback teams up with local councils to support making local communities beautiful.
• Paintback’s innovative process for recycling paint and packaging (Over 65 million kgs since inception).
• The challenges and successes in raising community awareness about responsible paint disposal and how to educate communities and consumers.
• Future goals for Paintback and the potential for expanding their impact in the recycling industry.

 

 

 

MENTIONS:

• Paintback
• Founding Members: Dulux, Haymes, PPG, Resene, Wattyl
• Paintback Brands: accent, Berger, Bristol, British Paints, Cabot’s, Dulux, Elite Professional, Feast Watson, Finish by Wattyl, Haymes Paint, Intergrain, Krysler, Master Stroke Trade, Newlook, Pascol, Porter’s Original Paints, PPG, Resene, Rust-oleum, Simply WoodCare, Solver, Taubmans, tint, Walpamur, Wattyl, White Knight
• Find a Paintback Disposal Location Near You
• The Paintback Education Hub has great resources to learn more about keeping paint and packaging out of landfill.
• Paintback 4 Litre Multi-Purpose buckets made from waste.

 

 

LINKS:

Learn more about SustainabilityTracker.com 

Learn more about The Sustainable Transformation Podcast

Follow The Sustainable Choice Group on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok

Follow Nova Podcasts on Instagram for videos from the podcast and behind-the-scenes content – @novapodcastsofficial

 

 

CREDITS:

Host: Kiarne Treacy

Guest: John Ferraro

Guest Company: Paintback

Find more great podcasts like this at novapodcasts.com.au

 

Nova Entertainment acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which we produced this podcast, the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former petrochemical engineer turned sustainability strategist, Sonya Samson, has seen both sides of the climate challenge and knows how to turn lofty commitments into tangible results.

 

In this episode, she joined Kiarne to unpack the dual priorities of decarbonisation and climate adaptation, why delaying action will cost more, and the “no regrets” moves every business can make right now.

 

You’ll hear and learn:

• How to bridge the gap between technical sustainability targets and real organisational change
• Why adaptation and decarbonisation must happen together to avoid high costs later
• The most impactful actions you can take now, even without a big budget or consultant
• How to engage suppliers in reducing emissions across the value chain
• Why unexpected allies inside your business can fast-track change

 

This episode is one to listen to if you’re a business leader, sustainability manager, and anyone tasked with making net zero and climate resilience more than just a line in a strategy document.

MENTIONS:

• Fossil Fuel Value Chain
• Carbon Tax
• Transition Risk Element
• Extended Supply Chains in Sustainability
• Carbon Dioxide 
• APCO (Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation)
• Supply Chain Decarbonisation - South Pole

 

LINKS:

Learn more about SustainabilityTracker.com 

Learn more about The Sustainable Transformation Podcast

Follow The Sustainable Choice Group on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok

Follow Nova Podcasts on Instagram for videos from the podcast and behind-the-scenes content – @novapodcastsofficial

 

CREDITS:

Host: Kiarne Treacy

Guest: Sonya Samson

Guest Company: South Pole

Find more great podcasts like this at novapodcasts.com.au

Nova Entertainment acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which we produced this podcast, the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Kiarne is joined by Ross Sardi, CEO of First Focus, to unpack the real and growing environmental footprint of tech. From the energy costs of AI to the unseen emissions hiding in the cloud, Ross gets honest about the industry’s challenges, and what can actually be done right now.

 

The pair discuss the complexity of global supply chains. The lifecycle of devices. The way procurement, design, and digital infrastructure decisions can quietly shape a company’s footprint.

They dive into:

• Why emissions data in tech is still based on best guesses
• What really powers the blockchain (and why it’s not as decentralised as it seems)
• Why Bitcoin mining is often done in countries with low cost energy and loose regulation
• What actually happens when you lease or recycle tech equipment
• How data storage, travel and even the images you generate are driving your footprint
• Practical, measurable ways businesses can reduce their tech impact, without overhauling everything

 

Whether you’re storing files, scaling AI, or just thinking about that next device upgrade, this episode is packed with the kind of insights that make you look twice at your tech.

MENTIONS:

First Focus

Software as a Service (SaaS)

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Cryptocurrency

Power Management Policies

 

LINKS:

Learn more about SustainabilityTracker.com 

Learn more about The Sustainable Transformation Podcast

Follow The Sustainable Choice Group on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok

Follow Nova Podcasts on Instagram for videos from the podcast and behind-the-scenes content – @novapodcastsofficial

 

CREDITS:

Host: Kiarne Treacy

Guest: Ross Sardi

Guest Company: First Focus

Find more great podcasts like this at novapodcasts.com.au

Nova Entertainment acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which we produced this podcast, the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Carbon reporting isn’t just about compliance, it could unlock a huge business opportunity if you get it right. 

 

In this episode, Kiarne Treacy chats with Tai Lennon, Managing Director of Climate Zero, to unpack what actually goes into your carbon footprint, and why most businesses are underestimating it.

 

From data blind spots and boundary setting to who actually owns emissions inside your business, this conversation breaks down the real work behind carbon reporting, and how to do it well without breaking the bank.

 

They cover:

• Spend vs activity-based data (and what your software might be missing)
• The surprise sources of Scope 3 emissions
• Why automation won’t cut it
• How to make this work at any size or budget

 

If you’re serious about reducing emissions, not just reporting them, this is one episode to listen to.

 

MENTIONS:

Climate Zero

Clean Energy Act 2011 (no longer active)

Carbon Footprint

Boundary Setting Exercise - Operational and Organisational Boundaries

Life Cycle Analysis

 

LINKS:

Learn more about SustainabilityTracker.com 

Learn more about The Sustainable Transformation Podcast

Follow The Sustainable Choice Group on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok

Follow Nova Podcasts on Instagram for videos from the podcast and behind-the-scenes content – @novapodcastsofficial

 

CREDITS:

Host: Kiarne Treacy

Guest: Tai Lennon 

Find more great podcasts like this at novapodcasts.com.au

Nova Entertainment acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which we produced this podcast, the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Carbon visibility, sustainable aviation fuel, and the rise of accountants as unlikely ESG heroes.

In this episode, Kiarne sits down with Dr. Tamara Somers, General Manager of Sustainability and Impact at Xero, for a conversation about what it takes to lead real change in big business.

Tamara is not your average ESG leader. She’s a strategist, finance nerd, and climate realist who has worked across mining, telcos, tech and government. Since joining Xero in 2021, she’s helped turn the accounting platform into a climate action enabler for thousands of small businesses. From launching free carbon accounting tools to investing in Australia’s emerging sustainable aviation fuel market, she’s rewriting the rulebook on corporate sustainability.

This episode dives deep into:

• Why 70% of your carbon data is already in your accounting platform
  
  
• How digital advertising might be distorting your emissions report
  
  
• The work sustainability teams are doing that should sit with Finance
  
  
• Why Xero is backing Aussie climate tech (and not gatekeeping it)
  
  
• Whether AI is really the energy guzzler it's believed to be
  
  
• Plus: what Tamara actually thinks about being judged for not being perfect while trying to change the world
  
  

Whether you're an accountant, a sustainability lead, a tech founder, or a business owner trying to make sense of it all, this episode will shift how you think about ESG in 2025. It’s practical, it’s honest, and it just might spark your next big move.

LINKS:

Learn more about SustainabilityTracker.com 

Learn more about The Sustainable Transformation Podcast

Follow The Sustainable Choice Group on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok

Follow Nova Podcasts on Instagram for videos from the podcast and behind-the-scenes content – @novapodcastsofficial

 

CREDITS:

Host: Kiarne Treacy

Guest: Dr. Tamara Somers, Xero

Find more great podcasts like this at novapodcasts.com.au

Nova Entertainment acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which we produced this podcast, the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sustainability isn’t just a ‘nice to have’. It’s a strategic must-have for 2025 and beyond.

In this episode, Kiarne Treacy sits down with Sydney Straver, Founder of award-winning ESG advisory firm &BLOOM Sustainability & ESG, to unpack what really matters in sustainability right now.

From the rise of materiality assessments (and the difference between double and single materiality) to why waiting for regulations could cost you big, Sydney shares a practical, business-first approach to embedding sustainability into real growth and value creation.

They dive into the risks businesses aren’t seeing yet, how customer expectations are shifting fast, and why acting early could be your strongest competitive advantage.

If you’re serious about future-proofing your business (without wasting time or money), this conversation is your starting line.

 

MENTIONS:

Private Market Space

The European Green Deal

What is the Brussels Effect?

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) - Legal Text

DGPR - What’s in it for Australian organisations?

Climate Disclosures in Australia

How to identify Risks, Opportunities and Impacts

Stakeholder demand

Regulatory Developments in Sustainability and ESG - as of Jan 2025

Australian Standard Reporting Standards (ASRS)

Capacity Building 

Diversity Equality and Inclusion

Materiality 

Double Materiality Assessment - Impact Materiality & Financial Materiality

Single Materiality 

Greta Thunberg - School Strike 4 Climate

Sustainability-linked Loans

ESG Services Tool on Sustainability Tracker

Materiality Quiz on Sustainability Tracker, powered by Xero

 

LINKS:

Learn more about SustainabilityTracker.com 

Learn more about The Sustainable Transformation Podcast

Follow The Sustainable Choice Group on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok

Follow Nova Podcasts on Instagram for videos from the podcast and behind-the-scenes content – @novapodcastsofficial

 

CREDITS:

Host: Kiarne Treacy

Guest: Sydney Straver

Guest Company: &BLOOM Sustainability & ESG

Find more great podcasts like this at novapodcasts.com.au

Nova Entertainment acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which we produced this podcast, the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you know that you could get paid for your trash? You read that right - in some states in Australia you can redeem a cash incentive when you responsibly recycle eligible bottles and containers. 

 

And, they’ll collect it from your door! 

 

In this week’s episode, Kiarne Treacy speaks with Narelle Anderson, Founder at Envirobank Recycling, and explores her journey in Australia’s recycling and sustainability sector. Narelle discusses how her Indigenous values profoundly shape her approach to business, emphasising the essential link between profit, sustainability, and cultural stewardship.

 

‘Profit and sustainability must coexist’, says Narelle as the two explore the role of purposeful businesses for profit.

 

Enviobank is a pioneer in the circularity space having started out by commercialising the revolutionary “reverse vending technology” which incentivises recycling by financially rewarding consumers, addressing both environmental responsibility and consumer behaviour. 

 

There are too many instances when good intentions and using the ‘correct bin’ simply aren’t enough and not all recycling is as it seems. That’s why initiatives like Envirobank are so important, because they ensure that eligible containers are recycled over and over, all while putting money back into the hands of Aussie homes and businesses. 

 

As Kiarne discusses, it’s a no-brainer and it’s been under our nose this whole time! Listen to learn how you can get involved and ensure your eligible recyclables and home and work are REALLY being recycled. 

 

If you’re interested in practical sustainability solutions, innovative technology applications, and the intersection of business profitability and meaningful environmental impact then listen in.

MENTIONS:

Reverse Vending Technology

Container Deposit Scheme - Planet Ark

HDPE - High Density Polystyrene 

Product Stewardship

ACOR - Australian Council of Recycling

LINKS:

Learn more about SustainabilityTracker.com 

Learn more about The Sustainable Transformation Podcast

Follow The Sustainable Choice Group on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok

Follow Nova Podcasts on Instagram for videos from the podcast and behind-the-scenes content – @novapodcastsofficial

 

CREDITS:

Host: Kiarne Treacy

Guest: Narelle Anderson

Find more great podcasts like this at novapodcasts.com.au

Nova Entertainment acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which we produced this podcast, the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.