2022 Business Leaders Breakfast

Rosemary is an alumna of the University (LLB(Hons) 1990), and is an internationally recognised director and strategist driving innovation and investment for greater impact and sustainability.

Rosemary is Founding Managing Partner of Mondiale Impact putting impact in the agenda for 21st Century Governance and Executive Director of Impact Strategist. Her current portfolio also includes Chair of Climate Ready Australia 2030 and the Sweef Capital Board of Advisors, Ambassador for the Global Steering Group for Impact Investment, Member of a World Bank Steering Group for Innovative Finance and Non-Executive Director Indigenous Business Australia.

Rosemary has advised SDG Impact at the United Nations Development Programme, the OECD Social Impact Investing Initiative, the World Economic Forum Ideas to Practice, private markets clients from major banks to institutional investors, governments internationally and collaborated with Oxford University and Harvard Kennedy School. Her thought leadership is published widely and her work is the subject of numerous international case studies informing a generation of leaders.

Rosemary’s 30+ year track record spans a global legal career including as an equity partner of Allens-Linklaters, Social Innovation Strategist for the Australian Government, G8 Social Impact Investment Taskforce and Founding Chair Impact Investing Australia (Market Builder of the Year 2018 & 2020). She was recognised for lifetime contributions to impact (2020), Member of the Order of Australia (2020), among top thought leaders by Women in Finance (2017), Australia’s 100 Women of Influence (2015) and was ranked by Chambers Global among the world’s leading lawyers (2002-3).

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Paul Conroy, CEO, FareShare

Paul Conroy (BCom(1992), LLB(Hons)(1992) is currently the CEO of food rescue charity FareShare. He was previously the Group CEO of the TIC Group, and prior to that held the roles of General Counsel & Company Secretary of Treasury Wine Estates Limited and Chief Legal Officer & Company Secretary of Foster’s Group Limited. Before joining Foster’s Group in 2005, Paul held a number of senior management roles with Southcorp Limited in Australia and the United States. Previously, Paul was the Corporate Development Executive of MYOB Limited, a corporate lawyer with Herbert Smith Freehills in Melbourne and Hanoi, and also worked in the London office of the international law firm, Mayer Brown for 3 years. Paul is currently Chair of the Summer Foundation and is a graduate of Leadership Victoria’s Williamson Community Leadership Program.

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Andrew Davies
CEO, BLab

As CEO Andrew is responsible for the growth of the B Corp community in Australia and New Zealand. Andrew joined B Lab as CEO after a career spanning commercial law practice and executive management roles, and most recently running a family office and his own businesses in the finance and recreation industries. With experience across large and small business, in ASX-listed, family-owned and start-up models, Andrew is passionate about the role business can and should have in improving the world, contributing positively to change, and enriching the lives of everyone in our community. Andrew holds a BCom(1998) and an LLB(Hons)(1998) from the University of Melbourne.

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Sarah Dearmun
Director, ESG Advisory, PwC Australia

Sarah is a sustainability consultant at PwC where she works with corporate and private equity clients to integrate best practice ESG considerations into their business strategies and investment-decision making processes. The potential for ESG performance to create value for businesses and their stakeholders is a growing area of focus for her clients. Sarah completed Bachelors of Science and Commerce (2004) at the University of Melbourne as an undergraduate, worked in corporate finance and strategy roles at Rio Tinto, BlueScope Steel and PwC in Australia and abroad, and is presently studying for a Masters of Environment part-time.

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Dr Kate Forbes
Founder, Alcmene

Kate is a B Consultant and the founder and director of Alcmene, offering Sustainability and Product consulting and advisory services. She works with consumer goods, manufacturing and recycling businesses to improve their sustainability practices and guide them through the B Corp certification process. Prior to this Kate was with global skincare brand, Aesop, for more than 20 years, most recently as their Global Director of Innovation and General Manager of Product and Sustainability. Kate has a passion for sustainable design that is built into the core of product creation and innovation. Kate completed her PhD in Chemistry (2006) and BSc (Hons)(2001) at The University of Melbourne.

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Abbie Freestone
Director, Climate and ESG, Rewild Agency

Abbie is the Director of Climate & ESG at Rewild Agency – a strategic sustainability consultancy based in Melbourne specialising in sustainability measurement, strategy, communication, design, and education. Her experience spans stakeholder engagement, corporate social responsibility, carbon accounting, and net zero emissions strategy. She believes that business can and should be a force for good and is committed to uncovering new ways to embed sustainability both within long-term organisational strategy and day-to-day business operations. She holds a Bachelor of Environments (2014) from The University of Melbourne and a Master of Environment & Sustainability at Monash University specialising in ‘Leadership for Sustainable Development’. She is also a trained B Consultant and a registered Climate Active consultant.

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Geoff Manchester
CEO and Co-founder, Intrepid Travel

Globally recognised as a pioneer in responsible travel, Geoff Manchester (BCom (1981)) is the co-founder of Intrepid Group, the world’s largest provider of adventure travel experiences, and Director of the company’s not-for-profit The Intrepid Foundation.  Geoff and his best mate Darrell Wade founded Intrepid Travel in 1989 with a vision of creating small group adventures that travelled the local way, benefiting both travellers and the places that they visit. More than 30 years later, Intrepid Travel has grown to become a portfolio of specialist tour operators and 23 destination management companies taking over 400,000 travellers to more than 120 countries on all seven continents, and employing more than 2,000 staff in 29 offices around the world. Intrepid travel is the first global tour operator with verifiable science-based targets through the Science Based Targets initiative, to limit global warming to 1.5C in the next decade. It is also the world’s largest travel B corporation.

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Freya Marsden
Chair, Vic Gov Sustainability Fund

Freya has deep experience in driving optimal outcomes supported through her extensive sustainability, environmental management, finance, risk and audit capability. This includes establishing and utilising frameworks that protect and create value, manage risks and optimise opportunities. She possesses significant knowledge in the energy, water, infrastructure, transport and environmental; sectors including sustainability policy within government and the private sector both in Australia and internationally. Freya also has extensive not-for-profit experience and has been involved in developing policies in areas such as disadvantage and disability. Freya holds a Master of Economics (1999) from the University of Melbourne.

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Sarah Newman
Director, Sustainability Services, KPMG  

Sarah provides sustainability and climate change services to corporate clients. Since completing her Commerce degree at the University of Melbourne (2004), Sarah has worked with some of Australia’s largest companies to improve their environmental and social performance. She has over 15 years’ experience in sustainability strategy, performance & reporting, climate risks & decarbonisation, supply chain, responsible investment and the circular economy. In the past 2 years, Sarah has seen firsthand the significant uptake of environment, social & governance (ESG) areas being a priority for customers, investors, company directors and standard setters. Sarah is passionate about advancing the important role organisations and technology will play towards a lower carbon economy, and in making a positive impact to our planet and people for future generations.

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Timothy Shue
COO, Yarra Energy Foundation

Tim is the Chief Operating Officer for the Yarra Energy Foundation, a Melbourne-based not-for-profit driving community energy solutions for a net-zero future. He completed a Bachelor of Environments (2013) and Master of Environment (2017) at the University of Melbourne and identifies as a generalist with an interest in climate communications. Tim has worked for several years at the nexus of local government, climate, and communications with local, national and international not-for-profits. He is a board member for not-for-profit organisation, Our Future Cities, and was an ambassador for the inaugural Wattle Fellowship program at the University of Melbourne.

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Tania Smith
Director, Sustainable Finance, ANZ

Tania Smith is a Director of Sustainable Finance at ANZ and a Chartered Environmentalist. She has over 15 year of experience advising governments, investors, global corporates and non-profit organisation within Australia, Asia, the UK, Europe, USA and the Middle East. Within her current role, Tania assists ANZ's institutional clients transition to a more sustainable and net zero future through provision of innovative finance such as Green/Social and Sustainable Bonds and Loans, and Sustainability Linked Loans. Tania holds a BCom (2007) and BSc (2007) and a Master of Environment (2013).

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