SDSN AusNZPac Leadership Council
Dr Jocelyne Basseal
Dr Jocelyne Basseal is the Director of Global Research Engagement at the University of Sydney, where she leads a portfolio dedicated to international research partnerships, global networks, and the coordination of official visits. Her work strengthens the University’s contribution to key UN Sustainable Development Goals through partnerships that advance global health, equity, innovation, and sustainable development.
Jocelyne brings extensive global experience, having worked for the World Health Organization’s Western Pacific Region as an Infection Prevention and Control expert, supporting low and middle income countries during the COVID 19 Health Emergencies Response. She previously served as Associate Director of the Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute. Her leadership spans the not for profit and corporate sectors, and she continues to co author peer reviewed publications and presents at national and international conferences. She was invited to deliver the prestigious Goldsworthy Oration for the Australian Society for Microbiology in 2024.
Prof Verity Firth
Professor the Hon. Verity Firth AM is the inaugural Vice-President Societal Impact, Equity and Engagement at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). She is a Professor of Practice at the School of Education, Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture. Prof. Firth has over twenty years’ experience at the very highest levels of government and education sectors in Australia. She has strong public policy experience and a proven capacity to drive large-scale reform across a range of organisations.
Prof Ralph Horne
Ralph Horne is Professor of Geography and Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor, Research and Innovation for the College of Design and Social Context at RMIT University. He is interested in social and policy change to support sustainable urban development, and has a specific research interest in low carbon urban transitions, housing and households. He combines research leadership and participation in research projects concerning the environmental, social and policy context of production and consumption in the urban environment.
Amy Malcolm
Amy Malcolm is the Head of the Vice-Chancellor’s Office at Auckland University of Technology, and joined the whānau at the end of June 2022.
Previously, she was Manager, Strategic Relations, in the Office of DVC, Strategic Engagement at the University of Auckland. In a career at the University spanning 20 years, Amy has made significant contributions across a range of functions, including student recruitment, marketing, student life, fundraising, and strategic engagement.
Amy also serves on several boards, including Auckland City Centre Advisory Board, The Big Idea, and Create Auckland 2030.
As Head of the Vice-Chancellor’s Office, Amy supports university strategy, the office’s day-to-day operations, and manage strategic relationships.
Prof John Thwaites
John Thwaites is a Professorial Fellow, Monash University, and Chair of the Monash Sustainable Development Institute and ClimateWorks Centre. He is the Interim Chair of the McKinnon Institute for Political Leadership based at Monash.
John is Chair of Melbourne Water and a Director of Fairtrade Australia New Zealand.
He is a Co-Chair of the Leadership Council of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (“SDSN”) launched by the Secretary General of the United Nations to provide expert advice and support to the development and implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.
In 2020, John was appointed to the Lancet Covid-19 Commission, which aims to speed up global, equitable and lasting solutions to the pandemic.
John was appointed Member of the Order of Australia for “significant service to the environment and to the people and Parliament of Victoria” in the 2021 Australia Day Honours.
John Thwaites was Deputy Premier of Victoria from 1999 until his retirement in 2007. During this period he held various Ministerial portfolios including Minister of Health, Minister of Environment and was Victoria’s first Minister for Climate Change. In these portfolios he was responsible for major reforms in social policy, health, environment and water.
Prof Stuart White
Professor Stuart White is Director of the Institute for Sustainable Futures where he leads a team of researchers who create change towards sustainable futures through independent, project-based research. With over twenty years experience in sustainability research, Professor White’s work focuses on achieving sustainability outcomes at least cost for a range of government, industry and community clients across Australia and internationally. This includes both the design and evaluation of programs for improving resource use efficiency and an assessment of their impact. Professor White has written and presented widely on sustainable futures and is a regular commentator on sustainability issues in the media.