Circular Economy for Engineers

16-17 Sep, 9:00am - 4:00pm

Zoom

Gain practical tools to embed circular economy thinking into your engineering projects and strategies.

As an engineer, you play a vital role in Australia’s transition to a circular economy—but it can be hard to know how to take meaningful action.

This course will help you build the knowledge and tools to apply circular economy principles in your work, no matter your discipline.

You’ll explore practical strategies, proven metrics, and real-world examples to help you embed circular thinking into your projects and plans.

By the end, you’ll be equipped to contribute to more sustainable outcomes in your organisation and beyond.

Is this course for you?

This course is ideal for engineers and technical professionals across disciplines who are interested in integrating circular economy principles into their work. It is particularly suited to those in roles involving strategy, design, project delivery, or sustainability.

It supports professionals from early to senior career stages who are looking to upskill, lead change, or influence circular economy outcomes within their organisation or sector.

Relevant roles include but are not limited to:

Sustainability and Environmental Engineers
Design Engineers (Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, etc.)
Project Engineers and Project Managers
Systems Engineers
Asset Managers
Engineering Consultants
Innovation or R&D Engineers
Engineering Team Leaders or Technical Managers
Strategic Planners (Engineering or Infrastructure)
Operations or Maintenance Engineers
Policy or Standards Advisors (Engineering-related)

Non-engineering roles this course is relevant to include:

Architects
Urban Planners
Industrial Designers
Construction Managers
Procurement Specialists
Sustainability Managers and Advisors
Environmental Consultants
Corporate Strategy and Innovation Leads
Policy Analysts and Advisors
Facility Managers and Asset Managers
Operations Managers

These sessions run through Zoom. On the day of the short course you will receive the unique Zoom link at least one hour before the short course is scheduled to begin.

We suggest that you download the Zoom Desktop Client to ensure you can fully participate in the short course. If you view the short course through the Zoom web browser or via a phone or tablet device you may not be able to participate in the interactive elements such as answering polling questions.

Please read through the following information on Zoom to ensure you are prepared for the short course:

First session (3 hours)

Introduction to the Circular Economy

Core principles and key business models
Enablers of the circular economy in engineering contexts
Australian and global examples of circular economy in action
Relevant policies, targets, metrics, and strategies
Innovative circular solutions to engineering challenges
How engineers can lead and inspire change

Measuring Circularity

Introduction to circular economy metrics for engineers
ISO 59000 series: 59004, 59010, 59020
Circular Australia metrics: what they measure and how to use them
Current applications, opportunities, and barriers
Best practice case studies demonstrating use of metrics

Second Session (3 hours)

Embedding Circular Economy in Practice

Applying circular economy principles using the CE hierarchy
Business models such as product-as-a-service and leasing
Strategies for embedding circular economy thinking into engineering projects and organisational plans
Behavioural change levers and how to influence decision-makers
Evidence-based resources and tools for implementation
Securing action: identifying who and what you need to move forward

Practical Tools and Resources

Circular Economy Situation Report template
Circular Economy Leadership Matrix for stakeholder engagement
Links to key national and international resources

Learning outcomes

Identify opportunities for sustainability-focused change in your workplace.
Apply circular economy metrics, including ISO standards, in real-world contexts.
Access curated resources, case studies, and templates tailored to engineering roles.
Strengthen your professional profile in an emerging area of strategic importance.
Develop skills that align with industry, government, and organisational sustainability goals.
Improve your ability to communicate the value of circular approaches to clients and stakeholders.
Contribute to better resource efficiency, innovation, and environmental performance in your projects.

Prerequisites

It is recommended that participants watch this introductory webinar recording prior to the course.

This is strongly advised, but not essential to attending this course.

Course Facilitators

Lisa McLean

Lisa McLean is CEO of Circular Australia and a leader in circular economy and zero-carbon business transformation, with 14 years of experience advising industry and governments in the UK and Australia.

She has worked across energy, water, waste, and mobility sectors, developing policies for market change. Lisa founded the Open Cities Alliance, advocating for circular economy principles, prosumer rights, and new utility approaches. In Australia, she initiated the Australian Solar Thermal Association (AUSTELA) and supported electric mobility and sustainable water initiatives.

Lisa’s career began as a political journalist, later advising on climate policy and helping establish the Clinton Climate Initiative in the UK.

Jo Taranto

Jo Taranto is the Educator in Residence at Circular Australia and a Sydney-based sustainability educator, communicator, and advocate for grassroots environmental change.

As the Managing Director of Good for the Hood, she has spent over six years empowering communities, councils, and corporations to adopt circular economy principles and drive local action. Jo is also co-host of Channel 10’s Planet Shapers, where she explores innovative sustainability solutions across Australia.

With a background in health science and over 20 years of experience in behaviour change, Jo specialises in translating complex environmental issues into accessible, actionable insights. She has contributed to national programs like War on Waste and Fight for Planet A, and regularly facilitates workshops and panels on waste reduction, climate resilience, and community engagement.

Course Provider

This course is no longer available