A cross-sector initiative led by Circular Australia, bringing together industry, government, research, and community to activate circular economy projects across the Illawarra region. We are building the shared strategies, business models, and on-ground pilots needed to drive local material circulation, new economic opportunity, and a credible regional transition to net zero.
In person and online
Industry, government, research, and community
To the national Circular Australia taskforce network
Open to any organisation committed to circular outcomes in the Illawarra
The Illawarra has the industrial base, research capability, and government engagement to become one of Australia’s leading circular economy precincts. The Taskforce exists to activate that potential by connecting the organisations already doing the work and creating the space for new investment, pilots, and policy.
Initiated by Circular Australia and co-led by the University of Wollongong and BlueScope Steel, the Taskforce is open to any organisation in the region committed to circular outcomes in the region.
Governance structure
The Taskforce operates through a transparent, collaborative structure designed to keep decision-making close to the people doing the work on the ground.
Founding members, co-chairs, and committed organisations who govern the Taskforce, set the agenda, manage funding, and oversee workplan delivery. Meets quarterly, alternating with Taskforce meetings.
Open to all Illawarra organisations across government, industry, not-for-profits, community and research. Members attend quarterly meetings, contribute to strategy, and co-facilitate workshops and pilots where relevant.
Assoc. Professor Tillmann Böhme (UOW) and Cherie Sammut (BlueScope Steel) co-chair the Taskforce, coordinate the SteerCo agenda, and represent the Illawarra within the national Circular Australia network.
The Taskforce’s workplan is grounded in the Illawarra’s existing industrial strengths and resource flows. Current priority areas include:
Identifying scale-up opportunities for organics recovery and compost use across agriculture, viticulture, and land management in the region.
Mapping end-of-life pathways for solar panels, batteries, and other energy-transition materials as the region scales up renewables capacity.
Supporting Circular Plastics Illawarra and sector-specific pilots, including medical and aged care plastic recovery, to keep materials in productive use.
Connecting manufacturers, recyclers, and processors to identify resource-sharing and secondary material opportunities across the Illawarra industrial base.
The Taskforce brings together a broad cross-section of the Illawarra, from major industrial organisations and local SMEs to councils, government agencies, research institutions, and industry networks.
Dr Tillmann Böhme (PhD)
Associate Professor
Deputy Head of School (Management)
Co-Founder – Blue Futures: Translational Research Initiative
Linkedin
Cherie Sammut
Technical Co-ordinator – Recycling
Australian Steel Products
Bluescope
Meetings are open to any organisation with a stake in the Illawarra’s circular economy transition. You do not need to be a Circular Australia member to attend.
Held quarterly, alternating between virtual (Zoom) and in-person formats. Sessions cover material flow priorities, pilot updates, regional case studies, and planning for upcoming workshops and site visits. All meetings are documented with minutes and recordings shared with members.
The SteerCo meets quarterly between Taskforce meetings to guide the agenda, manage the workplan, and oversee funding and governance. SteerCo membership is currently closed
A live resource for the Illawarra circular economy
The regional circular economy roadmap identifying economic opportunities, future jobs and investment, material flow priorities, and targets for the precinct. In development.
Quarterly Taskforce meetings, SteerCo sessions, and in-depth workshops. Registrations managed via Humanitix.
On-ground circular economy initiatives across the region, from organics and plastics to renewables and advanced materials. Showcasing what’s working and who to connect with.
Links to practical resources, platforms and tools coming soon.
The Circular Illawarra Taskforce sits within the national Circular Australia taskforce network, giving members direct access to national policy developments, research and peer learning across other precincts.
This connection means local work in the Illawarra informs national policy, and national evidence and tools flow back to support on-ground action in the region.
Whether you are a business, council, research institution, or community organisation, there is a role for you in the Circular Illawarra Taskforce. Complete the short form or email us to register your interest and we will share details of the next quarterly meeting. Send us a brief introduction with your name, organisation, and how you’d like to be involved to contact@circularaustralia.com.au