PARTNERING FOR IMPACT ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT 2018 MONASH SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE | 1 2 | ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT 2018 CONTENTS From the Chair From the Director Partnering for Impact 04 05 06 Impact at a Glance Recognition of Our Work Leadership on the Goals 08 10 14 Sustainable Cities & Communities Climate Action Social Inclusion 20 24 28 Inspiring Change Creating the Leaders of Tomorrow Thank You 32 38 44 MONASH SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE | 3 FROM THE CHAIR At MSDI, we see our future in harnessing The Sustainable Development Goals are a ‘light has been so successful is Rebekah’s strong focus the research, education and engagement on the hill’. They provide a vision for a better world on the future. This is consistent with the very notion strengths across Monash to address the in the future and key targets for all of us to work of sustainability that underpins everything we do. towards. But by themselves the goals are not complex and interconnected challenges In 2018, Professor Brown initiated an important enough. In order to achieve them we will need some process for MSDI staff to consider the Institute’s posed by the Sustainable Development Goals. big societal transformations. future direction and strategy. This has been MSDI can play an important role in helping identify enthusiastically taken up by the staff. As well as these big shifts and the research and education considering the big societal transformations, we needed to achieve them. Already we are working on have identified that the Institute’s key capabilities some of these transformations, including the shift include many of the processes that will help society to a net zero economy, more sustainable cities and understand how the transformations can be achieved. providing food for a growing world population in a way An understanding of behaviour change, mobilising that protects the environment and the climate. Our finance, evidence synthesis, pathways, transitions education team at MSDI is also focused on providing and policy influence are all areas where MSDI has knowledge and skills to those who are collaborating, strengths that will be vital in delivering the SDGs. leading and delivering positive social change. This report highlights many of the important At the end of 2018, Professor Rebekah Brown achievements of MSDI this year. I am very confident stepped down as Director of MSDI to take up the that our contribution to achieving a better and more role of Senior Vice Provost (Research) for Monash sustainable world will increase even further in the University. Rebekah has been an outstanding coming year. Director and has led the Institute with distinction Professor John Thwaites over the past four years. One of the reasons MSDI Chair, MSDI Professor John Thwaites 4 | ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT 2018 FROM THE DIRECTOR In 2018, MSDI and its people were project to rethink Australia’s system of food and land recognised nationally and globally for use. BehaviourWorks is forging breakthroughs in the ambition of our ideas and the scale Social Systems Evidence and through the INSPIRE framework. It also welcomed 18 PhD students, of our impact. Ultimately, our success exploring how behavioural science can help solve reflects the efforts of MSDI Executive big public policy challenges faced by our industry and staff — I would like to thank them and government partners. for their leadership and dedication. The flagship strength that MSDI has built in water sensitive cities is deepening its global impact, We were honoured to receive a Banksia Award for our and working to develop practical sustainable innovative interdisciplinary approach to catalysing development solutions for the world’s most sustainable development solutions. Internationally, vulnerable. We continue to engage our students we received the United Nations’ Momentum for in real problems, and equip them with the skills Change Award, recognising the Net Zero initiative to address them. We encourage our students to spearheaded by ClimateWorks Australia. This ‘Change It’ through programs such as Green Steps award is testament to the expertise, excellence and and Leave No One Behind. commitment of our staff. Professor Rod Glover In 2018 we hosted global thinkers including Jeff Beyond the accolades however, we measure our Sachs, Mariana Mazzucato, Peter Singer and Nobel contribution by the impact we have on the missions Laureate Muhammad Yunus, inspiring us to think we pursue, and on the people and communities we differently and affirming our commitment to real work with and serve. In this respect, 2018 was a world impact. In the year ahead, we look forward to fantastic year. welcoming a new Director to help us write the next chapter of the MSDI story. ClimateWorks has entered its 10th year. It continues to influence climate practice and policy across Professor Rod Glover the country and has launched an ambitious new Interim Director, MSDI MONASH SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE | 5 PARTNERING FOR IMPACT In 2015, 193 countries agreed to create At MSDI, we passionately believe in this vision of our We establish interdisciplinary teams, co-produce a better future through the United Nations future, and we’re committed to finding sustainable research and conduct action projects to develop 17 Sustainable Development Goals development solutions to global challenges, through innovative solutions and pathways; and to influence (SDGs). The Goals aim to reduce poverty research, education and engagement. But we know change in policies and practice. And we develop we can’t achieve this alone. interdisciplinary education programs to build and hunger, provide clean water and capacity, implement change at a local, regional and education to all, secure a safe climate, So we harness the strength of Monash University — global scale and train the sustainable development reduce inequality and much more. Australia’s largest university — and bring it together leaders of the future. in innovative partnerships with the best thinkers and doers from across academia, industry, government We currently work with over 200 local, and civil society. Carefully nurtured partnerships are regional and global partners. Together, the key to our success in everything we do. Our story we’re pioneering pathways to a more is one of collaboration and partnership threaded liveable and just world. through the very DNA of our organisation. 6 | ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT 2018 Oxfam-Monash Revitalising Partnership Informal A partnership Settlements and between Monash their Environments ClimateWorks University and Oxfam (RISE) Sustainable Australia Australia that pairs A multi-stakeholder academics with Development BehaviourWorks A partnership partnership led by field-based teams Education MSDI. This initiative Australia between Monash UN Sustainable and communities An expanding A research University (through aims to revolutionise to address the root Development MSDI) and The education suite water delivery to enterprise within Solutions Network causes of poverty including post- MSDI. BWA brings Myer Foundation. slums in urban areas, around the world. The SDSN moblises CWA is an expert, graduate courses a and will help rebuild leading behaviour scientific and independent advisor Water Sensitive d PhD supervision 24 settlements in change researchers technical expertise committed to helping Cities alongside exectuive Indonesia and Fiji over and practitioners from academia, Australia transition to Supports education, capcity five years. together to find civil society and net zero emissions interdisciplinary development and behavioural the private sector in by 2050. research on urban student leadership solutions to real- support of sustainable water from faculties activities. world problems. development problem and Institutes across solving at all levels. Monash University. MONASH SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE | 7 IMPACT AT A GLANCE 104 Projects 201 Partners $19.4 m Total Revenue 8 | ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT 2018 83 2410 Publications & Reports Students 3000 Event attendees 407 Media Hits MONASH SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE | 9 RECOGNITION OF OUR WORK 10 | ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT 2018 MSDI is driven by partnerships and impact, not by awards. But for our team and the people we work with, being recognised for our excellence in research, education and engagement is a humbling reminder of the great benefits of collaboration. 2018 Banksia Foundation Award for MSDI’s Dr Shirin Malekpour won the Green Research and Academia Talents Award It was with great pride that MSDI won the Banksia MSDI’s Dr Shirin Malekpour received the Green Award for Research and Academia in 2018. Talents award for 2018, which is awarded by the Acknowledging the Institute’s exceptional work over German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. the past few years, the judges noted our “...extensive Dr Malekpour was one of 25 researchers from across and legitimate connections to the Sustainable the world to receive the award, which recognises Development Goals” as well as our strong young researchers for their outstanding achievements collaboration efforts, and resilient partnerships. The in making our societies more sustainable. prestigious award was accepted by MSDI’s Interim Director Professor Rod Glover and presented by the A Research Leader in Strategic Planning and Futures City of Melbourne Deputy Lord Mayor Arron Wood Studies at MSDI, Dr Malekpour was chosen by a at a gala dinner in late November. In receiving the high-ranking jury of renowned German sustainability award, Professor Glover