Aurecon adds Belinda Wade to sustainability & climate change arm

International design, engineering and advisory company Aurecon has bolstered its Sustainability & Climate Change practice with Belinda Wade.

Appointed a Principal, Belinda Wade brings over two decades of experience in sustainability-related positions and a PhD degree focused on corporate decarbonisation to the consulting firm.

“As designers, engineers and advisors, we play a vital part in supporting our clients in transitioning to a net-zero carbon future and co-creating a better future for people and the planet. Belinda’s arrival represents a significant step forward in elevating our sustainability and climate change services,” said Paul Gleeson, Group Director Sustainability at Aurecon.

Ben McGarry, who leads Aurecon’s Decarbonisation team, added: “I’ve known Belinda for a couple of decades now, and it’s a thrill to have such eminence bolstering the team. The climate transition is a wicked problem that knits together complex social, technical and market issues, and it takes deep thinkers like Belinda to be able to articulate and address the challenges in a way that recognises that complexity.”

Before joining Aurecon, Wade spent more than a decade working in research, leadership and academic positions at the University of Queensland, focusing on organisational carbon management and sustainability. Her research focused on decarbonisation pathways, climate metrics and wider sustainability topics, including circular economies.

Other roles include serving as a consultant at Alinta Energy, as Environmental Portfolio Manager at Energex Retail and Market and Commercial Analyst at Tarong Energy.

Excited about her new challenge at Aurecon, Wade said that climate transition risk is a major challenge facing organisations in every market today. 

“Tackling the challenges associated with climate transitions requires an integrated strategy at a corporate level. My key focus will include understanding the challenges and opportunities for Aurecon’s clients and applying the team’s diverse range of capabilities and depth of expertise in transition risk management to support their journeys.”

“Taking the long view, it’s imperative we marry social considerations with technical capabilities to overcome roadblocks as organisations strive for net zero and competitive success in a decarbonised marketplace. Decarbonisation calls for a suite of new investments and changes, which necessitates a shift in both mental and business models.”