The Sustainable Communities and Waste Hub is excited to celebrate the recognition of our Hub Leader, Scientia Professor Veena Sahajwalla, as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the 2025 Australia Day Honours. This prestigious accolade highlights her significant contributions to science, engineering and sustainability.
A Trailblazer in Sustainable Materials and Waste Management
Professor Sahajwalla has been recognised for her distinguished service to science as an engineer and inventor, particularly in sustainable materials research and waste management. Her pioneering work in microrecycling science provides innovative ways to recover resources and reduce environmental impact.
At the Sustainable Communities and Waste Hub, Prof. Veena helps to lead key research tackling Australia’s waste challenges, including:
- Advancing Circular Economy Practices: Assisting the uptake of technologies to recover valuable materials and reduce waste.
- Addressing Microplastic Pollution: Researching sources and solutions to mitigate environmental harm.
- Driving Collaboration: Building partnerships across sectors to enable systemic change.
Recognised Among Australia’s Best
As the Founding Director of the UNSW Sustainable Materials Research and Technology (SMaRT) Centre, Veena has also developed technologies like Green Steel™ and MICROfactories that transform waste into valuable products. These innovations align closely with the Hub’s mission to support Australia’s transition to a circular economy.
Celebrating a Visionary Leader
On behalf of the Sustainable Communities and Waste Hub, we congratulate Veena on this well-deserved recognition. Her leadership inspires transformative approaches to sustainability and waste management.
Learn more about Veena’s achievements:
