KESAB Inc ~ Release for Saturday 7 March, 2020
KESAB environmental solutions seeks new CEO with planned retirement of John Phillips after 31 years' service
After 31 years as CEO of KESAB environmental solutions, John Phillips OAM will leave the organisation in July, with the best wishes of management, staff and volunteers.
Mr Phillips has advised that he plans to retire at the end of the financial year.
Chair of KESAB, Ros DeGaris, an environment and science consultant, described John's service to KESAB as "exceptional and personal" that has brought about massive growth to the organisation in capacity and its value to the state and the nation.
"The work ethic of John Phillips has been truly outstanding across three decades of change and challenge that has enabled KESAB to be flexible, proactive and creative in delivering education programs to reach a wider community here and overseas. KESAB now works and delivers education on the global stage due to John's excellent management skills and personable natural style".
"With a track record like this, it is imperative that a highly suitable, proactive and well-connected successor is secured. The total remuneration package will be dependent upon the skills, knowledge and experience of the preferred applicant who will start sometime in June."
"John departs for a private life after another successful year working with Community, Industry, Councils and Government Agencies, delivering record levels of engagement and education at a time of dynamic change. He has guided the organisation well, always with an eye to the future."
Speaking last year on the challenges ahead Mr Phillips said: "Australia is suffering severe drought and water management challenges never before faced, placing significant stress on communities and governments as they respectively attempt to address balanced outcomes impacting both short and longer term, albeit working with unpredictability and uncertainty".
"KESAB's observation is that environmental sustainability action in response to all that is happening around us will require a hybrid mix of measures. These include measurable community behavioural change, continuing to build community resilience and capacity, sometimes with yet to be tried and tested strategies and actions, the likelihood of increased regulation and legislation to strengthen objectives meeting required outcomes and most importantly, a more urgent approach".
"Outcomes achieved in the past year demonstrate that environmental sustainability education and engagement are increasingly becoming embedded in our everyday lifestyle, recreational and work place action and behaviour. Such education is fundamental as the world around us transforms and embraces the Circular Economy".
Background: KESAB as an organisation is known for its strong relationships with government, business, schools and community. It depends totally on its corporate and government partners and collaborative stakeholders from many backgrounds, all with a genuine interest in seeing KESAB continue its leadership and environmental sustainability education and engagement outcomes. KESAB is proud of our many programs that show how collaboration, leadership and local action can improve a community's well-being, liveability and environmental sustainability action, underpinning resilience and local capacity building.
Finding a new CEO begins today:
Chair Ros DeGaris said the future CEO would continue to grow KESAB's role as SA's leading non-government environmental sustainability educator.
"In our partnerships with key drivers and stakeholders, KESAB environmental solutions will continue to develop and deliver relevant programs and materials responding to changes around us, engaging community with objectives to improve SA's already strong performance in litter reduction, resource recovery and increasing waste diversion from landfill.
"KESAB's initiatives will focus on capacity building, professional development and training, underpinned by research and waste auditing which in turn provide a platform to identify new opportunities to target problematic waste streams.
"The combination of our service agreements with Green Industries SA and Adelaide Mount Lofty Ranges NRM and corporate partnerships such as those with Sims Metal Management and SA Water underpin new education materials and resources that allow KESAB to extend the reach and scope of its service," Ms DeGaris said.
KESAB is increasingly in demand by business and industry to deliver waste and recycling auditing through their trained waste audit specialists to better understand waste streams and opportunities to identify new recycling and implement food waste to resources initiatives.
In recent years KESAB's reach has extended globally with KESAB programs and training delivered internationally in Mongolia and Kiribati, while supporting SA home grown green industries at trade events in the Middle East.
KESAB's key community programs include "APY Lands Education Bore to Tap", "Wipe Out Waste", "Litter Less", "Road Watch", "NRM Education" and innovative learning programmes delivered through the development of web-based micro sites and social media communication, as well as locally showcasing the Wingfield Education Centre to schools and community groups.
