Ultimately, sustainability is not just about meeting regulatory requirements; it is a business imperative that aligns economic and environmental goals. Companies must prioritise emissions reduction strategies, harnessing the power of digital tools, smart design, and collaborative efforts to lead the charge. By embracing these challenges, Australian businesses can not only meet net-zero targets but also contribute meaningfully to a decarbonised future. Now is the time to act - with urgency, innovation, and a commitment to sustainable progress.
DOROTA BACAL, PhD
Sustainability and Innovation Lead
EDUCATION:
PgCert in Business Sustainability Management, The University of Cambridge
PhD in Renewable Energy, Monash University
BEng & MSc in Applied Physics Engineering, The University of Rzeszow
PASSION:
Carbon Reduction and Accounting, Energy Transition, Sustainability
STRENGTHS:
Leadership, Project Management, Data Analysis, Problem Solving
WEAKNESSES:
Coffee and Adrenaline Addict
Dorota is passionate about designing and implementing greenhouse gas emissions reduction strategies. She is a carbon accountant, with expertise in renewable energy and energy efficiency.
In her career, she has worked with various large emitters across many sectors of the Australian economy, including transport, infrastructure, government, food chain, entertainment, and finance. She is a registered Climate Active consultant, helping organisations achieve carbon neutrality.
Dorota has extensive research experience in solar energy. During her bachelor's and master's degrees, she worked on improving the manufacturing processes and efficiency of solar panels, collaborating with leading-edge tech companies.
She came to Australia in 2016, when she was offered a prestigious scholarship from CSIRO and Monash University to undertake her PhD in chemical engineering. She specialised in solar energy generation, developing novel photoactive materials, which can be used in flexible solar panels.
Dorota is a problem solver and an implementer by heart. Her goal is to go sleep every day knowing that the planet is a bit better than it was in the morning.
Impact
9
PUBLICATIONS
145
CITATIONS
48
DECARBONISING
BUSINESSES
151
KILO TONNES OF CO2
EMISSIONS REDUCED
WHAT BOTHERS ME?
Net zero strategies that never get implemented.
Businesses often seek external guidance on developing net zero roadmaps. This approach allows businesses to access external expertise without hiring additional, or up-skilling the existing staff.
However, strategies developed by external consultants are often poorly implemented (if at all) because the consultants' engagement ends with the submission of the final report. Without decarbonisation experts placed internally, the driver of change is missing and the implementation hobbles.
HOW DO I FIX THAT?
By empowering businesses, I aim to accelerate the decarbonisation of the Australian economy.
It is time to invest in the skills of people within the companies to implement the action plans. I support large emitters with fundamental knowledge which allows them to develop their own company-tailored and embraced solutions, based on well-informed decisions.
I work with companies, not for companies, making sure that they can continue the good work beyond my engagement.
WHAT'S MY END GOAL?
Australian industry ecosystem acting as one and decarbonising together.
Decarbonising complex value chains is not an easy task, with traceability and availability of data causing major issues. Missing pieces of the value chains - companies that stayed behind - must be urgently supported and brought up to speed.
Companies must come together to put us back on the trajectory of a decarbonised world.