What does responsible leadership look like in an era of climate change and environmental decline? At UTS Business School, researchers are answering this question through impactful research that supports organisations to adapt, decarbonise and rethink how they operate.
Sustainability and responsible leadership
From climate risk and supply chains to biodiversity and sustainable finance, this work is helping to shape more resilient systems, informed decision making, and a more sustainable future.
Leading climate resilience research: Professor Martina Linnenluecke (Director) and A/Professor Gerhard Hambusch (Co-Director), Centre for Climate Risk and Resilience
As climate change accelerates, businesses that do not decarbonise or adapt are facing significant risks.
A company that is not decarbonising might face risks from legislation that's being introduced, but the same risks could also be a company that's not adapting to climate change.
Martina and the team at the Centre for Climate, Risk and Resilience are providing companies with the tools and frameworks to understand their exposure to climate change risk; helping them take meaningful action to decarbonise the economy and regenerate both Country and planetary health.
“A company that is not decarbonising might face risks from legislation that's being introduced, but the same risks could also be a company that's not adapting to climate change.”
Addressing social and environmental issues through supply chain management: Associate Professor Md Maruf Hossan Chowdhury
Do you ever stop to consider the journey a product takes before it reaches you? From raw materials to manufacturing, every step leaves an environmental or social footprint, even something as simple as a paper receipt.
Maruf and his colleagues at the Centre for Climate Risk and Resilience are developing smarter, more sustainable strategies to reduce the environmental and social impacts of supply chains.
“We are working on how to minimise the negative environmental and social impact of supply chain operations and how to quantify the environmental, social and economic impacts to design effective and efficient supply chain strategies.”
How can investors contribute to sustainable biodiversity management?: PhD candidate Madeline Combe
As the unprecedented decline of biodiversity continues to threaten human survival, attention is being placed on the multibillion-dollar portfolios that are funding this destruction of nature.
At the same time, these investors rely heavily on a small number of ecosystem services, raising the question of how they can become more effective stewards of biodiversity.
The unprecedented decline of biodiversity really threatens our capacity to sustain ourselves. Now financial institutions are saying ‘What can we do about this?
Madeline is exploring the relationship between financial systems and the environment, uncovering how market actors are integrating biodiversity risks and opportunities into investment decision making and the implications of this for realising ecologically sustainable futures.
“The unprecedented decline of biodiversity really threatens our capacity to sustain ourselves. Now financial institutions are saying ‘What can we do about this?’”
The fund where UTS students meet financial markets: A/Prof Lorenzo Casavecchia
Created under the leadership of Lorenzo, the UTS Anchor Investment Fund brings together a select group of high-achieving students to manage a live investment portfolio and experience the realities of professional funds management. It is also one of the most career-defining opportunities available to finance students at UTS, working across areas such as asset allocation, equity research, investment pitching and risk management.
However, the real edge of the program is access. Through the UTS student-managed fund, students learn directly from senior investment professionals, industry mentors and guest speakers across asset management, superannuation, banking, advisory and capital markets.
“The fund is very unique in the sense that it combines rigorous academic training with internship-based experience. It’s also bridges the divide between academic insights and industry practice.”
The industry connection has translated into outstanding career outcomes, with past students going on to secure positions at highly competitive firms such as Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, KPMG, and PwC.