Dr Robyn Leeson

Robyn has twenty years of experience in environment and sustainability-related fields for government at all levels, the private sector as a consultant, and NGOs, with specific experience in the development and implementation of sustainability strategies, climate change, water efficiency and sustainability reporting programs. She holds a Masters degree in environmental science and a doctorate in environmental impact assessment. She has had papers published in national and international journals and has delivered invited presentations to conferences in North America, Africa, Europe and Scandinavia. 

Robyn is a member of the Global Reporting Initiative’s (GRI) Stakeholder Council which is the GRI’s formal stakeholder policy forum, similar to a parliament, that debates and deliberates key strategic and policy issues. She has also been elected to GRI’s Technical Advisory Committee, acting in a liaison role for the Stakeholder Council. Robyn is a certified training provider for GRI and has also served as a member of the GRI’s Public Sector Working Group. She founded the Centre for Public Agency Sustainability Reporting where she was Director for two years.

Since joining Net Balance, Robyn has worked on a variety of projects ranging from a materiality assessment for the dairy industry to carbon supply chain analysis for local government. Robyn’s clients include companies from the automotive, resource, food & beverage and the not for profit sectors. She also works with Commonwealth departments, State agencies and local government on projects ranging from environmental data management to carbon strategy development and program evaluation. Specifically, she has developed sustainability reports for: Toyota, Woodside, Alcoa and Dairy Australia.

Just prior to joining Net Balance, Robyn was the manager of the Environment and Resource Efficiency Plans program at EPA Victoria which is a world’s first regulatory program in resource efficiency. The program applies to the State’s largest 250 businesses. As Manager, City Sustainability with the City of Melbourne, Robyn led a number of Melbourne’s key initiatives including the first climate change strategies, water action plans and corporate sustainability programs. Robyn was a staff member at Monash University for four years where she developed and delivered under-graduate courses in sustainable development. Robyn has also spent time prior to these roles at the City of Wyndham, CSIRO and URS.

Robyn is married to Scott and has a daughter, Tess who is 9 years old. She grew up in West Gippsland where her parents and sister still live. She is a long suffering member of the Richmond Football Club and enjoys old movies, theatre, art deco architecture, community radio and Australian music, in particular the works of David McComb, Rob Snarksi and Nick Cave.