The Diversity in Pathways Towards a Sustainability Career in Australia

In our previous article we talked about the evolution of sustainability roles within a corporation.

More employers are realising that sustainability is here to stay, and that they need to start investing meaningfully in building up sustainability competencies within their organisations to stay ahead of their competitors. Consequently, more and more employees each day are considering pivoting into this growth area.

Today, we’ll focus on both the traditional and non-traditional ways of building a career in sustainability. Do you need to abandon your existing skills and experience, or can you augment your current role with a sustainability element?

Embarking on a career in sustainability in Australia offers a rewarding opportunity to engage with critical environmental and social issues. The pathways to this field are diverse, catering to various interests and career goals.

No longer just a pure engineering or science degree

The traditional pathways still exist. Higher education degrees in environmental science and engineering, sustainability, and renewable energy remains the core essential knowledge for many who are pursuing a career in sustainability.

Examples of such relevant degrees include the University of Sydney’s Environmental Science Program, providing a multidisciplinary scientific understanding of environmental issues, the Australian National University’s Master of Climate Change, which delves into policy and science and the University of Melbourne's Master of Environment program that allows students to specialize in areas like sustainable cities and governance.

However, whilst we see an increase in graduates within this field, it is unlikely that the universities will be able to produce sustainability knowledge-workers to meet the urgent demands of the market, at least in the medium term.

Thus, we’re observing a growing trend of employees with historically more conventional roles taking on additional ESG responsibilities.

For example, with the increase in popularity of green financing (i.e. green bonds, sustainability-linked loans), a Treasury executive might have to adapt to the new world of sustainability metrics reporting to maintain a favourable interest rate. Similarly, we’ve seen Workplace Health and Safety and Human Capital professionals who have leveraged their existing skills and expertise within the “Social” pillar of ESG, into a broader sustainability role, by equipping themselves with environmental and climate-change knowledge.

The technology industry has also seen a huge demand for ESG-skilled software professionals. IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, Salesforce and many others have released either new standalone sustainability software or additional modules to their existing ERP offerings to help organisations achieve their ESG goals and objectives.

Another category of employees who are capitalising on this growth are those within the compliance world. Internal auditors, risk and compliance managers, lawyers, standard setters, now need to take into consideration the risks posed by climate change and societal issues as part of their day-to-day job.

No time for a new 4-year degree

For those who are unable to commit to a full time degree and are seeking flexibility or supplementary learning, online courses and alternative pathways are available.

Platforms like FutureLearn and Coursera offer courses from Australian universities, covering topics such as renewable energy, sustainable development, and environmental management. Short courses and certificates, such as those offered by TAFE institutions, provide practical skills in areas like sustainable agriculture and energy efficiency.

For the accountants in the room, IFRS offers a Fundamentals of Sustainability Accounting (FSA) certification (https://www.ifrs.org/products-and-services/sustainability-products-and-services/fsa-credential/) that bridges the gap between financial analysis and sustainability considerations, as well as preparing students for the mandatory disclosure regime.

In addition to formal education, gaining hands-on experience through internships or volunteering with environmental organizations can be invaluable. Networking with professionals and joining sustainability-focused groups can further enhance one’s career prospects.

An evolving landscape

As the market evolves rapidly, and the corporate world catches up with the new decarbonisation and climate change paradigm, a highly skilled workforce will make a significant difference in how a company thrive over the next decade.

How a company develops or transforms its workforce will differ across the industry, and the number of opportunities will be varied and diverse. What is crystal clear though, is that any employee who can recognise how their roles might or could be impacted by the advancement of these global sustainability objectives, has a higher chance of capitalising on these opportunities.