Infrastructure Sustainability Council welcomes Toby Kent as new CEO

The Infrastructure Sustainability Council (IS Council) has appointed respected sustainability leader Toby Kent as its next Chief Executive Officer.

Mr Kent brings a wealth of experience and an impressive track record in sustainability, resilience and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) delivery.

He joins the IS Council from PwC Australia, where he served as a Partner in the Energy Transition team for the past two years.

Mr Kent’s extensive experience includes over five years as Chief Resilience Officer for metropolitan Melbourne, as part of the Rockefeller Foundation’s ground-breaking 100 Resilient Cities program, and two years as Global Head of Sustainable Development at ANZ bank.

He previously held senior roles in the United Kingdom and Hong Kong, driving sustainability and climate change initiatives for PwC globally.

Mr Kent co-founded and managed ResilientCo Consulting and has been an active board member of the Business Council for Sustainable Development Australia for four years. He was also Chair of the Future Business Council for three years.

Mr Kent, who will commence in late August, succeeds Ainsley Simpson, who departed the IS Council in February 2024 to become inaugural CEO of circular fashion association Seamless. Since Ms Simpson’s departure, Patrick Hastings, Chief Delivery and Capability Officer, has been Acting CEO and will continue to do so until Mr Kent takes the reins.

IS Council Chair Deb Spring expressed her enthusiasm for Mr Kent’s appointment, underscoring his deep expertise in sustainability and authentic leadership style.

“Toby has steered game-changing sustainability initiatives for both public and private organisations and has exceptional stakeholder governance and operational management skills. A collaborative, values-driven leader, Toby is the ideal person to progress IS Council’s ambitious agenda.”

Mr. Kent is excited about his new role and the opportunity to drive sustainable infrastructure development on both sides of the Tasman.

“I am honoured to join the IS Council at this pivotal time. The IS Council has had a transformational impact on the Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand infrastructure sectors. We have $300 billion in assets under rating and our members, who collectively turn over more than $50 billion annually, are championing sustainable practices that resonate globally,” Mr Kent says.

“I am passionate about harnessing our collective expertise to drive meaningful change, promote strategies of shared value, and collaborate closely with industry, policymakers and the community to ensure infrastructure achieves optimal social, cultural, environmental and economic benefits.”

Ms Spring also extended her gratitude to Mr Hastings for his interim leadership. “Patrick has been a steadfast and capable leader and has maintained our momentum during the transition period. The IS Council is now poised to scale our impact and elevate our influence,” Ms Spring concludes.