Australia’s built environment industry lost a sustainability champion last week, with the passing of Tom Roper. Tom was President of the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council from 2009 to 2015 and led the development of many influential initiatives that transformed the way Australia’s buildings are designed, delivered and operated.

Consult Australia was a foundation member of ASBEC. “Tom Roper was an exceptional leader who leaves behind a powerful legacy,” says Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Cartledge.

“Tom was at the helm of ASBEC when I first joined Consult Australia and I was fortunate to observe his leadership at close quarters. He had tremendous political influence and understood how to communicate a message to get cut-through,” Jonathan says.

Tom was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly in 1973 as a member of the Australian Labor Party. In 1976, he was appointed Shadow Minister for Health, assuming the ministerial role in 1982. He held a range of portfolios over his career, including transport, planning, environment, Aboriginal and consumer affairs. He was appointed Victorian Treasurer in 1990, serving until Labor’s defeat at the 1992 state election. 

Following his retirement from politics in 1994, Tom served as a member of the Australian Government Advisory Council on the Environment and Employment Opportunities, was a board member of the Climate Institute in Washington DC and a board member of Greenfleet, among other appointments.

“He was a strong and sensible advocate for sustainable building at a time when political will was wavering and when the business case was still emerging. He helped to lay an evidence base with ground-breaking publications like the Second Plank report and the Industry Roadmap for Net Zero Emission Homes, which have transformed the way we build,” Mr Cartledge says.

Australia is now recognised internationally for its commitment to sustainable design and delivery, with 12 consecutive years on the top of GRESB, the global real estate sustainability benchmark, just one proof point.

Celebrated for his wisdom and “phenomenal dedication” to the progress of a sustainable built environment, Tom was made an ASBEC Life Fellow in 2015.

“Tom’s influence drove real impact across government, industry and academia. By bringing everyone together under the ASBEC banner, he showed how Australia’s built environment could move further and faster together. He will be missed.”