News media lobby group NewsMediaWorks has named Dr Tony Wilkins as executive director, environment - responsible for advising the news media industry on product stewardship and environmental issues, responsibilities and commitments.
“We’re thrilled Tony is joining us to continue NewsMediaWorks’ role in championing our industry’s impressive track record in sustainability and environmental responsibility,” says NewsMediaWorks CEO, Peter Miller. “Australia’s newspaper recycling rate is 77%, positioning us as one of the world’s leaders in print media recycling.
“Tony’s credentials are unparalleled. His expertise and experience leading our industry’s approach to the environment have been gained at a time when sustainability has moved to the fore of business responsibility, so Tony is the ideal person for this role and we welcome him warmly.”
Wilkins joins NewsMediaWorks from News Corp, where he’s been head of environment since 1990. He’s also chair of the NewsMediaWorks Environment Advisory Group, established in 2012 to continue the work of the Publishers National Environment Bureau. Previously, Wilkins was a scientist in medical and forest research for 12 years.
He assisted in the establishment of Australia’s newspaper recycling plant, which raised the country’s newspaper recycling rate to one of the world’s best. He also led the creation of the award- winning News Corp Environment Sustainability initiative ‘1 Degree’, and he chairs the NSW Environment Trust’s Community & Recycling subcommittee and sits on its Waste & Recycling subcommittee, as well as convening the Corporate Environment Managers Group.
“Having spent the majority of my career championing the news media industry’s approach to environmental responsibility, I’m very excited to be joining NewsMediaWorks to work with Peter and the team,” says Wilkins. “NewsMediaWorks’ role in overseeing the industry’s approach to the environment and sustainability best practice is an important one and I’ll be working passionately to continue its good work.”
NewsMediaWorks’ environmental remit includes championing newspaper recycling and developing programs to keep newspapers out of landfill (they currently make up only about 1% of waste going to metropolitan landfills). It also works to reduce the industry’s greenhouse emissions, working towards an annual reduction in emissions of 4%, in line with global scientific goals under the Paris Accord.