The Bond University Mirvac School of Sustainable Development

Message from the Managing Director of Mirvac

MirvacAs one of Australia’s largest diversified real estate groups, Mirvac feels a strong sense of responsibility to the people with whom we do business and with the broader community.

Sustainability has become an essential element of developing and managing commercial, retail and industrial properties, and our work demonstrates corporate leadership in introducing new technologies and practical measures in all our property-related activities.

Mirvac is a symbol for responsible and sustainable development and continues to deliver outstanding examples of sustainability in action. A comprehensive strategic planning process undertaken over the past 12 months positions Mirvac to remain at the forefront of sustainability.

Our partnering with Bond University to establish the Mirvac School of Sustainable Development is an Australian first. It reflects a long-term investment in the next generation of students who will develop an invaluable understanding of the growing importance of sustainability and will bring that knowledge into the business world.

Mirvac is already setting new standards in sustainability including:

  • Mirvac’s Orion Springfield in south-east Queensland, opened in March 2007, is one of Australia’s most environmentally friendly shopping centres;
  • Mirvac has maintained its listing on United Kingdom’s FTSE4Good Global Index and a listing in the Australian SAM Sustainability Index (AuSSI) recognising Mirvac as one of the top sustainability-driven companies within the entire Australian economy;
  • Mirvac was awarded the 2006 Department of Energy, Utilities and Sustainability (NSW) Premier’s Sustainability Excellence Award and in partnership with GridX was awarded the 2007 Banksia Climate Award, one of Australia’s most prestigious environmental awards;
  • Offering the Australian and New Zealand Sustainable Investments Fund (ASIF & NZSIF) and the JF Infrastructure Sustainable Equity Fund (SEF) designed to reduce green house gas emissions;
  • Mirvac was included in the 2006 Climate Leadership Index (CLI) – Australia and New Zealand for the Real Estate Investment Trusts sector. The CLI recognises those companies best positioned to adequately address key areas of climate change risk and opportunity that have the potential to affect their business;
  • Continued success of the suburb of Australia’s first solar suburb, Newington in Sydney;
  • Promotion of energy saving best practices for commercial tenants with the creation of our tenant handbook; and
  • Modern lifestyle and community focus within our residential property development.

Mirvac has only scratched the surface in terms of what is achievable. Our vision is that an investment in this unique business school will help make projects like ours standard industry practice in the near future, and not just for the property sector, but also across a whole spectrum of Australian industry.

The students who graduate from this School will be industry leaders in implementing responsible and practical sustainability management initiatives and will help build a national focus on this very important topic.

Greg Paramor
Managing Director
Mirvac Group