Infrastructure Sustainability Council CEO steps down

The Infrastructure Sustainability (IS) Council has announced that Ainsley Simpson, Chief Executive Officer, will be moving on to take a new role as inaugural Chief Executive Officer of Seamless in March 2024.

Simpson has been with the IS Council for eight years, with nearly six of those years as leader. According to Deb Spring, IS Council Chair, the IS Council has grown under Simpson’s leadership. Its membership has increased fourfold, industry capability has broadened and the number of IS ratings has tripled.

“Ainsley has amplified the Council’s influence, building an engaged member base with a combined annual turnover of more than $50 billion. In her inimitable style, she has helped the IS Council become a trusted voice with the infrastructure industry and with governments.

“We can now clearly quantify and articulate our economic and environmental impact — an impact that extends across more than $297 billion of assets under rating in 2023 and a double-digit reduction in lifecycle carbon emissions over the last five years,” Spring said.

During Simpson’s tenure, one of the Council’s achievements is the delivery of a full suite of rating tools across all asset classes, states and territories and a strong presence in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Simpson grew the team to more than 40 and was the driving force behind infrastructure Net Zero, the national initiative established in 2023 to bring government and industry together for infrastructure’s pathway to net zero by 2050.

In 2019, the IS Council was presented with the highest honour at the Banksia Sustainability Awards for its work to align the IS rating scheme with UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

“I am tremendously proud of what the Council, our members and the industry have achieved. The sector is embracing the cultural change we need to deliver sustainable infrastructure with intention and momentum,” Simpson said.

“We have brought together a growing community of collaborators and pace setters who are creating impact and driving market transformation. It has been my privilege to lead the Council over a time of enormous growth and I am excited to see the next chapter unfold.”

Patrick Hastings, Chief Delivery and Capability Officer, has been appointed as the Acting CEO by the Board. He will step into this position on 19 February 2024.

“Patrick is well positioned to continue the dynamic growth and sectorial change of the IS Council. He is backed by a responsible, collaborative and dynamic team as they continue to ensure all infrastructure delivers cultural, social, economic and environmental benefits,” Spring said.

Simpson will join Seamless in March 2024. Seamless was established to create a circular clothing industry by 2030 and to reduce the 200,000 tonnes of clothing sent to Australian landfill each year.

“Ainsley has championed industry-wide change in the infrastructure sector. On behalf of the Board, we applaud her stellar contribution and wish her all the best with Seamless, furthering the mission that both our organisations share: a sustainable future,” Spring said.

Image caption: Ainsley Simpson. Image: Supplied