"Waste is a design flaw"
Three Experts on what the circular economy actually asks of you.
The Circular Economy Grand Challenge opened on 3 September with a panel of people who work in this field every day: Radhika Mayani, founder of Left-handesign®; Angus Fanning from Lake Macquarie City Council; and Tim Askew, Director of Programs at the Hunter Joint Organisation.
Asked to define the circular economy without the textbook version, Tim went to first principles. "I did science here at Newcastle, and I think in atoms. So I'm thinking: every atom that is in our universe, in our region, in this space here, how can we maximise the value of that?"
Radhika put it from a founder's side. "Waste is a design flaw. So when I started designing the products, I thought: how can I think of the waste and the end use first? Then I designed that product."
She also gave the room the number worth holding onto. Australia's circularity rate sits at around 4%, and the national target is to double it by 2035. "We've got 95% of opportunity right here in front of us. So each one of you in this room who is applying for this challenge, there's a huge opportunity in how we can solve this collectively."
Angus made the case for scale close to home, with Lake Macquarie City Council maintaining an asset portfolio of around $4 billion. "We know how to build roads, we know how to build footpaths. How we can rethink and redesign how we do those things is a really cool opportunity."
On what separates ideas that go somewhere from ideas that don't, Tim was blunt: start at the end. "People have some great technology to take a particular waste so far along the circular journey, but then they get to a point where they go, 'well, no one seems to be buying my end product.'"
The advice he closed on was about who you do it with. "Be passionate, be persistent, be patient. No one has all the answers, but if you collaborate with a few other people, as many as you can, and ask lots of questions, you'll dive into that problem and it'll help unlock where you think the solution might be."
Next: Team Formation 
If the panel left you with an idea, this is where you find the people to build it with. You don't need an idea yet, you don't need a team, and you don't need to have been at the panel.
Thursday 17 September 2026
4:00pm to 6:00pm AEST
I2N Hub Honeysuckle, Q Building, Level 2
Free, with food and networking
Round 1 applications close Sunday 27 September. More information at uongrandchallenge.com.
What is I2N?
The University of Newcastle's Integrated Innovation Network (I2N) is responsible for driving economic diversity and business growth through innovation and entrepreneurship. At its network of innovation hubs, which are home to the Hunter region's most promising innovators and entrepreneurs, I2N delivers a range of enterprise skill-building programs that develop ideas into sustainable, global businesses
Contact
- Ned Collins
- Email: ned.collins@newcastle.edu.au
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