Product Stewardship Specialist Joins Infoactiv Group

Infoactiv Group is pleased to announce the appointment of John Gertsakis as the company’s Chief Sustainability Officer. This marks a significant and exciting phase for Infoactiv as we further invest in ensuring sustainability is at the forefront of the solutions we design and provide to our customers.

"John will inject considerable experience, knowledge and networks into our leadership team with a view to maximising sustainability performance and communications.  This includes undertaking research and development that can inform and drive new products and services at Infoactiv" said Helen Jarman, Managing Director of Infoactiv Group.

John’s focus on business strategies that extend our Product Stewardship programs across product classes and regions will further reinforce the company’s existing capabilities and customer base.

John’s knowledge covering product sustainability, sustainable design, producer responsibility and stakeholder management is extensive. He has a deep familiarity with Infoactiv’s range of services, project partners and customers through his work as a consultant to the company over several years, especially in relation to our e-waste management services.

"John’s enthusiasm for seeing ‘real world’ implementation of Product Stewardship is a great fit for Infoactiv and our dynamic team of supply chain, logistics and waste management specialists" said Ms Jarman.

He has worked as a senior environmental practitioner in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom for over 15 years, and most recently as Senior Associate with WSP Environment & Energy, a major global professional services firm. John has consulted to numerous companies, brands, OEMs and industry associations across the supply chain, including consumer electronics, ICT, commercial furniture, floor coverings and textiles.

John also worked very closely with the Consumer Electronics Suppliers Association to develop the concept for how e-waste could be effectively collected and recycled in Australia. This was followed by his pivotal role as Executive Director of Product Stewardship Australia from 2006 - 2011. His work with PSA and CESA was focused on program design, government relations and direct input to the Product Stewardship Act (2011) as it relates to the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme.

John has written and presented widely in Australia and New Zealand on product sustainability, environmental stewardship, producer responsibility and the role of and intelligent regulation. This includes ‘practice notes’ and guidelines for the Design Institute of Australia and Sustainability Victoria and in his current role as Sustainability Editor for Indesign Magazine.

He has also served as a sustainability and design judge for several awards programs including the Premier’s Design Awards (Victoria), the AIIA iAwards, and the Australasian Student Design Awards. John is the Sustainability Chairman for the 2013 Australian Interior Design Awards, a role he has served since 2010.

John also authored Australia’s first report on e-waste product stewardship in 1995 titled: Short Circuiting Waste from Electronic Products.

"Please join me in welcoming John to the Infoactiv team, and don’t hesitate to contact him for a conversation about the business of Product Stewardship and how Infoactiv can make it happen" noted Ms Jarman.

John Gertsakis can be contacted on mobile: 0409 422 089 or by email: john.gertsakis @ infoactiv.com.au