Dr Tracey Dodd GAICD is a recognised authority on climate governance and sustainability transformation with over two decades of cross-sectoral leadership. An experienced non-executive director currently serving on three boards—Green Industries SA (Governance Committee Chair), Australian Maths Trust (Finance, Audit & Risk Management Committee Chair), and Australian Dance Theatre—she champions effective governance that drives both economic and environmental resilience.
Currently Senior Lecturer at Adelaide Business School, University of Adelaide, Adjunct Associate Professor and Academic Lead for Governance at the Governance Institute of Australia, Honorary Senior Research Fellow at University of Exeter, and Visiting Professor at ISC Business School Paris, she contributes influential research on ecological sustainability and corporate governance. She is also the inaugural academic reviewer and facilitator of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) “Climate Governance for Australian Directors” course, which as equip over 250 executives and directors with frameworks to navigate the low-carbon transition.
Her expertise spans pioneering regulatory reforms—including oversight of the world’s first ban on single-use plastics—and directing multi-million-dollar disaster recovery initiatives. A Six Sigma Black Belt certified professional, she brings operational excellence to her role as CEO of Sustainable Innovation and Chief Investigator of an Australian Research Council Discovery Grant, where she pioneers carbon disclosure research that reshapes organizational and governmental approaches to environmental governance.
With a PhD from University of South Australia and Masters from Carnegie Mellon University, having completed her GAICD with Order of Merit distinction, she has secured over $16M in economic and social development funding, including the $9M Aspire Social Impact Bond that ended homelessness for 575 people and delivered savings to the South Australian Government of over $40 million. Her thought leadership is recognised internationally, including addressing the United Nations, World Business Council for Sustainable Development, and Strategic Management Society.
Sustainability Transformations: Regulatory Reforms and Corporate Responses
Abstract
Dr Dodd will examine the new Australian Accounting Standards Board Standard 2 (AASB S2) for climate-related financial disclosures, including implications for emergency service organisations. AASB S2, which mandates detailed reporting on climate risks, opportunities, and transition plans, signals a shift from voluntary sustainability initiatives to mandatory, decision-useful disclosures. Using recent research and case examples, this session will explore how ambulance authorities can begin to respond to these requirements and to increased stakeholder pressure, including strategies for decarbonisation. The presentation will highlight both the risks of inaction and the opportunities for leadership, innovation, and inter-agency collaboration. Key themes include the role of executive commitment, data and capability building, and aligning operational imperatives with sustainability goals. The session aims to provide practical insights for CAA members seeking to embed climate governance into core decision-making and meet the expectations of AASB S2 and related standards. By framing sustainability as both a compliance obligation and a catalyst for organisational resilience, the presentation will support ambulance services in understanding the key steps to consider in planning for a low-emissions, climate-resilient future.