Powerful Conversations, Real Action: SEA Summit 2025 Wraps with Purpose and Momentum
The 2025 Sports Environment Alliance (SEA) Summit has officially wrapped, and what a day it was. With over 200 delegates from across the sporting sector in attendance, the Summit brought together changemakers, practitioners, athletes, and thought leaders committed to shaping a cleaner, more sustainable future for Australian sport.
From powerful panels and practical workshops to thought-provoking roundtables and networking opportunities, this year’s Summit was designed to engage, equip and empower. And judging by the energy in the room – it delivered.
SEA Chair, Margot Foster AM OLY, and CEO, Adam Cheyne, welcomed attendees with a clear call to action: to collaborate, innovate, and lead with purpose. That set the tone for a dynamic program, with a focus on innovation for impact, sustainability management, and building climate-resilient sporting communities.
Keynote Inspiration and Big-Picture Thinking
Opening keynote speaker Pete Ceglinski, CEO and Co-Founder of Seabin™, shared his journey from yacht builder to global clean-tech leader. His vision—pollution-free oceans and impact in 100 cities by 2050—underscored the power of purpose-led innovation and set the stage for a day of solution-focused discussion.
Panels That Sparked Dialogue and Direction
Throughout the day, three powerful panel conversations tackled the biggest opportunities and challenges in sustainable sport:
Sustainable Events and Facilities: Moderated by SEA Co-Founder Dr Sheila N. Nguyen, this discussion brought together sustainability leads from Stadiums Queensland, Netball Victoria, and the City of Melbourne. Key takeaways? Collaboration is critical, grassroots action must be supported, and ESG frameworks can guide sustainable progress.
Athlete Advocacy for Climate Action: Moderated by AFLW player and FrontRunners’ Nicola Barr, this conversation highlighted how athletes are using their voices for good. From visible changes at club level to national advocacy, speakers from Cricket for Climate, Footy for Climate, PFA and Olympic Race Walker Rhydian Cowley OLY emphasised the power of courage, storytelling and peer support.
Sport Infrastructure for a Sustainable Future: In a session facilitated by SEA CEO Adam Cheyne, representatives from the Australian Sports Commission, Populous, and SEA explored how infrastructure must evolve to support participation, reduce emissions, and prioritise access and inclusion—especially as we look ahead to the Brisbane Olympics.
Workshops That Delivered Practical Tools
Delegates got hands-on in two practical workshops designed to deliver real-world outcomes:
Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme: Led by Jim Round (VicReturn), this session explored how clubs and facilities can participate in the scheme and maximise its benefits for sustainability and revenue generation.
Behaviour Change in Sport: Led by Olivia Ashton and Tessa Leitch (Reground), this interactive session unpacked the psychology of change, and gave participants the tools to start shifting habits and inspiring new practices in their communities.
Roundtable Series: From Insight to Action
A signature element of the Summit, the Roundtable Series offered rich dialogue on nine key themes in sport and sustainability—from climate literacy and circularity to fan engagement, waste reduction, and sustainable transport. Facilitators brought real-world experience to the table, with key takeaways including:
Start small, but start now.
Align climate action with strong business cases.
Use education and authenticity as drivers of change.
Empower communities through ownership and simple, scalable solutions.
A Collective Thank You
The SEA Team would like to sincerely thank everyone who contributed to the success of #SEASummit25—our speakers, sponsors, suppliers, volunteers, and attendees. Without your passion and support, we wouldn’t be able to continue driving this vital movement forward.
As we reflect on the conversations, connections, and commitments shared throughout the day, one thing is clear: the sporting sector has the power to lead environmental action at scale. And thanks to this Summit, it’s more equipped than ever to do just that.
Let’s keep the momentum going—and SEA the change.