Why does the EU–Australia relationship matter more than ever?

Because this is no longer just about trade. It is about resilience, access to resources and the ability of like-minded partners to navigate a volatile world together.

This EU Circular Talk explored how the evolving EU-Australia partnership — shaped by trade negotiations, climate commitments and shifting geopolitics — is becoming a testing ground for the circular economy as a strategic framework.

This is where policy meets reality.

From circular diplomacy to implementation, it looked at how transition brokers turn ambition into action, how collaboration across sectors unlocks transformation, and how moments like COP31 and Brisbane 2032 can move circularity from concept to scale.

People across Europe and Australia working at the intersection of policy, business, education and creativity — where the real transition is already happening — spoke about their activities and opinions.

This event was organised by Circular Change and the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform (ECESP).

Takeaways:

• Why EU–Australia is becoming a strategic partnership for resilience and competitiveness 
• Why the circular economy is no longer optional but a prerequisite for future cooperation 
• How transition brokers enable real implementation across systems 
• Where collaboration is already happening and where it needs to accelerate  
• What the Brisbane Olympics 2032 reveal about the future of circular cities and economies 

Agenda

• Welcome and introduction
        Ladeja Godina Košir (Circular Change / ECESP)
• Opening – Global context & EU strategic framing
        Anders Ladefoged, EESC member
• From diplomacy to orchestration: The role of transition brokers
        Jacqueline Cramer & Usha Iyer-Raniga
• Implementation in practice
        Helen Millicer (policy)
        Linda Nordin (business)
        Ralph Kerle (creative sector)
        Dominique Hes (education / research)
• Brisbane 2032 as a circular case
        Nicole Garofano & Cameron Kaufman
• Extended interactive discussion – EU–Australia cooperation in practice
• Q&A and close

The real question is no longer if we collaborate but how fast we can turn alignment into action.