Environment and Responsibility in Transitions for Humanity (EARTH)

The EARTH (Environment and Responsibility for Transitions in Humanity) research group is a sustainability-focused initiative within the School of Management at RMIT University.

The purpose of the EARTH group is to act as a collaborative hub that brings together academics, HDR candidates, and external partners to develop impactful research addressing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) challenges.

With a strong core in management, the group has an interdisciplinary approach that draws on capabilities from a diverse range of disciplines, including finance, marketing, accounting, and the social sciences. This combination enables EARTH to tackle complex sustainability issues from both organisational and systemic perspectives. Its research focus includes sustainable business practices, climate change, corporate responsibility, and organisational resilience, with a clear emphasis on translating research into real-world impact.

Key objectives include fostering high-quality research outputs, supporting grant development and industry partnerships, and building a strong HDR research culture through mentorship, collaboration, and skill development. The group also aims to strengthen engagement with industry and policymakers, ensuring that research contributes to practical solutions and informed decision-making. Overall, EARTH seeks to create a dynamic environment that bridges academia and practice to support sustainable transitions.

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Research themes

Collaborative research and idea incubation

Create a dynamic space where researchers connect, test ideas, and form interdisciplinary teams. This is where early-stage concepts are challenged, refined, and shaped into viable research directions. Research Themes: A) People – social foundations of sustainability in and around organisations B) Planet – environmental change, transitions, and regeneration C) Prosperity – credible, scalable sustainability in markets and organisations.

Research funding and implementation

Turn ideas into funded projects. Support members with proposal development, peer feedback, and partnerships to secure grants and deliver impactful research.

Researcher development and mentorship

Support early career researchers (and PhD candidates) through mentoring and skills development. Build a culture of collaboration, confidence, and continuous learning.

Research translation and societal impact

Translate research into real-world impact. Connect academia with industry, policy, and community to deliver practical solutions and meaningful outcomes.

PRME integration and accreditation

Strengthen credibility through PRME alignment and research accreditation. Embed sustainability principles into research, teaching, and external engagement.

Regenerative Innovation

Transforms sustainability challenges into practical solutions through the design and testing of innovative artefacts, tools, frameworks, and interventions. Using a design science approach, it bridges research and action to create tangible environmental, social, and economic impact.

Chair

Dr. Marco De Sisto

Dr. Marco De Sisto

Associate Professor, Management

Group coordinator

Director external partnerships

Professor Yuli Suseno

Professor Yuli Suseno

Professor Management

Leader, research funding and implementation

Co-leader PRME integration and accreditation

Leader, research and idea incubation

Leader Research Theme (People and Planet)

Dr. Saima Ahmad

Dr. Saima Ahmad

Senior Lecturer

Leader Research Theme (Prosperity)

Dr. Tim O'Shannassy

Dr. Tim O'Shannassy

Senior Lecturer

Co-leaders, Research translation and Societal impact

Dr. Carol Janson Bond

Dr. Carol Janson Bond

Deputy Head of Department

Dr. Ancy Gamage

Dr. Ancy Gamage

Senior Lecturer, Management

Leader, Researcher Development and Mentorship

Dr. Mingjun Yang

Dr. Mingjun Yang

Senior Lecturer, Management & Leadership

Research group members

Contact

Visit us

Address: Building 80, 445 Swanston Street, Melbourne, VIC-3000
Location: Melbourne City Campus
Hours:  Monday - Friday 9:00 - 17:00

Postal address
School of Management
GPO Box 2476
Melbourne 3001, Victoria, Australia

Get in touch

 

Dr. Udari Ekanayake – Group Coordinator
Email
: udari.ekanayake@rmit.edu.au

 

 

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

Learn more about our commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples