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BA MCom PGDipTour PGCertTertT PhD(Otago)

Sara Walton image (2023)Professor
Head of Department

Room: OBS 709
Tel: +64 3 479 5108
Email: sara.walton@otago.ac.nz

I teach and research in the area of sustainability, climate change and business. My key areas of expertise include: carbon footprints, industry readiness for climate change, innovation for environmental sustainability, sustainable and low carbon transitions, analysing and understanding environmental conflicts and researching work in changing futures. I have published widely in academic journals as well as media - Newsroom and The Conversation - and have a regular column on sustainable business in the local newspaper (ODT).

I enjoy applied research and have been involved in externally funded  inter-disciplinary projects for many years. I have been involved in:

  • The Energy Cultures programme responsible for understanding energy cultures of SME s and business in NZ
  • Leading a team of researchers on an Australian Aid funded project to Vanuatu to understand energy transitions
  • Contracted by OceanaGold to explore land use and 'common grounds' surrounding the Macraes Gold Mine
  • Working with BRANZ on a get Ready for Climate Change project with construction companies
  • Part of the Building NZ 's Innovation Culture team with the Science for Technological Innovation National Science Challenge (NSC)
  • Working with MOTU on a Just Transitions Guide for MBIE . Working with a team on a MPI / FMAG funded project to understand company decisions around offsetting or abatement of GHG emissions.
  • Collaborating with Stuff to producing the Climate Action Report Card
    Visit the Stuff website to find out more about the Climate Action Report Card

My current projects include:

Teaching responsibilities

Sara is passionate about developing future sustainability professionals and developed the Master of Sustainable Business.

Sara's current teaching responsibilities include:

  • MANT337 Organisations and Sustainability
  • MANT437 Organisations and Sustainability

Research interests

  • Business responses to climate change and understanding climate action, climate risk and net zero
  • Examining ecopreneurial businesses in New Zealand
  • Understanding natural resource based conflicts
  • Constructions of sustainability

Other responsibilities

Sara is President-Elect of Academy of Management Australia and New Zealand and has been involved with the board for the past 6 years.

Sara has been involved in co-developing the theme He Kaupapa Hononga, Otago’s Climate Change Network and still sits on the Steering Committee.

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