Simon Lockrey

Associate Professor Simon Lockrey is a leading sustainability and design-based entrepreneur, board member, and academic, having been based at RMIT since 2009.

Starting at the Centre for Design, he is now situated within the School of Design.

The domains in which Associate Professor Lockrey has managed research include life cycle assessment (LCA), co-design, design innovation, marketing, resource efficiency, flammable cladding, automotive history, and food waste. As a result, he has generated millions of dollars of 'industry facing' Category 1, 2, 3 and 4 research, creating global impact through policy changes, commercial outcomes, media coverage, quality academic publications, and hundreds of citations.

Associate Professor Lockrey’s projects have required the deployment of sustainability strategy, tool development, and training for a range of industry partners. He has worked with global and nationally significant companies, including CHEP, Visy, Nestlé, Lendlease, Costa, Grocon and Breville. Relevant government and NGO projects have also ensued, with Sustainability Victoria, Australian Fresh Produce Alliance, Australian Food and Grocery Council, Australia Post, Australian Antarctic Division, Uniting AgeWell, and Meat and Livestock Australia.

Associate Professor Lockrey works with partners in the UK, France, Sweden, Vietnam, New Zealand, and Antarctica, thereby fostering a global outlook and reach through his projects. He keynotes at/ convenes international conferences; mentors young designers through to PhD candidates in teaching roles; and applies practical experience to sustainability projects engaging industry, manufacturers, governments and wider community sectors.

Associate Professor Lockrey has been published on sustainability, design and innovation issues through international masthead newspapers, trade magazines, academic literature, and UN agency the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). His collaborations across industry and external universities have culminated in participation in the successful Food Agility Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) bid in 2017, national supply chain and technology projects over 10 years from a pool of $210 million cash and in-kind funding. He is now a key leader in the 2018 funded End Food Waste CRC (EFW CRC), worth $121 million over 10 years. In 2021, he also took a further leadership role in the EFW CRC, as national leader of the REDUCE Program, a suite of reduction projects with industry aimed at halving Australian food waste by 2030. These involve over 50 industry partners, 12 research providers, and various government departments. Impacts of his leadership are evident in collective EFW CRC halfway impacts, estimated at 15 MT of FLW reduced, $2.7B in industry profitability, 20 MT of greenhouse gases saved, 14,000 people trained, and 3,400 circular economy jobs created.

On practice, Associate Professor Lockrey's professional work has crossed a large range of industries including consultancies, leading commercial interior furniture manufacturers and multinational appliance companies. The products he has designed have been both 'short run' and 'mass produced', and his roles have covered all stages of the design process. Since 2000 he has worked on over 100 commercial design and engineering projects for organisations such as Cyclone, Dyson, Whirlpool, Sabco, Sorbent, Novatech Controls, Schiavello, and Henkel, which has resulted in the generation of many billions of dollars in income and Intellectual Property (IP). He served as Executive Director of global urban gardening brand Glowpear. Globally significant projects include the Dyson DC30/31 handheld vacuums (the first with digital motors, the V2), the DC39 cylinder cyclone vacuum cleaner (the first with a full ball barrel and integrated steering), and the Glowpear self watering planter range. 

Simon has also won many international design and innovation awards for his efforts, including 2015 IDEA Award finalist (Glowpear); 2014 Melbourne Design Award Gold recipient (Glowpear); Australian Design Award 2011, and Good Design recipient 2011, 2012 (Dyson) and 2015 (Glowpear); and Red Dot Award recipient 2010, and honourable mention 2012 (Dyson). Such work (the Dyson DC30/31) is held on permanent display at the Design Museum, London. In 2023 Associate Professor Lockrey was a Good Design Award recipient for work at RMIT on a national strategy for the Australian Government on circular economy for the design industry. He was also a judge in the 2022 Good Design Awards, and is now a Good Design Australia Ambassador.

Associate Professor Lockrey’s professional work has led to his elevation to board level, as the former Executive Director of global urban gardening brand Glowpear (after starting as Marketing Director). He now also operates at a board level in the academic context, with a pro-bono executive board position as Secretary of the International Sustainable Development Research Society (ISDRS), and is the past Vice President of the Automotive Historians Australia. He has executed similar duties to his work for Glowpear in terms of governance, financial and strategic activities in these roles, albeit in a non-commercial environment.

Awards:

2004 Peter Meggs Prize recipient (Swinburne University) - Best Product Design
2004 W Brown Medal nomination (Swinburne University) - Best 5th Year Engineering Results
2010 Red Dot Award recipient (Dyson)
2011 Australian Design Award and Good Design recipient (Dyson)
2012 Red Dot Award honorable mention (Dyson)
2012 Australian Good Design recipient (Dyson)
2014 Melbourne Design Awards gold recipient (Glowpear)
2014 House and Garden Style Award recipient (Glowpear)
2015 Australian Good Design recipient (Glowpear)
2015 IDEA Award finalist (Glowpear)
2023 Good Design Award recipient (RMIT)
2023 AFR Emerging Research Leader Award Finalist (RMIT)
2024 Food Waste Action Collaboration Award recipient (RMIT)

2024 RMIT Research Engagement & Impact Award recipient 

Research Projects:

Associate Professor Lockrey's most recent research projects include:

• National date labelling and storage advice - Phase 1
  Funding – NSW EPA, SV, GISA, QDES and End Food Waste CRC, 2022-24
• Consumer fridge behaviour and waste reduction for red meat
  Funding – MLA and End Food Waste CRC, 2021-2023
• Meat supply chain waste mapping
  Funding – MLA and End Food Waste CRC, 2021–2022 
• Enabling design for environmental good
  Funding – Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment, 2021–2022
• DIRECT Commercialisation 
  Funding – Empauer and End Food Waste CRC, 2019–2024
• Save Food Packaging Criteria and Framework 
  Funding – AIP and End Food Waste CRC, 2019–2024
• Consumer perceptions of the role of packaging in reducing food waste
  Funding – Woolworths, Sustainability Victoria and End Food WasteCRC, 2019–2022

Associate Professor Lockrey's past research projects include:

• The role of packaging in Australian fresh food waste prevention and nutrition retention, Funding – Empauer and AFPA, 2018–2019 
• National food waste baseline, Funding – Arcadis, 2018
• RMIT Glass Repurposing R&D Grant Project, Funding – Sustainability Victoria, 2016–2018
• Sustainability issues of the supply chain, Funding – CHEP, 2016–2018
• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in the last frontier: quantifying the environmental impacts and environmental impact reduction strategy for Australia’s Antarctic infrastructure, Funding – AAD, 2013–2017
• Food waste reduction opportunities in the food manufacturing sector, Funding – Sustainability Victoria, 2013–2014
• Food waste insights in the home, Funding – Sustainability Victoria, 2013
• The role of packaging in minimising food waste in the supply chain of the future, Funding – CHEP, 2012–2013
• Environmental procurement decision making – Mapping industry decision making frameworks, Funding – RMIT College of Design and Social Context, 2012
• Future of Packaging White Paper, Funding – AFGC, 2011/2012
• MicroHeat Technologies Venture, Funding – MicroHeat Technologies, Partners – SAMME, Futuris, in association with Wood & Grieve, 2012–2013
•  Life-cycle Flows of Materials and Energy at Scott Base Antarctica, Funding – Antarctica New Zealand, 2011-2012
• Potential Opportunities for Increased Fuel Cell Deployment in Australia, Funding – Ceramic Fuel Cells, 2011
• LCA of Nestlé NESCAFÉ Gold Coffee Packaging, Funding – Nestlé, 2011
• LCA of Polymer Meat Trays, Funding – Lyondell Basell, 2011

Press:

Associate Professor Lockrey's media highlight since 2021 was a MLA project he co-led on consumer refrigerator behaviours, which in 2023 featured in a remarkable 169 national/ global media articles, the top outlets being ABC, 3AW, Yahoo! News, The Guardian, and New York Post (US), engaging 91 million people and connected to $3.3 million equivalent in advertising space.

Another project he co-leads on national date labelling and storage advice reform garnered 267 national/ global media articles in late 2024, the top outlets being Channel Seven News (4pm and 6pm bulletins nationally), Sunrise, Nine Radio, ABC Radio and MSN, whilst engaging 39.4 million people with the equivalent value of $1.5 million in advertising space.

Further, since 2021 he appeared in, was quoted in, or wrote 22 media articles/ statements / interviews including 12 in top national or global newspaper/ radio outlets (i.e The Age, ABC, 3AW Radio National, The Guardian, etc).  These were (chronologically):

• Interviewed in 'Episode 2: Food Waste Mitigation with Dr Steve Lapidge + Dr Simon Lockrey' in CPG Innovation Podcast, 15 July, 2021 by Suzana Tripologos
•  Interviewed in 'Reasons why manufactured products don’t seem to last as long as they used to' on 3AW Radio, 26 July, 2021 by Tom Elliot
•  Interviewed on the ‘Sustainable News‘ podcast on FLW reduction, in September, 2021.
• Quoted in 'Don’t leave it to the leaders - here are the best ways you can make a difference' in The Age, 21 October, 2021 by Henrietta Cook
• Quoted in 'Party plates rebranded ‘reusable’ ahead of bans on single-use plastics' in The Age, 18 November, 2021 by Henrietta Cook
• Quoted in ‘Leave it until the morning after: how to properly wash wine glasses' in The Guardian, 25 December, 2021 by Fiona Donnelly
• Quoted in ‘Still got leftover Easter chocolate? Here's why it might be OK to eat longer than you think' on the ABC, 18 May, 2022 by Rosanne Maloney
• Quoted in ‘Special Report: The wrap on food waste' on 360, 15 June, 2022 by Sara Phillips
• 'Plastic pollution is bad, but food waste is far worse' on The Vibes (sourced from 360 story), 16 June, 2022 
• 'Plastic pollution is bad, but food waste is far worse' on 360, 15 June, 2022
• Interviewed on ABC Radio National,10 August 2022 by Narelle Graham about reusable versus single use shopping bags
• Interviewed on the ‘Finding Genius’ podcast on FLW reduction, in October, 2022.
• Interviewed on ABC Northern Tasmania, 23 November 2022 by Megan Hughes about designing out food waste.
• Quoted in 'Mushroom packaging could provide a new solution to plastic waste problem' on the ABC, 20 January, 2023 by Rosanne Maloney
• Interviewed on the 'Mushroom packaging could provide a new solution to plastic waste problem' story on ABC News, 20 January, 2023 by Rosanne Maloney
• Quoted in 'Enabling design for environmental good reports examine what's needed in circular economy shift' on AuManufacturing, 16 March, 2023
• Interviewed on the ‘On the House‘ podcast on household FLW reduction, in June, 2023.
• Featured in 'Emerging leaders tackle climate and data threats' in the Australian Financial Review, 23 August, 2023 by Nina Hendy
• Interviewed on the ‘Food Waste Matters’ podcast on FLW reduction, in August, 2023.
• Quoted in 'Experts Call For Best Before Dates To Be Scrapped' on The Project, 7 December, 2023
• Quoted in 'The big push to scrap 'best before' dates to stop food waste' on Seven News, 7 December, 2023
• Interviewed on the ‘Food Waste Matters’ podcast on FLW reduction, in July, 2024.
• Quoted in 'Manufacturers 'need to think outside the box' on packaging' in The Canberra Times, The Advocate, MSN, Cobram TImes, and other AAP outlets, December, 2024 by Marion Rae 

Associate Professor Lockrey has collectively been involved in over 100 media articles, other highlights including:

• 'The Design Response to a Wash of Green: Whole Systems and Life Cycle Thinking' in core77, Tuesday, 31 August 2010 by Simon Lockrey
• 'Double Diamond for Sustainable Strategy: Participatory LCA and Design Thinking' in core77, Thursday, 8 December 2011 by Stephen Clune and Simon Lockrey
• Quoted in 'SMART Pack receives LCA validation from RMIT' in Food Processing, 16 February 2012
•  'The great bathroom debate: paper towel or hand dryer?', The Conversation, 4 January, 2016 by Simon Lockrey
• Quoted in 'Made in Melbourne - the products and producers that are redefining retail' in The Sydney Morning Herald, 14 May, 2017 by Jayne D'Arcy
• 'Curious Kids: If a huge huntsman spider is sucked into a vacuum cleaner, can it crawl out later?' The Conversation, 24 May, 2017 by Simon Lockrey and Maggie Hardy
• 'Sustainable shopping: how to stay green when buying white goods' The Conversation, 26 January, 2018 by Trivess Moore and Simon Lockrey
• 'Sustainable shopping: tap water is best, but what bottle should you drink it from?' The Conversation, 20 April, 2018 by Trevor Thornton and Simon Lockrey
• Quoted in 'The tide is turning on single-use plastic' in The Fifth Estate, 28 June, 2018 by Cameron Jewell
• Quoted in 'Experts call for better awareness campaign and incentives for shoppers' on news.com.au, 3 July, 2018 by Stephanie Bedo
• 'Victims suffer as flammable cladding crisis rages on' The Age, 2 April, 2019
• Quoted in 'Food storage: How to keep your fruit and vegetables fresh and cut down on waste' on the ABC, 18 May, 2019 by Anna Salleh for Life Matters 
• 'Flammable cladding costs could approach billions for building owners if authorities dither' The Conversation, 6 June, 2019 by Simon Lockrey, Trivess Moore and Phil Dwyer
• Interviewed on 'Mornings' on ABC Radio, 6 June, 2019 by Patricia Karvelas on flammable cladding
• Interviewed on ABC News, 16 July, 2019 by Gemma Veness on flammable cladding on the day the Victorian Government announced funding for rectification for owners of $600 million.
• Quoted in "6 easy ways to live more sustainably", Mashable, 17 July 2020 by Amanda Yeo
• Interviewed in 'Episode 8: Fighting food waste with Dr Steve Lapidge + Dr Simon Lockrey' in The Food + Drink Business Podcast, 10 March, 2021 by Kim Berry
• Only a small fraction of buildings with flammable cladding have been fixed, and owners are feeling the strain' The Conversation, 22 March, 2021 by Trivess Moore, David Oswald and Simon Lockrey
• Featured in ‘Better Lives Through Better Business’ film by the BBC, launched 23 June, 2021

Invited keynotes and panels (2021-2024):

• Melbourne Design Week - Industrial design: Design evolution, RMIT Design Archives, Melbourne, Australia, 2021
• Melbourne Design Week - Design for work beyond 2021, RMIT Design Archives, Melbourne, Australia, 2022
• AIFST Convention - FLW panel, Melbourne, Australia, 2022
• AUSPACK – Consumers, packaging, FLW, date labelling and storage advice, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Melbourne, Australia, 2022
• APEC Agricultural Technical Cooperation Working Group (ATCWG) Workshop on FLW Tracking and Food Recovery in Hospitality, Food Service and Retail Industries – FLW in food service in Australia, Portland, USA, 2023
• 1^st International Workshop on Circular Economy and Sustainability – EFA CRC progress, Monash University, Prato, Italy, 2023
• Waste Expo – National circular economy design strategy, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Melbourne, Australia, 2023
• Brunei Mampan Forum - Sustainable lifestyle: Addressing food waste and promoting sustainable diets, Brunei, 2024
• Melbourne Design Week - Dutch values and Australian values as they pertain to ecology, ethics and energy, Otomys Art Gallery, Melbourne, Australia, 2024
• 30th Anniversary Annual Conference of ISDRS - Explorative talk: Universities, academic freedom and sustainable development, Kathmandu, Nepal, 2024
• Regenerative Futures: RMIT and beyond, RMIT, Melbourne, Australia, 2024
• Ending Plastic Waste Symposium 2024 - Design for circularity panel, Sofitel Hotel, Melbourne, Australia, 2024