La Trobe University Wins Global Sustainable Leadership Award for Nature-Positive Innovation

Melbourne, Australia – October 2025 — La Trobe University has been internationally recognized for its commitment to environmental stewardship, securing the Nature Positive category at the 2025 International Green Gown Awards. The honor celebrates the university’s flagship Nangak Tamboree project, a pioneering ecological restoration initiative transforming La Trobe’s Bundoora campus into a thriving biodiversity corridor.

A Global Benchmark for Nature-Led Sustainability

The win represents a significant leap from La Trobe’s 2024 success in the Australasian Green Gown Awards, positioning the university among the world’s leading institutions driving measurable progress in environmental restoration and sustainability-led research.

The Nangak Tamboree project—developed in partnership with local Traditional Owners—focuses on rewilding degraded land, restoring native flora, improving waterway health, and fostering urban biodiversity. The initiative aligns with La Trobe’s vision to create “living laboratories” where education, research, and conservation intersect.

“This recognition affirms our long-term commitment to sustainability and reconciliation through genuine collaboration,” said Professor John Dewar AO, Vice-Chancellor and President of La Trobe University. “Our goal is not only to reduce impact but to regenerate—creating ecosystems that thrive within our campuses and beyond.”

Sustainability at the Core of University Strategy

La Trobe’s Nature Positive leadership extends well beyond campus restoration. The university’s Net Zero 2029 strategy remains one of Australia’s most ambitious, targeting carbon neutrality within four years. It continues to invest in renewable energy, sustainable transport, and responsible resource management across its network of campuses.

Certified Green Infrastructure: The university’s sports park holds Australia’s first 6-Star Green Star Design & As Built certification, setting new benchmarks for sustainable construction.
Global Recognition: Ranked among the top universities worldwide for sustainability performance in the QS and Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, La Trobe excels in areas such as climate action, gender equality, and good health and well-being.
Living Labs for Future Innovation: Through its Sustainable Futures Research Institute, La Trobe drives cross-disciplinary collaboration focused on biodiversity, circular economy, and community resilience.

Empowering Future Generations

The award reflects La Trobe’s holistic sustainability philosophy—combining environmental action with educational empowerment and cultural inclusion. Students and researchers are actively involved in on-ground conservation efforts, data monitoring, and citizen science programs that enhance local ecosystems while offering experiential learning opportunities.

“Our campuses are becoming dynamic ecosystems of learning and regeneration,” added Dr. Mark Wakeham, Executive Director of Sustainability. “We are proud to showcase how universities can be agents of real-world ecological change.”

About the International Green Gown Awards

Administered by EAUC – The Alliance for Sustainability Leadership in Education, the Green Gown Awards recognize the world’s most impactful higher education sustainability projects, in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).