Philip Booth

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“Sustainability is now the personal paradox of living in a highly urbanised consumer culture. I grew up in the iconic natural beauty, vast coastline and quiet rural ways of Byron Bay in the ‘50s and ‘60s. I watched the rising influx of tourists from a distance in busy Sydney in the ‘70s and ‘80s, studying and working. In the ‘90s, Byron’s population and real estate spiralled and global ventures muscled in. That brought on my sustainability sea change: a return to Byron and the decision to pursue doctoral studies in Brisbane. I treasured the coastlines and remnant rainforests. I worked and studied as an environmental educator and community representative grappling with 2020 visions for sustainable settlement plans. And so my realms of work, leisure and inspiration reflect the dynamic tensions between preserving natural ecosystems and the challenges to design and implement sustainable cities and convivial villages.”

Why EcoSTEPS?

Becoming part of EcoSTEPS is a pinnacle in my professional life. It gives opportunities to collaborate with respected peers in all three realms of sustainability - environmental, social and economic. In addition, it propels me up steep learning curves: honing consultation skills and expertise in strategy development, catalytic facilitation and project evaluation. I enjoy working hard to win clients’ respect for our high standards of service. Very importantly, I value highly the cutting edge ideas and perspectives generated by EcoSTEPS.

Background and Experience

My undergraduate foundations were a mix: environmental philosophy, cultural history and penchants for geography and sustainable agriculture. These provided the platform for multi-disciplinary skills as an educator for sustainability. My interests span diverse fields including fragile ecosystems, agroforestry, landscaping, human settlement, urban & regional planning and sustainable built environments. Over three decades as a professional educator and action researcher, I have accumulated the full spectrum of experiential teaching and learning. From designing sensory gardens for pre-schoolers to catalyzing interdisciplinary faculty workshops for new research and teaching pathways in sustainable built environments. My doctorate in Education for Sustainability at Griffith University focused on facilitating the design of learning landscapes (learnscapes). I find community and corporate facilitation most engaging now, in contexts ranging from the Water Corporation in Perth to NGOs in Hanoi.

EcoSTEPS Team