PwC partner and ESG lead Toby Kent will join the Infrastructure Sustainability Council as its next Chief Executive Officer in August.

The IS Council works with more than 35 federal, state and local government departments in Australia and New Zealand to ensure all infrastructure delivers cultural, social, environmental and economic benefits.

Mr Kent has a background in sustainability, resilience and ESG delivery.

He has served as a PwC Australia Partner in the Energy Transition team for the past two years and his experience includes over five years as Chief Resilience Officer for metropolitan Melbourne, as part of the Rockefeller Foundation’s 100 Resilient Cities program, and two years as Global Head of Sustainable Development at ANZ bank.

He previously held senior roles in the UK and Hong Kong, driving sustainability and climate change initiatives for PwC globally.

Mr Kent co-founded and managed ResilientCo Consulting and has been an active board member of the Business Council for Sustainable Development Australia for four years. He was also Chair of the Future Business Council for three years.

He succeeds Ainsley Simpson, who left the IS Council in February 2024.

“Toby has steered game-changing sustainability initiatives for both public and private organisations and has exceptional stakeholder governance and operational management skills. A collaborative, values-driven leader, Toby is the ideal person to progress IS Council’s ambitious agenda,” IS Council Chair Deb Spring said.

Mr Kent said he was excited to be taking the reins at a pivotal time.

“Delighted to be joining this amazing team,” he said on LinkedIn. “Looking forward to working hard on behalf of our members to achieve great social, environmental and economic benefits through Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand’s infrastructure.”

The IS Council has had a transformational impact on the Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand infrastructure sectors, he said.

The council’s the Infrastructure Sustainability (IS) rating scheme is mandated by delivery agencies and asset operators across Australia and New Zealand, with more than $297 billion infrastructure projects under rating.