The landscape of environmental services in Australia and New Zealand is undergoing a profound shift, driven by the dual imperatives of decarbonization and the circular economy. Central to this evolution is Veolia Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), which recently completed a significant leadership transition. In April 2026, Craig Barker assumed the role of CEO and Managing Director of Veolia ANZ, succeeding Richard Kirkman. This transition marks a pivotal moment for the organization as it accelerates its "Green Up" strategic program, focusing on the integration of water, waste, and energy solutions to achieve ecological transformation.

Barker’s appointment is a strategic continuity move for the Veolia Group. With over 17 years within the company, including a highly impactful tenure as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Resource Recovery, his leadership is expected to deepen Veolia’s footprint in complex infrastructure projects, particularly in the burgeoning Energy from Waste (EfW) sector and advanced recycling systems.

The Evolution of the Green Up Strategy in the ANZ Region

Veolia’s global "Green Up" strategy is not merely a sustainability initiative; it is a business framework designed to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation. In the ANZ region, this strategy is being localized to address specific geographic and regulatory challenges. The goal is clear: to erase 18 million tons of CO2 from client trajectories by 2027 while expanding the capacity for resource regeneration.

The leadership transition to Craig Barker aligns with the implementation phase of "Green Up." Under this framework, Veolia ANZ is moving beyond traditional waste collection. The focus has shifted toward high-value resource recovery, where waste is viewed as a feedstock for energy, recycled materials, and bio-products. This requires a multifaceted performance approach, balancing financial viability with social and environmental outcomes.

Decarbonization and Carbon Neutral Cities

A core pillar of the strategy is assisting Australian and New Zealand cities in reaching net-zero targets. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has underscored the urgency of reducing CO2 emissions, and municipalities are on the front line. Veolia’s role under Barker’s direction involves:

  1. Energy Management: Implementing digital solutions and artificial intelligence to optimize energy consumption at municipal sites.
  2. Circular Economy Integration: Minimizing greenhouse gas emissions by recovering waste energy and reintegrating materials back into the production cycle.
  3. Local Renewable Production: Expanding the production of biomethane and biogas through advanced anaerobic digestion.

From Waste Management to Resource Recovery

Craig Barker’s professional background is rooted in the "Resource Recovery" philosophy. During his time as COO, he championed the idea that the environmental industry’s future lies in growth driven by policy-mandated improvements in recycling rates. Australia currently generates approximately 61.5 million tonnes of waste annually, with a recovery rate stagnating around 60%. The national target is to reach an 80% average recovery rate across all waste streams by 2030.

Achieving this 20% gap requires industrial-scale infrastructure. Barker has frequently highlighted that the transition cannot be achieved through incremental changes in residential behavior alone; it requires massive capital investment in processing facilities that can handle commingled recycling and residual waste with high efficiency.

Case Study: The City of Gold Coast Resource Recovery Contract

One of the landmark achievements during Barker’s tenure as COO was the securing of a $280 million contract with the City of Gold Coast. This 7-year agreement, which began operation in mid-2023, serves as a blueprint for modern municipal partnerships.

The contract involves the operation of five essential resource recovery facilities, including three community waste and recycling centers and two landfills. A critical performance metric in this partnership is the commitment to a 5% improvement in the Gold Coast’s recovery rates by 2025. This is achieved through:

  • Optimized Logistics: Utilizing a fleet of 14 logistics vehicles designed for maximum efficiency and minimum emissions.
  • Social Enterprise Collaboration: Working with local social enterprises to drive environmental outcomes while supporting community employment.
  • Landfill Avoidance: Implementing advanced sorting technologies to divert materials that were previously destined for burial.

For the City of Gold Coast, the partnership is expected to deliver $35 million in additional benefits over seven years, largely through the avoidance of state waste levy payments. This economic incentive is a key driver for local governments to adopt Veolia’s integrated resource recovery model.

The Energy from Waste (EfW) Revolution in Australia

Perhaps the most significant technological frontier for Veolia ANZ under current leadership is the acceleration of Energy from Waste (EfW). Barker has been a vocal advocate for EfW as a necessary component of the circular economy, arguing that it is the only viable way to treat residual waste that cannot be recycled mechanically.

The Kwinana and East Rockingham Projects

In Western Australia, Veolia is at the forefront of the EfW revolution. The Kwinana Energy from Waste facility and the East Rockingham facility represent the first generation of large-scale EfW plants in Australia. These facilities use thermal treatment to convert residual waste into steam, which then drives turbines to generate electricity.

Key technical aspects of these facilities include:

  • Diverting Waste from Landfill: Each facility is designed to process hundreds of thousands of tonnes of residual waste per year.
  • Baseload Power Generation: Unlike solar or wind, EfW provides a constant, reliable source of renewable energy for the grid.
  • Metal Recovery: Post-combustion, metals are recovered from the bottom ash and recycled, further contributing to the circular economy.

The Woodlawn Advanced Energy Recovery Centre (ARC)

In New South Wales, Veolia is progressing with the Woodlawn Advanced Energy Recovery Centre (ARC). Located in the Southern Goulburn Mulwaree precinct, the ARC is designed to generate up to 30 megawatts of electrical energy—enough to power 40,000 homes annually—from approximately 380,000 tonnes of residual waste.

Barker has noted that the ARC will be a "crucial piece of infrastructure" for NSW. The project is designed to recycle about 25% of the input waste into aggregates and metals, ensuring that the facility functions as a recovery hub rather than just an incinerator. However, the project also highlights the regulatory challenges facing the industry.

Overcoming Regulatory and Perception Hurdles

One of the primary responsibilities of leadership at Veolia ANZ is navigating the complex regulatory landscape. The Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and various state departments often set emissions limits and operational standards that are among the most stringent in the world.

Craig Barker has pointed out a "knowledge gap" within some government agencies regarding EfW technology. While EfW has been operational for decades in Europe and North America with a proven safety record, it is still relatively new in the Australian context.

Harmonizing Standards with Global Best Practices

Veolia leverages its global experience—operating over 65 EfW facilities worldwide—to demonstrate that modern air pollution control systems can meet and even exceed European Union standards, which are considered the "gold standard" globally. The challenge in Australia is to ensure that local regulations are based on this real-world data rather than speculative fears.

The successful commissioning of the Western Australian plants in 2024 and 2025 is seen as a "proof of concept" for the rest of the country. By providing decision-makers with first-hand experience of these facilities in action, Veolia aims to smooth the path for future projects like the Woodlawn ARC and the Maryvale EfW plant in Victoria.

Water and Energy Integration: A Holistic Approach

While waste management often dominates the headlines, Veolia’s leadership is equally focused on the water-energy nexus. In the "Green Up" strategy, water is not just a utility but a resource that can be regenerated.

Wastewater Reclamation and Biomethane

In regions like Jordan (as mentioned in Veolia’s global benchmarks) and increasingly in Australia, wastewater treatment plants are being transformed into energy and water factories. The process involves:

  1. Anaerobic Digestion: Treating sludge to produce biogas.
  2. Biomethane Upgrading: Refining biogas into biomethane, which can be injected into the natural gas grid or used as a transport fuel.
  3. Irrigation and Industrial Reuse: Treating wastewater to a high standard so it can be used in agriculture, reducing the pressure on potable water supplies.

In Sydney, the Earthpower facility at Camellia is a prime example of this integrated approach. By converting food waste into biogas and nutrient-rich fertilizer, it provides a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable alternative to landfill for commercial kitchens and food manufacturers.

The Economic Impact of Ecological Transformation

The shift toward a circular economy is a significant job creator. Modeling commissioned by Veolia suggests that to meet the 2030 National Waste Plan targets, Australia will need at least 17 new organics processing plants. This infrastructure rollout is expected to generate nearly 4,000 jobs.

Under Barker’s leadership, Veolia ANZ is positioning itself as a major employer in the green economy. This involves not only operational roles at new facilities but also highly skilled positions in engineering, data science, and environmental monitoring. The "multifaceted performance" model ensures that these jobs contribute to the social fabric of the regions where Veolia operates.

Managing Costs for Consumers and Municipalities

A critical aspect of the Green Up strategy is affordability. As state waste levies continue to rise—designed to discourage landfilling—advanced resource recovery becomes the more economical choice. Facilities like Earthpower offer lower gate fees than landfills for certain waste streams, providing a direct financial incentive for businesses to go green.

Strategic Focus for 2026 and Beyond

As Craig Barker settles into the CEO role, the strategic priorities for Veolia ANZ are clearly defined:

  • Integration: Further integrating the Suez assets and personnel into the Veolia culture to maximize synergies.
  • Infrastructure Delivery: Ensuring the Western Australian EfW projects reach full operational capacity and securing final approvals for the Woodlawn ARC.
  • Digital Transformation: Using AI and IoT to improve the efficiency of collection routes and processing plant performance.
  • PFAS and Emerging Contaminants: Leading the industry in the detection and treatment of "forever chemicals" (PFAS) in water and soil, a growing concern for Australian environmental regulators.

The "Green Up" program’s success will be measured by its ability to deliver tangible results: more tons of CO2 avoided, higher percentages of waste recovered, and more liters of water reused.

Conclusion

The appointment of Craig Barker as CEO of Veolia Australia and New Zealand signals a reinforcement of the company's commitment to industrial-scale ecological transformation. By leveraging nearly two decades of internal expertise and a deep specialization in resource recovery, Barker is well-positioned to lead the company through a period of intense infrastructure development.

The transition from a linear "take-make-waste" economy to a circular one is a complex challenge that requires a combination of technological innovation, regulatory advocacy, and strategic partnership. As Veolia ANZ continues to scale its Green Up strategy, its focus on Energy from Waste, advanced water reclamation, and municipal collaboration will be essential in helping Australia and New Zealand meet their ambitious climate and circularity goals.

FAQ

What is the Veolia "Green Up" strategy?

The Green Up strategy is Veolia's global strategic program for 2024-2027. It focuses on accelerating ecological transformation through three main pillars: decarbonization, resource regeneration, and depollution. In Australia and New Zealand, it involves investing in infrastructure like Energy from Waste and advanced water treatment.

Who is the CEO of Veolia Australia and New Zealand?

As of April 2026, Craig Barker is the CEO and Managing Director of Veolia Australia and New Zealand. He succeeded Richard Kirkman and previously served as the Chief Operating Officer for Resource Recovery.

What is Energy from Waste (EfW)?

Energy from Waste is a process where residual waste that cannot be recycled is thermally treated to generate steam, which is then used to produce electricity. This reduces the reliance on landfills and provides a source of renewable baseload power. Veolia is currently operating and developing several EfW facilities in WA and NSW.

How does Veolia contribute to the circular economy in Australia?

Veolia contributes by transforming waste into new resources. This includes recovering metals and aggregates from waste, producing biogas and biomethane from organic matter, and reclaiming wastewater for agricultural and industrial use.

What are the 2030 National Waste Plan targets?

The Australian government has set a target to achieve an average resource recovery rate of 80% across all waste streams by 2030. Veolia ANZ’s strategic projects are designed to help bridge the current gap to reach this goal.