Sharon Ede
Circular Economy | Regenerative Cities | Award Winning Author
About Sharon
Sharon Ede has 30 years of grassroots and government experience in sustainability-related roles, ranging from research and policy to communication and behaviour change, as a writer, speaker and activist.
She volunteered full time hours around university studies for five years with ecological city pioneers Urban Ecology Australia in the 1990s, which contributed to the realisation of Christie Walk, a community-driven development and 'piece of ecocity' in Adelaide's CBD. She has expertise in Ecological Footprint, sustainability communication, and post-growth, regenerative economics.
In her day job with the South Australian government’s lead agency for circular economy, she has advocated for establishing a community based ‘makerspace’, the mapping of community sharing initiatives, and funding for a ‘circular impact accelerator’ which supports those with ideas at the nexus of circular economy and purpose-first business.
Through years of voluntary community work, Sharon gained extensive experience in public speaking and delivering presentations, organising and running both small and large scale events, and community participation programs such as workshops, public meetings, and liaison with the public through community centres.
She is an award-winning author, with her self-published book MAGE described by one reader as ‘like a Masters of Environment course in a novel.’
Awards & Achievements
Awarded a part scholarship to the Rocaberti Writers' Retreat in Spain in May 2025
Invited panellist, Social Enterprise World Forum. Invited by SEWF Founder Gerry Higgins to participate in a panel on circular economy and social enterprise, Brisbane, 2022
Nautilus Book Awards, Silver Award Winner for MAGE, 2020
Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Finalist for MAGE, 2021
Invited presenter, 1st Global Commons Forum, Seoul, South Korea, 2019 (virtual)
Selected as a Sharing Cities Fellow, and one of two Australian authors to write the 'Sharing Cities: Activating the Urban Commons' book showcasing over 100 sharing-related case studies and model policies from more than 80 cities in 35 countries. Coauthored the chapters on Housing and Mobility for this international collaboration produced by Shareable; organised the 2018 Adelaide launch of the book
Foundation for Young Australians scholarship to study Ecological Footprint with Redefining Progress, prior to formation of Global Footprint Network, Oakland California, 2001
Represented Urban Ecology Australia at the United Nations follow up to the Rio Earth Summit, Habitat II - The City Summit in Istanbul, Turkey in 1996; participated in Youth Round Table and finalising of Youth Vision Statement, and made a presentation on UEA’s Halifax EcoCity Project to the International Institute of Architects
Selected participant, Queen's Trust Youth Forum, Brisbane, 1994
Represented Urban Ecology Australia as part of the Adelaide delegation at the 1994 Cities and Sustainable Development conference in Manchester UK
In conjunction with Urban Ecology Australia Convener Paul F Downton, made a representation on behalf of UEA to a Senate Committee in Canberra concerning the environment powers of the CommonwealthInvited participant, Federal Government Standing Committee on Environment and Heritage Roundtable in Canberra re: a proposed Sustainability Charter for Australia
Education
- Bachelor of Arts, University of South Australia (1995)
- Graduate Diploma, Regional & Urban Planning, University of South Australia, (1999)
Contact
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