The future proofers

Connector/change facilitator

Founder and CEO of the Sustainable Business Network, Rachel Brown, 51, has been advancing sustainable business in New Zealand for almost 20 years through her ability to connect like-minded people and support them on the sustainability journey for a better future for people and the planet.

In 2018 she was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit for her years of service to sustainable business, and she’s not done yet. She’s busy helping lead a clean-up of the Hauraki Gulf via a three-year GulfX programme led by the Sustainable Business Network (SBN), supported by funding from Gulf Innovation Fund Together (G.I.F.T).

Individuals, as well as businesses, can make a huge difference, once they know how, Brown explains. For example, did you know that it’s most common for cars to be fitted with copper brake pads, and every time we brake, copper comes off and heavy metals are washed into stormwater drains and out to sea?

“One of GulfX’s three core goals is working with big car fleet owners to cut transport pollution through promoting copper-free brake pads to cut down on heavy metals in stormwater polluting the Gulf,” says Brown. “And as individuals, one good practical thing to do is get low, or no, copper brake pads next time they