On Tuesday, 25 November, Advitech product engineer Sarah Boutchard joined leading voices at the AdaptNSW Forum at Sydney’s Roundhouse to discuss strategies for building resilience in the face of climate change.
Speaking on the panel “Voices for Climate: Youth Leading the Change”, Sarah highlighted the critical role of young engineers and innovators in shaping a sustainable future. She later led a discussion on how to equip emerging professionals with the tools and influence needed to drive systemic change.
Sarah Boutchard speaking at the Adapt NSW forum in 2025.
Sarah stressed that climate action must tackle the problem through multiple fronts, including smarter resource management and waste reduction.
“At the height of the pandemic, 129 billion face masks were used every month globally, most ending up in landfill,” Sarah said. “This isn’t just a pandemic problem—waste is everywhere. We’ve built a linear system designed for failure. The solution lies in transforming that system into a circular one.”
Drawing on her experience with the SureWaste project—an Advitech initiative using AI-driven waste classification to improve recycling in healthcare—Sarah explained that medical waste is often misunderstood.
“Not all medical waste is contaminated. A significant portion is clean, like packaging and aluminium, which can be recycled safely,” she noted. “If we challenge misconceptions and design smarter systems, we can reduce waste at its source and move closer to a circular economy.”
Sarah emphasised that while technology like SureWaste enhances recycling, it’s only part of the solution. Preventing waste creation and redesigning systems to respect resources without compromising safety are essential steps toward meeting NSW’s 2030 Net Zero targets.
“Industry, government, and healthcare must collaborate to make real change,” Sarah concluded. “Climate action isn’t one big fix—it’s a series of smart, connected actions that start with better data and better design.”
The AdaptNSW Forum brought together leaders from government, health, business, education, and community sectors to share insights on climate adaptation and resilience.
Advitech’s SureWaste project
SureWaste employs computer vision for waste identification.
SureWaste is an AI-powered, IoT enabled waste auditing solution equipped with computer vision waste identification, LiDAR, and cloud-based analytics. Funded under the NSW Government Small Business Innovation and Research (SBIR) program, the technology was successfully trialled at the John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle. SureWate addresses the high volume of consumable waste in operating theatres, delivering actionable insights for evidence-based procurement, contamination detection, waste stream optimisation and collection logistics, driving efficiency and compliance.
Sarah is part of Advitech’s Ideation and Product Development team. Talk to us if you’ve got a challenge that could be solved with innovative technology.
