How CISL sparked my path from student to published researcher and industry advocate
21 November 2025 - Miranda Braga, Head of Procurement Excellence at TPG Telecom and alumna of Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainable Business (PCSB) – Value Chains stream, shares highlights from her time studying the PCSB, her advice to recent alumni and her hopes for the future of the Australian market.
After completing the Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainable Business (PCSB) – Value Chains stream, I found that my journey with CISL was only just beginning. What started as a collaborative group project grew into a published academic paper, new speaking opportunities, and a deeper commitment to advancing sustainability in Australia. Here, I share the highlights of my time at CISL, the lessons that helped shape my next steps, and my hopes for how our industry can drive systemic change.
During my time studying at CISL, several highlights stood out. First, I had the opportunity to interact with a diverse group of highly skilled individuals from around the world, all united by a shared commitment to advancing sustainability in their professional lives. Second, the lectures were of exceptional quality, featuring a blend of academic experts and industry leaders who have extensive experience in the field. I was fortunate to hear from some of the most respected names in sustainability, who spoke directly to my cohort. Finally, being at the University of Cambridge added a unique dimension to my experience. The University’s long-standing tradition of fostering groundbreaking ideas and nurturing influential thinkers gave a profound sense of purpose to my studies and inspired me to strive for meaningful contributions in my own field.
My advice to current CISL students is to embrace the programme with intention and curiosity. Make sure you come prepared for the taught sessions. They are unique, energising and deeply collaborative. The more you engage, question, share and reflect, the more value you will take from them.
I also encourage students and alumni to stay connected with your cohort. The conversations, ideas and support do not end when the course finishes. Keeping in touch helps you stay current with emerging sustainability thinking and reinforces the sense of community that makes the programme so special. Many of us live in different countries, yet these relationships continue to spark new insights and opportunities. Most importantly, keep applying what you learned. The real impact comes not from completing the programme but from using its tools and frameworks to influence meaningful change in your organisation and beyond.
After completing the Postgraduate Certificate, I began revisiting the paper my group and I submitted as part of the group project, with the goal of publishing it in the Circular Economy Models special edition for Sustainable Production and Consumption journal. The article, titled Circular Economy and the Titanic Effect: Analysis of 145 Case Studies, has been very well received by the community and has inspired me to continue my research in this area.
If you are considering publishing an article based on your work, start early by exploring the requirements of the journals you are aiming for. Understanding word limits, structure, methodology expectations and referencing styles at the start will save you significant rework later and will help you shape your assignments with academic publication in mind.
In addition to this academic achievement, I have been invited to speak at several events related to my studies and job, including ProcureCon Australia and the ESG Procurement Annual Conference. I’ve also had the opportunity to visit the University of Sydney on multiple occasions, where I was able to share my experiences and learning in sustainability with students studying the Master of Sustainability programme there. These experiences have further strengthened my commitment to advancing sustainable practices and engaging with others who share this vision.
The future of telecommunications in Australia offers a powerful opportunity to drive a more resilient, low carbon and resource mindful economy. As an essential sector supporting every other industry, telecommunications can lead by embedding circular economy principles into the way networks are designed, procured and operated. This means prioritising long life assets, repairability, reuse and responsible end of life, reducing waste while lowering emissions across the full value chain.
Sustainability in telecommunications is inherently a systemic challenge. A single design choice, a sourcing decision or an upgrade pathway can influence energy consumption, material recovery, logistics emissions and customer impact. When organisations recognise these interdependencies, they shift from isolated initiatives to integrated decisions that create benefits across the entire system. This systems approach enables the sector to reduce carbon footprints while improving efficiency and resilience.
Collaboration is also essential for this to succeed. No organisation can tackle material circularity, supply chain emissions or sustainable infrastructure on its own. The most meaningful progress will come from coordinated action across companies, technology partners, government agencies and universities. By sharing knowledge, aligning standards and investing in innovation together, the industry can accelerate sustainable growth and help build a telecommunications ecosystem that supports Australia’s long term environmental and economic prosperity.