Home > About WMAA > Awards > John Guice Award > 2008 - Johannes Biala

Johannes Biala

Through his work and expertise in the recovery, processing and environmentally sustainable management of organic residues — and the subsequent beneficial use of recycled organic products — Johannes can readily claim credit for contributing to the development and advancement of environmentally sound waste management practices.

In 1998, Johannes Biala established the WMAA Queensland Organic Resources Group which he chaired for six years. In 2001, he organised the Organics Recycling Conference where he convened a meeting of Australia’s organics industry leaders. Through this, he launched Compost Australia — a seminal turning point for the organics industry and its supply chain across Australia.

Even though Johannes’ main area of work and interest is in the composting and organics recycling sector, he has always shown an interest in — and collaborated with — other special interest groups within WMAA, including:

• Organising and hosting the ‘Winning Ways with Carbon Forum’
• Establishing the Queensland Carbon Committee, and
• Participating in the initial A-ACAP project meeting and subsequent workshops

Johannes continues to make significant contributions to enhance professionalism in the waste industry through the many seminars and conferences he has voluntarily organised for WMAA’s very broad membership base. Further contributions have been made through wide dissemination of his research at conferences, his representation of the organics industry at various events and his demonstrated practical leadership and innovative thinking.