Texas A&M University-Central Texas will host the 2025 SUSTEX Conference on April 24, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., bringing together sustainability leaders from industry and academia. Expected to draw 100-150 participants—including students, executives, and scholars—the conference is intended to foster real-world sustainability strategies over theoretical discussions that drive progress in Texas and beyond.
SUSTEX was founded in 2019 after the discontinuation of SXSW Eco left a gap in sustainability discourse. Dr. Lucas Loafman, Interim Dean of the College of Business Administration, saw an opportunity to create a space for serious sustainability conversations.
“Our vision for SUSTEX 2025 is simple: Fostering Solutions for a Sustainable Future,” says Dr. Jody Fry, Regents Professor of Management and Leadership and Program Director for the MS Leadership for Sustainability Program. “Through this event, we seek to engage and empower students and the Central Texas community in exploring current sustainability trends, opportunities, and challenges to advance sustainable development that balances economic, social, and environmental performance.”
Registration is now open with limited seating. Attendees must register in advance via the website, www.tamuct.edu, to secure a spot and receive a complimentary lunch.
“SXSW Eco had been a great event, but when it ended, it left a vacuum,” Loafman recalls. “One of our original goals was to advance sustainability conversations in meaningful ways, so I had the wild idea to host the university’s first international conference.”
The inaugural event drew attendees from across the United States, Europe, and China. When the COVID-19 pandemic forced a shift to virtual programming in 2020, SUSTEX unexpectedly expanded its global reach.
“The second conference was fully virtual and filled two days with simultaneous presentations,” Loafman says. “Ironically, that shift allowed for even greater engagement.”
Since then, SUSTEX has evolved beyond academic discussions into a solutions-driven forum focusing on industry engagement, student involvement, and real-world sustainability applications.
“Although all 17 sustainable development goals will provide context, we will primarily focus on the challenges of recycling, homelessness, climate risk to the resilience of our power grid, and stakeholder engagement necessary to address these challenges effectively,” Fry adds.
“SUSTEX is a launchpad,” says Dr. Sunme Lee, Assistant Professor of Marketing. “Students leave with industry connections and a real sense of how they can contribute to sustainability.”
As the 2025 conference approaches, its practitioner-driven focus offers students direct access to industry and academic leaders shaping sustainable business practices. This year, keynote speakers include Professor Inara Scott of Oregon State University, author of Sustainable Capitalism, who will examine how corporations can integrate sustainability into their core strategies rather than as an afterthought, and Syed Fahim, Global ESG Manager at Schlumberger, who will provide a global perspective on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies and corporate sustainability initiatives.
Beyond the keynote speakers, industry experts from ERCOT, Oncor, Fort Hood Recycling, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, and the Copperas Cove Economic Development Corporation will lead discussions on sustainable business practices, infrastructure resilience, and environmental responsibility.
Additionally, A&M-Central Texas faculty members Dr. Barbara Altman and Dr. Leyla Orudzheva will host a stakeholder engagement workshop exploring collaborative solutions for advancing sustainability.
“Our main goals are to increase awareness and create connections to support advancements in sustainable practices in business,” Loafman says.
Moreover, the event is also hosting a poster competition, inviting participants to explore sustainability challenges and solutions through visually compelling and informative posters on topics ranging from the carbon footprint of food consumption to innovations in plastic-free packaging and more. Submissions must present a unique perspective or solution. Students have the opportunity to win cash prizes, with the first-place winner receiving $300, second place earning $200, and three third-place winners receiving $100 each. The deadline for submissions is March 28 at 11:50 p.m.
Students interested in the poster contest may contact Dr. Sunme Lee via sunme.lee@tamuct.edu for more information. For more information about the 2025 SUSTEX Conference email sustex@tamuct.edu.