Dr. Brian O’Connell is an Emergency Physician and a leading advocate for sustainable healthcare in Australia. He serves as the Sustainable Healthcare Lead and Deputy Chair of sEMCAN (Sustainable Emergency Medicine Climate Action Network), and is a Director at the Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA). He also lectures at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), where he contributes to research and education on climate-resilient healthcare systems.

Dr. O’Connell has been instrumental in developing and implementing the Rational Investigations Program (RIP)—a pioneering initiative aimed at reducing low-value care and unnecessary diagnostics in emergency departments. His work focuses on integrating sustainability into clinical decision-making, improving patient outcomes while reducing environmental impact.

As a frontline clinician, he brings deep insight into the operational challenges and opportunities for decarbonising healthcare. His leadership in the NSW Health Sustainable ED & Pathology Statewide Coordination role has helped shape policy and practice across multiple health districts, driving innovation in waste reduction, energy efficiency, and climate risk mitigation.

Dr. O’Connell is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences, including the Sustainable Healthcare Solutions Roadshow, where he champions collaborative approaches to healthcare transformation. His work bridges clinical excellence with environmental stewardship, making him a key voice in the global movement toward low-carbon, high-value care.

At Sustainability in Healthcare, Dr. O’Connell will share insights from the frontline of emergency medicine and sustainable practice, inspiring action toward a healthier planet and healthcare system.