Westfield Local Heroes winner of Australian Financial Review's 2026 Sustainability Leaders list in Retail, Hospitality, Tourism & Entertainment

We are excited to share that Scentre Group features on the 2026 Sustainability Leaders list by the Australian Financial Review, as a winner in Retail, Hospitality, Tourism & Entertainment for Westfield Local Heroes, our community recognition, grants and partnerships program.

Our CEO, Elliott Rusanow, said: “This recognition reflects the impact of our Westfield Local Heroes program and the incredible contributions of the community leaders and organisations it supports.

“Since 2018, the program has helped local organisations address some of the most important challenges facing our communities.

“By October this year, we will have granted more than $11 million to 1,100 community leaders and their organisations.

“What makes the program so powerful is that it goes beyond financial support. Through our ongoing partnerships with Local Heroes alumni, we help scale reach to deliver significant and enduring positive impact for our communities.

“Supporting stronger, more connected communities is how we deliver Scentre Group’s Purpose: creating extraordinary places and experiences that connect, enrich and are essential to our local communities.

“Congratulations to all the organisations recognised today as sustainability leaders.”

The Australian Financial Review Sustainability Leaders list celebrates the organisations that are turning their sustainability ambitions into measurable impact. The awards recognise the innovations that address real sustainability challenges while creating value for businesses, communities, and the economy.

Westfield Local Heroes’ impact

Pam Wilson, National Community Manager, said: “When we launched Westfield Local Heroes in 2018 we wanted to shine the spotlight on community leaders and support our local communities.

“The program has experienced year-on-year growth in engagement through nominations, community voting and exposure for our finalists.

“The program has significant impact for our communities and value for our business. When community leaders and services are profiled and backed by the Westfield brand, it grows their awareness, capability and networks, enabling them to reach more people and have a bigger impact.

“Westfield Local Heroes has also strengthened how customers see Westfield, with an 18 point uplift in Net Promoter Score for customers who are aware of the program.

“To understand the long-term impact of the program, we commissioned the University of Southern Queensland to undertake a longitudinal impact review of the program.

“The researchers said the program exemplifies how private sector leadership and community partnerships built on shared purpose can contribute to placemaking and positive impact, strengthening the social fabric of communities.
“Importantly, they also highlighted a unique opportunity to deepen our impact.

“So with our 10-year anniversary of the program in 2027, we have plans to scale awareness of, and future-proof, Westfield Local Heroes, and expand our partnership and alumni programs.”

About Westfield Local Heroes

Westfield Local Heroes discovers and recognises individuals and their organisations in Australia and New Zealand whose work makes a positive impact on their local community or environment.

Community members nominate their heroes and three finalists are selected for each Westfield destination.

Communities are then invited to vote for their preferred hero and the hero with the highest number of community votes for each of our 42 destinations is awarded a $20,000 grant for the organisation or group they represent, and each finalist receives a $5,000 grant for their organisation or group.

Our Westfield Local Heroes program has provided $9.8 million in grants to 991 community organisations since the program’s inception in 2018. The contribution represents the ongoing support to connect and enrich the local communities in which Westfield destinations operate.