Leigh is the Climate Outreach Manager, Solutions for Climate Australia, a federal political advocacy project of CANA. Alongtime grassroots activist, he supports communities across the country to have their voices heard and take action to secure greater climate ambition from the Federal government. Leigh has been campaigning for climate justice since the mid 2000s and coordinated Friends of the Earth's successful community campaigns for ambitious Victorian Renewable Energy Targets and strong climate targets from the state government. These outcomes, among other community wins, helped Victoria achieve deep emissions cuts over the last decade. Leigh lives on Wurundjeri country in Narrm/Melbourne.

As a member of the highly effective, award winning Bunyip Renewables Action Group (Winner Premier’s Sustainability Awards 2023), Helen is uniquely qualified to speak about achievable local action. BRAG’s approach is to take on the problem of climate change in a way that makes action seem small enough to be as appealing as it is achievable. Their initiatives are designed to make real and positive change in the lives of locals – locals who, by instinct or ideology, might otherwise be wary of climate action.

Helen has worked in sustainability, climate advocacy and community engagement for over two decades. As Exec Director of the ACT’s peak environment organisation, she led work on fossil gas and transport emissions, biodiversity and planning. She instigated community engagement programs to help Canberrans get off gas and to better utilise active travel. She led an advocacy campaign for the ACT to go gas free, which was committed to by government in 2022. Her knowledge of campaigning and public policy is grounded in her experience as a parliamentary advisor and leading Greenpeace’s advocacy.

Helen is CEO of Renew, a national, not-for-profit organisation that inspires, enables and advocates for people to live sustainably in their homes and communities. Established in 1980, Renew provides expert, independent advice on sustainable solutions for the home to households, government and industry.

Glen is the Program Impact Manager, Energy System at Climateworks Centre and will speak about individual opportunities for place-based decarbonisation, with a focus on gas. He focuses on bridging the gap between research and climate action.

Charlotte manages and delivers the community workshop program at Sustainable Gardening Australia (SGA) and will speak about Climate Action in the Garden. She is a qualified horticulturalist and avid home gardener with a particular interest in sustainable gardening practices. As well as holding a Masters of Urban Horticulture from the University of Melbourne (Burnley), Charlotte has worked in nurseries, a mail order business, and run her own garden maintenance business.

Museums Victoria Research Institute’s

Kate is a museum communicator specializing in science and nature projects that explore our dynamic, interconnected planet. She has curated 20 major exhibitions in Australia and the UK.  She has also developed and delivered community-focussed programs on Climate Change and is currently facilitating Climate Cafés at Melbourne Museum for people 18-25 years old. The Cafés bring together science and mental health experts to create an informed, supportive and psychologically safe environment for young people to discuss climate concerns.

Kate will reflect on how these went and what they learned about supporting young people and the value of climate conversations more generally.

Empowering learners to build communities that positively impact the world.