Speakers
Rob Gell
Rob combines skills in communications, media and sustainability strategies for business with a strong network that includes the scientific and business communities, government and NGO sectors. As an environmental geographer, educator and communicator his multi-disciplinary approach to business facilitates an entrepreneurial approach to sustainability.
Dr Andrew Ash, Director, CSIRO Climate Adaptation National Research Flagship
Andrew Ash is the director of the CSIRO Climate Adaptation National Research Flagship, which aims to equip Australia with practical and effective options to prepare for the impacts of climate change and variability.
Dr Graeme Pearman, Director, GP Consulting
Dr Graeme Pearman is currently an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at Monash University and private consultant to both private and public sector organisations. His interests include: describing holistic strategies that build resilience and dimensions of human behaviour in the climate-change issue.
Bob Welsh, CEO, VicSuper
Bob is Chief Executive of one of Australia's largest and rapidly growing public offer superannuation funds. Bob was one of the early leaders in the investment industry to recognise the emerging risk of climate change on long term investment returns and in 2001 was the driving force behind VicSuper's adoption of sustainability as its central operating principle.
Sam Mostyn BA LLB
Sustainability Adviser and Board Director
Sam Mostyn has an extensive background in law, business, sustainability, sport and politics. She is currently running her own consultancy as a sustainability adviser and speaker.
Until September 2008, she was Group Executive, Culture & Reputation at Insurance Australia Group. Reporting to CEO Michael Hawker, Sam was responsible for the Human Resources, Corporate & Government Affairs, Internal Communications and Corporate Sustainability functions and served in this role for over 6 years.
Julian Cribb, Principal, Julian Cribb & Associates
Julian is a specialist in science communication. He is Adjunct Professor of Science Communication at the University of Technology Sydney and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE). He is founding editor of ScienceAlert and SciNews, Australia's specialist science media delivery service.
Dr. Benjamin Preston, Research Scientist, Climate Adaptation National Research Flagship, CSIRO
Ben is part of the Climate Variability and Change Research Group of the Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research, and he is also active with the CSIRO's inter-disciplinary Climate Adaptation Flagship research initiative. Benjamin's research focuses on the development of methods for assessing the risks of climate change and the critical examination of climate adaptation planning practice.
Liam Egerton, Senior Associate, Net Balance
Liam has over 15 years experience in sustainable development, in the UK and Australia. He has recently been developing the policy framework for climate change adaptation with the Victorian DSE, to guide whole-of-government strategy and decision-making. Liam holds an interdisciplinary Masters in Environment from the University of Melbourne and remains a part-time research fellow, working on risk, resilience and adaptation.
Nicole Gamerov, Vice President, Swiss Re
Nicole has been with Swiss Re for 8 years and is part of the New Business Origination Team where her specific responsibilities include the origination of Structured Weather Solutions as well as being Swiss Re's local Climate Change Spokesperson.
Louise Hicks DLA Phillips Fox
Louise is an environmental lawyer specializing in carbon impacts and adaptation strategies, contaminated land management, and waste minimisation. Her clients include State and local government, developers and corporations advising them on the formation and implementation of policy and climate change implications.
Charmian Barton, Partner, DLA Phillips Fox
Charmian leads the Environment & Climate Change practice in the Sydney office. She has assisted clients from the health, transport, energy and retail sectors with their reporting obligations under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act and has advised a range of industries on the implications of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme as it evolves.
Melissa Clarkson, CSR Manager, Transurban Group
Melissa leads Transurban Group's Sustainability team where she is responsible for the development and delivery of Transurban's sustainability and climate change agenda, working with senior management across the business to drive sustainability initiatives and embed these in the business.
David Hood, Chair, Australian Green Infrastructure Council (AGIC)
David has over 35 years experience in business, engineering, education, project management, and senior executive positions in both the public and private sectors. David is an Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of the Built Environment and Engineering at Queensland University of Technology, Chairman of the Australian College of Environmental Engineers, AGIC and Past Deputy President of the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC). David is also an accredited presenter on Al Gore's Climate Project.
Geoff Lake, President, Local Government Association Australia (ALGA)
Geoff was elected President of the ALGA in November 2008. He is a past president of the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV). Among his duties as President of ALGA, Geoff represents the 562 councils across Australia on the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) alongside the Prime Minister and state and territory leaders.
Steve Gawler, CEO, ICLEI Oceania
Steve held senior management positions in Australian local government, in both Victoria and South Australia, for over 20 years. Over this period Steve had responsibility for most portfolio areas. Steve has now been appointed Interim CEO of ICLEI Oceania. He will continue to manage the Indonesian program while undertaking this role.
Greg Hunt, Climate Change Program Manager, WPGA
Greg Hunt has held positions as Principal at the Zoo Education Service and Education Manager at Melbourne museum. He left formal education to work as an environmentalist with Waterkeepers Australia and now implements programs on climate change with the South East Councils Climate Change Alliance.
Geoff Lawler, Director Sustainability & Regulatory Services, City of Melbourne
Geoff is a member of the City of Melbourne's Corporate Management Team and is responsible for the performance of the Sustainability & Regulatory Services Division. The Division's purpose is to influence the future sustainable development of Melbourne through policy development and planning.
Geoff Withycombe, Executive Officer, Sydney Coastal Councils Group
Geoff has an Applied Science degree in coastal management. In his role as Executive Officer, he has responsibility to implement the Group's Strategic Plan. Geoff provides advice, policy development and decision making support for the 15 member councils. Geoff is also a Director of Surf-rider Foundation Australia and holds other Director and Trustee positions.
Graeme Anderson, Senior Subject Specialist - Climate Change, DPI Victoria
Graeme is the climate change specialist for DPI Farm Services Victoria and coordinates project and capability development activities and leads implementation of the "Planning for Climate Change" action of the DPI Victoria Future Farming Strategy.
Kate Lorimer-Ward, Leader, Agriculture Climate Change Programs, DPI NSW
Kate has worked in the discipline of agriculture and natural resource management for the last 17 years.
In her current role, Kate deals with the coordination of climate change extension, education, training activities and input into policy issues within DPI, and liaison with other agencies, industry and stakeholders outside the department on climate related issues. The role involves three key areas in relation to climate change and agriculture - Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation.
Olivia Tyler, Global Manager - Environment at Foster's Group
Olivia is responsible for engaging the business in the development and delivery of the environmental strategy within the sustainability program and embedding it within key functional and operational areas, mitigating risk and identifying opportunities for performance improvement. Prior to joining Foster's in March 2008, Olivia held the position of National Environment Manager at Coca-Cola Amatil and Goodman Fielder.
Ralph Plarre, Co-director, Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses
Ralph is a 3rd generation baker and co-director of Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses. In 1980 Ralph saw an opportunity to rationalise and amalgamate the family business with another famous baking family, the Fergusons. Together they combined their knowledge and wonderful family cultures to form what is now Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses Pty Ltd. In 2009, Ferguson Plarre were awarded the prestigious Origin Gold Banksia Award for environmental excellence.
Andrew Barr - Policy & Research Manager, Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees (AIST)
Andrew has 20 years experience in the superannuation industry in a wide variety of roles, mainly with public sector funds. Andrew's role at AIST encompasses submissions, advocacy to government, research projects, regulator liaison, compliance and consulting.
Stefan Hajkowicz, Principal Scientist - Geography, Economics and Decision Analysi, CSIRO
Over the past 10 years Dr Stefan Hajkowicz has worked with government and industry leaders to help them make wiser choices about where to invest and how to steer their organisations through turbulent waters. His models have guided hundreds of millions of dollars of expenditure aiming to protect and repair Australia's natural landscapes. In recent times he has taken up a leadership role in a CSIRO foresighting project which aims to envisage our future world and the science and technology it will need.