Climate change and ecological collapse threaten all life on earth. Yet, we know what is causing these problems and have many of the solutions. Hear from scientists, legal and health professionals, First Nations leaders and environmental campaigners on the interconnected consequences and solutions, as well as how we can all take collective action.
The evening will consist of three 'power panels', covering oceans, forests, and society. We will then go to an all-in 'Q&A with the audience' to finish the evening.
Please arrive early and be ready to go for 6pm. It is a long event and we will not be delaying the start!
Have dinner beforehand, bring a water bottle :)
Schedule:
5:45pm: DOORS
6:00pm: INTROS
6:05pm: FORESTS
6:40pm: OCEANS
7:15pm: SOCIETY
7:50pm: SHORT BREAK
8:00pm: Q&A W/ AUDIENCE
8:30pm: FINISH
PANELS AND SPEAKERS:
Oceans
Dr Gretta Pecl
Gretta is a Professor of marine ecology at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, and Director of the Centre for Marine Socioecology at UTAS. She has expertise and a strong interest in exploring the impact of climate change on our oceans, and working in collaborative ways with industry, government and others to develop adaptation options for conservation, fisheries and aquaculture. She developed and leads the national citizen science initiative Redmap Australia (www.redmap.org.au) and was a Lead Author for the most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) AR6 report. Gretta leads many national and international initiatives related to biodiversity and climate change, is ranked in the top 200 most influential climate scientists in the world (and the top 20 women), and has a strong passion for science communication and engagement with the public.
Dean Greeno
Dean Greeno is a Pakana artist, researcher, retired aircraft engineer and current PhD candidate. Dean was born on Flinders Island. Dean’s arts practice responds to his Pakana cultural origins, his Sea faring family legacy and connections with Sea
Country. Known for his practice with driftwood sculptures, ceramics and 2D works. Dean has also become active in research and advocacy projects focused on the effects of climate change, in particular, the management of oceans, coasts and waterways. Through his work, he advocates for solutions which draw upon
Traditional Knowledge working closely with Aboriginal Elders. Dean Is a PhD candidate and won the Telstra NATSIAA 2024 peoples choice award.
Dr Jess Melbourne Thomas
Dr Jess Melbourne-Thomas is a Principal Research Scientist and leads a marine socio-ecological systems team with CSIRO. Her research focuses on connecting science to decision making for climate change adaptation, biodiversity conservation and sustainability. Jess has worked as a Lead Author with the IPCC and was the 2020 Tasmanian Australian of the Year.
MC: Eloise Carr
Eloise Carr is a policy professional and former public servant who now leads the Tasmanian Branch of the Australia Institute, one of the country’s most influential think tanks. Eloise currently focuses on democracy and environmental sustainability. Eloise spent 8 years on Australia’s delegation to the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, part of the Antarctic Treaty system. Her work has included policy development for state and federal governments on international governance, responses to climate change, integrated ocean management, marine conservation and sustainable fisheries.
Forests
Dr Jennifer Sanger
Dr Jennifer Sanger is a passionate forest ecologist and science outreach coordinator. She has spent over a decade studying forests and the charismatic plant species which inhabit them. Jennifer is the co-founder for The Tree Projects, an environmental outreach organisation which educates people about the world's most notable trees. She is an active member of the Tasmanian Climate Collective.
Ruth Langford
As a Songwoman and Storyteller, Ruth draws upon the cultural knowledge of her Yorta Yorta / Dja Dja Wurrung lineage and the Palawa Aboriginal community in Lutruwita / Tasmania where she was born, lives and holds cultural responsibility. Combining forty years traveling the world sitting with First Nations Elders, Knowledge Keepers and Teachers with consciousness research, Ruth’s vision is to connect people to earth honouring wisdom in a contemporary and relevant context through the expression of cultural arts, ceremony and ritual. Establishing Nayri Niara Centre for the Arts of Healing (2006) and Nayri Niara good spirit Festival (2009), Ruth has gained a reputation as a capable facilitator and coordinator of effective community capacity building programs, which have as their guiding principles, Connection to Country, Community, Culture, the Self and the Sacred.
Virginia Young
Virginia is a long-time environmental campaigner. She has contributed to international research projects on primary forests and worked with global science leaders to communicate the importance of relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem integrity for carbon retention, climate mitigation and adaptation. Her ongoing work is focused on the nexus between biodiversity and climate change and its relevance to international policy arenas, notably the UNFCC, CBD and SDG’s-all of which help determine the rules, targets and frameworks for encouraging synergistic climate and biodiversity action at the domestic level. Her voluntary roles include, Chair of Gondwanalink Ltd, Board member of the Great Eastern Ranges Initiative, Wilderness Australia and the US based Partnership for Policy Integrity. She is a member of IUCNs Climate Specialist Group of the World Commission on Protected Areas and the Climate Crisis Commission.
Dr Phil Zylstra
Associate Professor Phil Zylstra is a fire behaviour scientist and forest ecologist working at Curtin University and ANU. Coming from a background in fire management and specialist remote area firefighting, Phil’s research has focused on practical tools that answer real world questions. A core part of his work is ‘ecological control theory’ – a fusion of forest ecology and fire behaviour that provides an entirely new framework to understand the way that fire sensitive species have survived in a fire-prone continent since Gondwana. Using ecological control theory, Phil has been researching ways to cooperate with and reinforce these natural controls on fire in the face of the climate crisis.
MC: Alice Hardinge
Alice is the Campaigns Manager for the Wilderness Society Tasmania. Alice is dedicated to the protection of forests and wilderness areas across Lutruwita / Tasmania and the country and has over ten years of experience in grassroots and professional environmental advocacy.
Society
Maggie Blanden
Maggie is a proud young palawa woman from Lutruwita. She works in First Nations justice, climate justice and human rights as a lawyer, community member and advocate. She is also the Co-Founder of Naarm Law Students and was a finalist in the Australian Human Rights Awards in 2023. Alongside her ongoing rolls as a lawyer, Maggie is currently authoring a report for TWS Lutruwita on land back for Palawa
Sorin Vanzino
Sorin Vanzino is a student, musician and community organiser hailing from southern lutruwita. In our ecologically threatened world, he has found catharsis and empowerment in both traditional activism and critical engagement through art-making.
Vanessa Bleyer
Vanessa Bleyer has worked in environmental law for over 25 years. In 2010, she secured the first permanent injunction in Australia to stop logging in threatened species habitat on public land, at Brown Mountain in East Gippsland. Follwoing this, litigation played a significant role in ending native forest logging in Victoria.In 2010, Vanessa moved to Tasmania to oppose the proposed Tamar Valley pulp mill. she has since been working tirelessly to end native forest logging in on the island. Vanessa is now working to take her fight from the Court room to Canberra, running as a senate candidate for the Greens this federal election.
Dr Clare Smith
Clare Smith, a GP in Kingston for over 30 years before retiring, has had longstanding interests in mental health, climate change and resilience. A member of many health and climate advocacy groups, she is interested in ways we can turn anxiety into positive action and keep space our lives for meaning, connection and hope even in hard times.
MC: Hughie Nicklason
Hughie Nicklason is an organiser at ‘GRANT’ and the Wilderness Society Tasmania. passionate about the intersections of social and environmental justice, he has campaigned intensively over the past five years to help build an empowered grassroots movement in nipaluna. He is currently focused on the fight to protect native forests - for the better of all local people. Hugh has a masters in social policy and a deep love for Lutruwita’s wild places.