Matt Barwick
Matt is an Environmental Consulting Manger working in the Australian Wetlands sector. He wishes to influence change in collective thinking and practice in order to mitigate climate change impacts.
Julia Bickley
Julia is a State Sustainability Champion with a leading Real Estate company in Brisbane. She wishes to empower herself and others within her networks to help influence business and government to excel the response to climate change.
Barry Bowden
Barry Bowden is a self employed bio-dynamic farmer and miller, who lives at Pampas. Barry is a member of the Toowoomba & Region Environment Council and a Co-ordinator for Theosophical Society Groups in Toowoomba and Warwick. He changed to organic and then bio-dynamic farming 15 years ago because of health issues and sustainability problems with modern farming methods, specifically chemicals and water soluble fertilizers. As a farmer he is well aware of changing weather patterns and wants to raise awareness and inspire people that we have the power to make a difference.
Moni Carlisle
Moni Carlisle is an American born Australian who lives in Yungaburra in North Queensland. She has a PhD in Marine Tropical Science and is a Education Resource Manager. Moni grew up in California and travelled to Africa at age 18 to study international development. She spent three years in Sri Lanka in the Peace Corp and now wants to better understand and play a role in educating people about the impacts of climate change.
Ron Clarke MBE
Ron Clarke MBE is an international sporting champion who has enjoyed many different career changes. He founded Couran Cove on Stradbroke Island, was President of Greening Australia Queensland for three years and is now Mayor of Gold Coast City. He is President of the Council for the Encouragement of Philanthropy in Australia, Patron of Little Souls taking Big Steps (Autistic Centre) and the Surfers Paradise Brass Band, and Vice Patron of Surf Lifesaving Queensland.
Sue Cooke
Sue is a Policy Adviser at Queensland Health who believes public health professionals will be at the front line in dealing with climate related health impacts. She wants to help build the groundswell of change needed to switch humanity off its current path and onto one leading towards healthy, just and sustainable futures.
Lara Crew
Lara Crew is an Environmental Scientist and Project Co-ordinator with Pelican Expeditions. This organisation is dedicated to promoting awareness of the marine environment and promoting education about marine issues. Lara’s entire career has been dedicated to raising environmental awareness and for the past 10 years she has been discussing social and environmental issues in Cape York.
Mark Davis
Mark Davis is a senior environmental scientist with Connell Wagner and lives on Magnetic Island. Until nine months ago he was employed by Townsville City Council running environmental awareness training for 800 council staff over a five year period. He is a member of the Society for Sustainability and Environmental Engineering and a member of the Society of Geoscientists. He hopes to promote change in the way that individuals in all walks of life can cumulatively make a difference by making even small changes in their day to day actions.
Tristan Douglas
Tristan is an organizer with the Queensland Public Sector Union. Tristan has become increasingly involved in climate campaigning as the need for international and domestic action becomes more a more urgent. He would like to use this Summit as an opportunity to expand the movement into relatively untapped areas like the union movement and workplaces.
Kate English
Kate English is an english teacher at the University of the Sunshine Coast and is currently doing a Masters Degree on Climate Change Adaptation. In the past she has worked in numerous environmental roles in the Congress and the Clinton-Gore Administration over a 20 year period. At present she is developing a new radio program for Noosa Community Radio. Her post-graduate plans include working in a community engagement role.
Paul Fairweather
Paul is the Managing Director of Fairweather Proberts, Architects. He sees his role as bringing awareness to the architectural, design and construction communities. He is organising a conference in Brisbane later this year, and hopes to pass on the passion he experienced when he heard Al Gore speak. He wants to make a difference to the environment and change the way we live.
Russell Kelly
Russell is an Environmental Consultant in West End, Queensland. He wishes to engage with his local community and politicians in helping achieve a critical mass of people to understand the science, issues and speed of change necessary to avert a climate catastrophe.
Melissa-Leigh George
Melissa-Leigh George is the Co-ordinator of the State Indigenous Natural Resource Management Network and is employed by the Burdekin Dry Tropics Board. Melissa-Leigh is an indigenous Australian and has lived on Magnetic Island (her Country) for the last 14 years. In her current job she gives presentations to Indigenous Land and Sea Managers, community groups and governments, and her presentations are based on building peoples’ understanding of the role that Indigenous communities play in managing Country.
William Grey
William Grey is an Associate Professor at the University of Queensland. He has taught environmental philosophy for more than 20 years and has published widely in this area. Because of his international standing in environmental ethics, William was invited to deliver a keynote address to the International Conference on Ecology and Education in Taiwan in May this year. Through his participation in the climate leadership program William hopes to raise public awareness of the consequences of failing to moderate anthropogenic activities that disrupt the ecosystems on which future human and environmental well-being depends.
Natalie Hatch
Natalie Hatch is a science teacher and lives in North Rockhampton. Having taught environmental science for over seven years at high school level, Natalie has been able to encourage students to make changes to the local community. By becoming a climate change presenter Natalie hopes to raise her community’s awareness of climate change and show how it can make a difference on a local, state, federal and global scale. She believes that community pressure is how we will achieve greater change in government and business policies for the environment.
Dr Karey Harrison
Karey Harrison
Lectures in Environmental Studies at University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba
Contact: harrison@usq.edu.au
Special Interests: Philosophy of science, especially models & modelling; environmental economics; permaculture & sustainable agriculture; creating sustainable & participatory communities
David Hood
David Hood is a consulting civil & environmental engineer. David commenced his professional career as a civil engineer but now practises as an environmental engineer working on energy efficiency and sustainability in the built environment. He believes we must strive to change the way we live and how we value and manage our natural and social capital.
Peter Israel
Peter Israel is the general manager of Origin Energy and lives in Brookfield. He is president of the Energy Committee of Commerce Queensland and President of the Australian LPG Association. As a passionate manager in the energy sector he sees educating the public as central to balanced policy development and creating a sustainable future for all.
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson is a justice and international mission advocate and a member of the Queensland Synod of the Uniting Church in Australia. He has been involved in the drafting, negotiation and advocacy for a resolution passed by the Queensland Synod to make significant changes to the life and work of the church in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in congregations, schools, UnitingCare and the state office of the Uniting Church in Australia. He hopes that raising awareness of the issues may motivate people to advocate changes in policy.
Delwyn Langdon
Delwyn Langdon is the Manager of the Griffith University EcoCentre, which is an environmental education centre that promotes sustainable development, environmental education and community engagement. In this role she regularly gives presentations around sustainable development and community environmental education. As president of the Parents and Citizens Committee of Salisbury State School, Delwyn has been involved in developing the Strategic Plan to turn Salisbury State School into a model of sustainability through education and showcasing their facilities.
Jan Leese
Jan Leese is a self employed Business Owner and Thermal Performance Assessor. Currently owning a restaurant in North Queensland she has taken the restaurant through environmental improvements to now be certified as a Green Table Restaurant. This year the restaurant won the Townsville Business Sustainability Award. Jan's goal is to help businesses and then that industry to reduce their carbon footprint whilst at the same time improving their bottom line. She strongly believes in teaching people that every one has the ability to make a huge difference in the world, therefore changing cultures.
Mary Maher
Mary Maher is a self employed group facilitation consultant in social, environment and urban planning. Mary is the President of the West End Community Association, past President of the Environmental Institute of Australia and New Zealand Queensland Division, Board member of the West End Community House, past Board member of the Port of Brisbane Corporation, SunWater Corporation and the Queensland Conservation Council. She was Brisbane City’s first environment officer in 1988 and has since worked mainly in environmental and natural resource planning.
Mahdi Mason
Mahdi Mason is an environmental advisor with Anglo Coal and lives at Middlemount. In her role with Anglo Coal she has given presentations to senior management about community needs, to groups of graduates telling them what to expect in the industry and technical presentations about biodiversity to environmental specialists. She is a member of the Central Queensland Mine Rehabilitation Group and Women in Mining and Resources Queensland and has had a passion for the environment since she was a child.
Tony McCarthy
Tony McCarthy is a secondary school student a Tullawong State High School and he lives at Delaney’s Creek. He is President of the Environmental Committee of the Student Representative Council at his school, a member of the Queensland Youth Environment Council and the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, and a youth advisor to the Caboolture Shire School Captains and Leaders Forum. As a climate change presenter Tony hopes that individuals will be motivated to reduce carbon emissions, reduce waste, be more water-wise and to pass on this inspiration and environmental consciousness to those around them.
Chris McGrath
Chris McGrath
Chris McGrath is a practising barrister in Brisbane. He recently submitted his PhD thesis for examination, which considered the legal system protecting the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). The main finding of his research is that, while there are many effective parts of the response to pressures on the GBR, the current legal system is not likely to be effective in preventing climate change from causing very serious damage to the GBR. The full thesis is available here. Chris has acted as a barrister in two cases involving greenhouse gas emissions from coal mines: WPSQ Proserpine/Whitsunday Branch Inc v Minister for the Environment and Heritage [2006] FCA 736, and Re Xstrata Coal Queensland Pty Ltd & Ors [2007] QLRT 33. Details of these cases are available on his website. He can be contacted by email: chris_mcgrath@bigpond.com.
Steven Miles
Steven Miles is a union organiser with the Queensland Public Sector Union and is undertaking post graduate study in political science. Steven has spent the last 11 years working for trade unions seeking to improve the conditions of working people. He is a community representative on the Griffith University Human Research Ethics Committee and a working group member of the University of Queensland Social Wellbeing Survey. He also wants to raise the profile of conservation issues more generally, especially within his union and his community.
Wendy Miller
Wendy Miller is the manager of Queensland Sustainable Energy and is employed by the Queensland University of Technology. She frequently acts as a ‘technology translator’ between the technologists and the end users of technology. As a climate change presenter she hopes to contribute toward buiding a more informed public, committed to personal action at home and work.
Lisa Perrett
Lisa is a Project Officer, Indigenous Partnerships Group for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. She feels a moral duty to help protect the Great Barrier Reef and the rest of the world against climate change. She hopes to inspire people that we each have the power to make a difference.
Melinda Quinn
Melinda is a Solicitor for Kemp Strang. She wants to give something back to the world and says there is no better gift than a healthy planet. Her goal is to be a positive voice for change and a good example for her community.
Alison Rickert
Alison Rickert
I grew up here there and everywhere from India to England to Switzerland to Australia. After graduating from ANU in 1969, majoring in Biology and Psychology, I spent 6 years living on the Great Barrier Reef, working as a marine biologist. The next twelve years were fully devoted to raising our family, restoring our old farmer’s cottage and building our garden. When our youngest child reached school age I returned to the workforce, using the psychology part of my degree. I currently work part- time for EBC, Environment and Behaviour Consultants, canvassing people’s opinions through telephone and face to face interviews. My motivation for being involved with the Al Gore global warming messenger program is my deep love for the natural world and my belief that global warming is the greatest threat faced by the planet.
Ian Richards
Ian is the Director of Planning and Resources for CHC Global Operations. He wants to increase awareness and belief in climate change and ensure that people understand the power of ONE. He says that we cannot rely on others or governments to do this and we must force corporations to invest for the future, not just for today.
Sandy Rinaldis
Sandy Rinaldis is a primary school teacher and partner in a plumbing business who is highly engaged with her local community. She is involved with the Captain Creek Sport & Recreation club, The Agnes Water Bus Committee and a supporter of Agnes Water State School, the Captain Creek Rodeo and the 1770 Festival.
David Searle
David Searle is a primary school teacher at Padua College, and lives in Chermside. David has been teaching environmental studies for the past 15 years and is very passionate about teaching people about our planet. He has written three plays on environmental issues and is currently writing books for children. He was nominated for the Pride of Australia Medal in 2005 and 2006 and was the Queensland environment winner of the Terry Palmer Award.
Linda Selvey
Linda Selvey is a public health medical officer/administrator with Queensland Health and lives in Highgate Hill. Linda has been an active environmentalist all of her adult life. She considers climate change to be the most important issue facing the planet and wants to do all she can to minimise the impact of dangerous climate change. Linda is the Chair of the Queensland Conservation Council and an active participant in the Hamilton Pine Rivers Wheelers Cycling Club.
Scott Shomer
Scott Shomer is a Senior Environmental Advisor for Santos, an Australian oil and gas company. He has spent the past 20 years of his professional life cleaning up the environment one site at a time and this passion carries into his home life and volunteer time.
Emily Smart
Emily Smart is a marine biologist/research co-ordinator with Fantasea Cruises at Airlie Beach. Part of her job involves giving marine biology presentations on board a Great Barrier Reef trip to audiences of between 50-400 people. She hopes to better educate Australian residents on the growing issue of climate change and explain how they can make a difference by reducing climate impacting behaviours domestically and commercially.
Hugh Spencer
Hugh Spencer is a conservation biologist and is the Director/Founder/CEO of the Australian Tropical Research Foundation. He is the chair of the Cape Tribulation Community Council, scientific advisor to the North Queensland Climate Alliance and a member of the Cairns and Far North Environment Council. Through his participation in the leadership training Hugh wants to increase awareness of the immediacy of climate change.
Linda Thomson
Linda Thomson is a GP and works in Kenmore, Brisbane. Linda has always been interested in environmental matters and is convinced that global warming is the biggest threat humanity faces. She believes that public opinion needs to move very quickly for urgent and meaningful action.
Tint Lwin Thaung
Tint is the Forest Conservation Coordinator for The Nature Conservancy. He is actively involved in conserving the forests of Asia and the Pacific and wants to learn new tools, policies, and practical ways of integrating forest conservation works into climate change issues.
Chris Whiting
Chris is a Councillor for Moreton Bay Regional Council Government in Queensland. He wants to prompt community leaders and decision makers into accepting the reality of climate change and propel them into taking effective action. Chris represents the vulnerable areas of Deception Bay, Burpengary and Beachmere and sees his residents struggling with the early effects of climate change.
Stephen Zannakis
Stephen is a Principal Designer & Construction Coordinator in Brisbane and wants to be part of a growing systemic change for a long term future for all life, from his local community to a national and international scale. He hopes to increase his capacity to contribute effectively to movements in which he already participates, such as SPIRAL Community Hub and Emergency Architects.
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Australia's Inconvenient Truth
