Speakers

Mel is a social impact and sustainability nerd with over two decades of experience in strategy, policy development, and community engagement. Mel works alongside local governments, not-for-profits, and community groups to enhance grant effectiveness and design for real, measurable change.

Jess is a State Greens Member of Parliament. She lives on Menang Noongar Country. Before becoming an MP, Jess was the executive director of CCWA, and the director of WA Forest Alliance and she has a deep commitment to environmental and social justice.

Matt brings a design and systems change lens to his role as manager of CCWA’s Climate program. He’s interested in how we can combine an urgent and ambitious response to the climate crisis with the slower, gentler work of building just, sustainable, and joyful futures together.

Keith is a long-time advocate for south-western Australia’s ecological values and community power. He helped establish early landcare groups; ran building, beekeeping and native seed enterprises; consulted to mining; and worked in local enterprise development and government policy. A former WA Landcare Network Chair, he is CEO of Gondwana Link.

Jane is Chair of Toxics Free Australia, a national non-government, non-profit organisation working to protect health and environmental justice from industrial and chemical pollution in Australia. With a focus on chemicals, plastics and waste, TFA works with the global movement for a toxics-free future.

Vivian is a Dordenup Wardandi matriarch Elder and artist from the South West of Western Australia. Born in Busselton on Wardan country, her ancestry traces to ‘Sugar Rag’ of Beenup, with family ties to Beenup, Mileanup, Lake Quijup, Black Point, Lake Jasper and Scotts River National Park.

photo: Martine Perret

Greta is a small-scale grower, environmental educator and campaigner living and harvesting from the lands and waters of Whadjuk Boodja. Greta is a surfer, sailor and storyteller; passionate about restoring healthy ecosystems and bringing communities together to protect the landscapes that sustain them.

Raelene is a Mardathoonera woman and traditional custodian of Murujuga in the Pilbara. She co-founded the campaign organisation Save Our Songlines. In 2023, she successfully challenged Woodside’s seismic blasting permit in court, leading to its cancellation. This year, she launched a further legal action that compelled the Federal Environment Minister to introduce additional protections for Murujuga.

Douglas is a Bardi and Jawi man and a member of CCWA’s Indigenous Advisory Board. He is CEO of WA Mirning People Aboriginal Corporation, previously CEO of Bunuba Dawangarri Aboriginal Corporation, Executive Officer to the Fitzroy Valley Flood Recovery Working Group, and Deputy CEO of the Kimberley Land Council.

After nearly 25 years teaching music, Sonya changed careers to protect her sons and students from climate change. She is a Community Organiser with the Conservation Council of WA and Parents for Climate, and volunteers with Climate for Change. A keen permaculture student, she keeps a thriving worm farm.

Sarah has worked on environmental, human rights, and environmental campaigns and communications for more than fifteen years, working with both grassroots and global audiences. In addition to her role on CCWA’s climate team, she has volunteered on the frontlines of the climate crisis through the State Emergency Service, and is on the board of the Australian Conservation Foundation.

Rhiannon is Nature Program Manager at the Conservation Council of Western Australia, working with member groups and partner organisations on campaigns to strengthen environmental laws and protect WA’s biodiversity. With a background in advocacy and community organising, she works at the intersection of policy reform, campaigning, and grassroots activism.

Emma is a community organiser based between Walyalup/Fremantle and Wooditchup Bilya/Margaret River. Passionate about system change, she builds resilience and resistance. She has campaigned against fossil fuel expansion with School Strike for Climate, Margaret River Youth Climate Collective and Disrupt Burrup Hub, and supports solidarity initiatives in Margaret River.

Mitchella is a Traditional Owner and Elder on Saltwater Country of the Wardandi Nation, known by her totem ‘Walgin’ – the Rainbow Woman. An artist and businesswoman (Waljin Consultancy), she is mother of four, foster parent to more than 20 children, and created an online Indigenous cultural awareness training package.

Margie manages the Nature Program at the Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network, which supports high-impact environmental philanthropy. She has worked with the Tasmanian Land Conservancy, Environmental Defenders Office and Landcare Tasmania. A graduate of Tasmanian Leaders and the AICD, she serves on the Atlas of Living Australia advisory board.

Wilf has worked in Australia’s solar industry for over 16 years, leading engineering at SunPower, later serving as General Manager at Energy Matters, and then with US firms Flex and Enphase Energy. In 2024 he helped establish the Smart Energy Council in WA and now leads decarbonisation advocacy projects.

Oscar is a PhD student from Curtin University, working closely with practitioners on research that enhances the scale and outcomes of environmental restoration in the southwest Wheatbelt region. Outside of university, Oscar has a passion for grassroot environmental work, sitting on the executive committee of the Urban Bushland Council.

Colma focuses on the natural world and the communities who care for it. She cut her conservation teeth in the 1980s with CCWA and ACF on Shark Bay World Heritage and a national park for Mt Lesueur, and has held hands-on and leadership roles in urban landcare since 1995.

Peter is a social capitalist and community enthusiast who has worked with over 2,500 communities in Australia and overseas across 50 years. He created the Bank of I.D.E.A.S. to champion “inside-out” development and was honoured with a Centenary Medal (2001), Senior West Australian (2017) and OAM (2019).

Jacqueline is a community sector professional with experience working with First Nations people in WA and the NT. A social scientist and educator, she has held senior management roles across community and environment. Passionate about grassroots landcare, she works with committees, teams and communities to future-proof landcare in WA.

Bart is a former commercial apiarist with over 40 years’ experience and a volunteer firefighter, deeply connected to south-west WA’s landscapes. Concerned about prescribed burning’s ecological impacts, he now campaigns for reform across the Conservation Estate. He is a founding member of Fire and Biodiversity WA and Convenor of the Denmark Environment Centre.

Liam has a background in environmental science, climate science and economics. He sits on the Australian Conservation Foundation Council and is on the Nuclear-Free WA committee. Formerly Executive Director of Society-Environment-Economy Change (Canberra), he provides research and analysis for CCWA’s climate and nature campaigns while building networks and alliances.

Steve has managed natural areas for local government, supported specialist nurseries, served as Executive Director of an environmental charity, and travelled WA with Beyond Gardens. He delivers training for Switch Your Thinking and the Dieback Working Group. ReWilding unites his restoration expertise and commitment to empowering community action.

Helen chairs the Esperance Local Environmental Action Forum (LEAF), is a representative to the South Coast Marine Park, and a Senior Lecturer at Curtin University. LEAF, formed in 1989 after the Museum Park mulberry tree was axed, is WA’s longest-serving volunteer conservation group, independent of the Conservation Council.

Stephanie is a Ballardong and Whadjuk Nyungar community organiser, campaigner and activist who is passionate about social, political and environmental change, decolonisation, healing and community building through creating safe and transformative spaces, events and campaigns.

Oral is a Mangarda Nyungar man and founding Director of the Noongar Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Noongar Land Enterprises. He is Deputy Chair of the Wheatbelt Development Commission, on the WA Regional Development Trust, and research lead at the ARC Training Centre for Healing Country, Curtin University.

Verity is CEO of AgZero, a farmer-led organisation engaging and empowering rural communities to advance climate solutions and clean-energy opportunities. Raised in WA’s sheep-and-wheat country, she holds a Master’s in Sustainable Development and previously served as inaugural CEO of Farmers for Climate Action and Executive Officer at WAFarmers.

Richard is a Yamatji Elder and director and co-founder of Nala Boodja Eco Clan Aboriginal Corporation. Holding a Graduate Certificate in Natural and Cultural Resource Management, he brings cultural and environmental expertise to caring for Country and advancing sustainable land management grounded in traditional knowledge and community leadership.

Blair is Director, Impact at Greening Australia, defining priorities and measuring progress. He contributes to strategy, ecological restoration research, and frameworks for planning and evaluation. With expertise in restoration, biodiversity valuation, conservation planning and modelling, he translates science into action with partners across industry, community, academia and government.

Victoria (she/her) studied a Bachelor of Science in Botany at the University of Western Australia and works as a community organiser at the Conservation Council of WA’s Go Beyond Gas campaign – building people power to stop fossil fuel expansion in WA. Victoria loves hiking, scuba diving, ultimate frisbee, and animals, especially dogs.

Mia is the Campaign Director at CCWA and is also the deputy chair of the Mineral Policy Institute. Mia has been campaigning on mining and nuclear issues for over a decade and with a strong interest in mine rehabilitation, oil and gas decommissioning, critical minerals, and defence.

Carol is passionate about our Aboriginal issues, particularly social justice, education, and commercial development as an empowerment process for Noongar Peoples, and has active involvement in land-care restoration from our Noongar socio-ecological model, perspective and practice.

Martin is Executive Director of Environs Kimberley and has worked for 25 years safeguarding WA’s environment, protecting endangered species, rivers, ecosystems and Ramsar wetlands. He led efforts securing 30,000 km² of Kimberley marine parks, stopping mines at the Martuwarra Fitzroy and Horizontal Falls, and protecting Walmadan/James Price Point.

Matt is Executive Director of the Conservation Council of WA, with a background in media, communications and public policy across housing, water and environmental sectors. He is committed to keeping nature central in a just, ambitious energy transition, and believes lasting change comes from public policy, not corporate goodwill.

Kelly is an ecologist who specialises in ecoacoustics and bat research, with additional experience in auditing, biodiversity monitoring and science communication. Kelly’s diverse background supports effective conservation through citizen participation.

Ingrid has 25+ years in environmental management, collaborating with community, government and NGOs. She completed a PhD at UWA, worked at Kings Park and Botanic Garden, and developed benchmarking programs for the parks sector. Now at Perth NRM, she champions action, skill-building, and collaboration to care for places.

Rachel holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and started her career working for the Department of Agriculture on landcare and salinity. Following this she was Coordinator of the Conservation Council of WA for 16 years. Rachel was elected as a Greens Senator for WA in 2004 holding the position until 2021. During this time, she held many portfolios including family and community services, health and mental health, aged care, First Nations, housing, gambling and environment.

Catherine is a research geologist with 25+ years mapping remote areas, mostly in Western Australia. A Senior Research Scientist at CSIRO Mineral Resources and adjunct Research Fellow at UWA Albany, she is Deputy Convenor of the Denmark Environment Centre, monitoring prescribed-burning impacts and volunteering as a bush firefighter.

Rachel leads a team focused on healing country in mining, agricultural, and urban landscapes; applying ecological theory to the restoration and conservation of native ecosystems for ecological and social benefit.

Susan grew up in Utah visiting petroglyph sites, including on her grandfather’s farm. She holds a BFA and a Master’s in Architecture. From 1975 she worked in Morocco and Kenya on aid projects, later in Zimbabwe. A 2015 Burrup tour inspired her to join FARA.

Born in Middle Swan, Matthew spent his early years in South Australia before returning to Perth in 1983. He trained with the Navy before earning degrees in Arts and Law from the University of Western Australia.

Admitted as a lawyer in 2014, Matthew has worked with trade unions and lectured in industrial relations at the University of Notre Dame. Elected to the WA Legislative Council in 2017 and re-elected in 2021, he has served as Parliamentary Secretary across multiple portfolios. He was appointed Minister for the Environment, Community Services and Homelessness in March 2025.

Chris was Director of the Conservation Council of WA from 2004 to 2008 and a Labor Member of the WA Parliament from 2008 to 2025. While Chris has great faith in our Australian democracy, he is concerned the voice for the environment is being increasingly marginalised.

Jai is Deputy Director General-Coordinator of Energy, leading Energy Policy WA in the Department of Energy and Economic Diversification. With 15+ years in the sector at Horizon Power and Western Power, he oversees WA’s energy policy and regulatory framework, driving reforms for a sustainable, reliable and affordable energy future.

Jo is a mother, teacher, and Quaker who has worked on nuclear issues since 1972. Elected to the Senate in 1984, 1987, and 1990, she continues work on environmental and social justice, including prison workshops with the Alternatives to Violence Project, and campaigns on Gaza, Woodside, AUKUS, and climate.

Piers is a WA policy leader on environment, climate and energy, helping drive major state policies and campaigns. With 25+ years’ experience in government and as Executive Director of the Conservation Council of WA, he now works independently with organisations including The Australia Institute and Climate Analytics.

Giz protested at anti-Vietnam War rallies and helped launch WA’s first campaign against jarrah clear-felling for bauxite. In the 1980s she trained nonviolent direct-action groups, including Greenham Common. A carpenter and builder, she served 16 years in WA Parliament and received a Murdoch University doctorate in 2015.

Jemima is a City of Fremantle Councillor focused on strengthening community engagement and a safe future. Completing a law degree at Murdoch, she works part-time as a planning and environmental law clerk. Active since high school, she’s supported School Strike 4 Climate and coordinated AYCC, grounding decisions in community values.

Brendan is Director of the Melbourne Biodiversity Institute. He uses economic, cultural and biodiversity data and models to support conservation decisions and policy. Directed Australia’s Threatened Species Recovery Hub (2016-22), IPBES lead author, co-founded the Biodiversity Council, Zoos Victoria Board Director, and elected fellow of the Victorian Royal Society

Cyril is an Aboriginal Education Officer and presenter dedicated to celebrating and preserving Noongar culture and fostering reconciliation on Noongar boodja. Deeply connected to Country, he has ancestral ties to Whadjuk, Binjareb, Yued and Balladong Noongar Nations, carrying stories and knowledge across Perth, Peel and the Wheatbelt.

Richard is a former board member of Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA). He remains an active member of DEA in WA and is interested in the intersection between health and the environment. As a Buddhist teacher and writer he speaks and writes to the “growing awareness of the preciousness of human existence, the wonder and fragility of life on this one blue planet and the need for us to care for it and care for each other”.