KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Professor Rufus Black – Vice-Chancellor & President of the University of Tasmania

Rufus holds degrees in law, politics, economics, ethics, and theology from the University of Melbourne and Oxford University, where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar. His research and writing have been published widely, including by Oxford University Press and Routledge. Most recently, he was a coauthor of Ethics at War (Routledge 2024). He has also authored a number of major public reports for the Australian Government, drawing on his expertise in ethics, management, and strategy.

Rufus’s work on economic issues and his commercial experience has included being a partner at McKinsey & Company, where he worked on strategy, organisation, and public sector issues in Australia and Asia, being a Board Member of the Committee for the Economic Development of Australia, a Board Member of Innovation Science Australia, and a Director of the national law firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth.

Rufus’s educational and social sector experience includes being President of Museums Victoria, the Deputy Chancellor of Victoria University, Strategic Advisor to the Secretary of Education in Victoria, the founding Chair of the Board of Teach for Australia, a Director of the New York-based Teach for All, a Director of the Cranlana Foundation, and a Director of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research.

Rufus’ work for government on matters of Defence and Security has included conducting the Black Review into Governance and Accountability in the Department of Defence, Co-Leading the Prime Minister’s Independent Review of the Australian Intelligence Community, being a member of the Afghanistan Inquiry Implementation Oversight Panel.

Bob Brown – Former Green Leaders & Environmentalist

Bob Brown was born and educated in rural NSW and worked as a doctor before becoming the face of the campaign to save the Franklin River in 1982.

He was elected to the Tasmanian state parliament in 1983 and during his tenure most notably advocated for gun law reform, gay law reform and achieved the expansion of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.

In 1996 Bob was elected to the Senate, where he led the national debate for 16 years on issues including climate change, democracy, preventative healthcare, conservation, and human rights.

Bob resigned from the Senate in June 2012 to establish the Bob Brown Foundation, a not for profit organisation dedicated to supporting action campaigns for the environment in Australia and our region. He is a published author and acclaimed photographer.

Bob lives in Tasmania with his partner Paul and when he gets the chance, enjoys photography, bushwalking, poetry, and philosophy.

Sophie Handford – Councillor & Activist

Sophie Handford is a 23-year-old Councillor, activist from Kāpiti, New Zealand.

Sophie founded School Strike 4 Climate in Aotearoa NZ and went on to coordinate the movement which mobilised 170,000 people across the country in September of 2019, united for climate justice.

She then ran for Council at the age of 18 and was elected as one of Aotearoa’s youngest Councillors, onto the Kāpiti Coast District Council. She’s now chairing its Strategy, Operations and Finance Committee.

SPEAKERS

Adam Tavasz

Transformation Lead, Data Analytics – University of Tasmania

Alex Fransen

Sustainability Coordinator – University of Technology Sydney

Alice Hill

Sustainability Project Administrator – University of Sydney

Andrew Wilks

Director, Sustainability – Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington

Brittany Vermeulen

Sustainability Coordinator – Western Sydney University

Carla Alzamora

Change Manager, Sustainability – The Australian National University

Dr Carmen Primo Perez

Sustainability Manager, Strategic Analysis and Reporting – The University of Tasmania

Carmine Buss

Undergraduate Research Fellowship Coordinator – University of the Sunshine Coast

Dr Catherine Elliott

Sustainability Manager (Experience & Engagement) – University of Tasmania

Dr Charlotte Blythe

Carbon & Sustainability Communications and Engagement Manager – Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland

Dr Chloe Lucas

Education for Sustainability Coordinator – University of Tasmania

Corey Peterson

Chief Sustainability Officer – University of Tasmania

Danielle McCartney

Head of Sustainability – University of Technology Sydney

Emma Holland

Sustainability Program Lead – University of Sydney

Fien Van den Steen

Student – University of the Sunshine Coast

Fred Gale

Head of Discipline, Politics and International Relations – University of Tasmania

Dr Graham Wood

Senior Lecturer – University of Tasmania

Jeff McClintock

Community Garden Coordinator – University of Tasmania

Jess Taylor

Project Coordinator – ACTS

Julie O’Brien

Senior Advisor, Sustainable Development – RMIT University

Kat Carrick

Sustainability Compliance Lead – University of Sydney

Kim White

Food Security Coordinator – University of Tasmania

Knowles Tivedale

Managing Director – Movement & Place Consulting

Lars Roberts

Community Gardener – University of Tasmania

Laura Ripoll-Gonzalez

Lecturer – Erasmus University, The Netherlands

Leena Tirrul

Officer Assistant Project Support – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka- University of Otago

Linda Stevenson

Senior Manager, Sustainability – RMIT University

Lucy McKenzie

Head of Sustainability – Auckland University of Technology

Lulu Meehan-Welham

Senior ESG & Sustainability Advisor – Monash University

Madeleine Culp

Engagement Specialist, Sustainability – University of Sydney

Mary Gill

Waste Officer – University of Tasmania

Mylene Turban

Sustainability Engagement Manager – University of New South Wales

Nicholas Roberts

Sustainability Officer, Asset Management & Operations – University of Sydney

Pierre Le Mestreallan

Project Engineer (Electrification) – University of Tasmania

Pii-Tuulia Nikula

Associate Professor Eastern Institute of Technology

Raveena Grace

Sustainability Engagement Coordinator University of Melbourne

Ray O’Brien

Tumuaki Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka, University of Otago,

Reece Moors

Director, Office of the Vice-Chancellor – Victoria University of Wellington

Rhiannon Boyd

Chief Executive Officer – ACTS

Rhonda Thomson

Pou Hapai – Senior Adviser – Victoria University of Wellington

Ruth Oliver

Net Zero Policy & Programs Manager – Monash University

Sandy Murray

Lecturer Food, Nutrition and Public Health – University of Tasmania

Scott Smith

Technical Director, Sustainable Buildings – Beca

Shane French

Senior Sustainability Coordinator – Monash University

Shirley Phan

Sustainability & Wellbeing Coordinator – Monash University

Sue Hopkins

Manager, Environmental Sustainability – University of Melbourne

Suellen Smosinski

PhD candidate – University of Tasmania

Dr Tatiana Pinedo Rivera

Senior Process Engineer & Sustainability Leader – Melbourne Centre for Nanofabrication, ANFF, Monash University

Tim Millbank

Professional Experience Placement Lead – University of Tasmania

William Van Ausdel

Head of Sustainability – Flinders University

Ysobel Cranfield

Engagement Specialist – University of Sydney