Jodi is a regenerative economist, community connector and strategic designer living on Djaara Country. Her career began in Europe with a decade working as an economist in environmental policy design and analysis. Moving to Australia, Jodi embarked on a creative sector career designing community engagement on climate change through public art and design. Residing now in Castlemaine, Jodi is co-founding member of the Castlemaine Institute and works as Circular Economy Officer at Hepburn Shire Council. Her passion project is examining our relationship with money and investigating the transformative potential of alternative currencies.

Cassie is the Founder and Director of Wild Blak Arts, from the Taungurung and Dja Dja Wurrung people from the Kulin Nation. She is an Indigenous artist, master weaver, traditional dancer, bushtukka woman and educator. She is known for her sustainable fashion designs highlighting environmental conservation and cultural storytelling, using bush solar-dyeing and native plant fibres to create biodegradable, zero-carbon fashion. Her aim is to give participants the opportunity to learn and understand Aboriginal culture and develop knowledge of both historical and contemporary Aboriginal history.

Susan is co-coordinating the roll out of the Victorian Goldfields World Heritage Bid that is focused on regenerating a region of over 40,000 km2 with over half a million people for 15 local government partners. She is a former musician, teacher and artist who has been coordinating the City of Ballarat’s heritage programs since 2009. Susan is a full international member of Australia ICOMOS, member of the ICOMOS Sustainable Development Goals and World Heritage Working Group, member of the Heritage Asia-Pacific Network and former co-convenor of the Australia ICOMOS National Scientific Committee (NSC) on Cultural Landscapes and Cultural Routes. Her talk is on the importance of community in creating and sustaining heritage sites.

Yashashwi is originally from Nepal, but currently living and learning in Melbourne on Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung land. “My journey I believe started in my early teens. I spent my time in workshops with children in Nepal, as we worked towards a better world for girls. That passion and vision continues to drive me today in Plan International Australia and in anything else I do. My roots for advocacy are embedded deep within the struggles that come with navigating the world as a woman of colour. I am excited to be able to give a talk about the intersectionalities of climate change and gender.”

Dr Greg Moore, “The Plant Mechanic”, is a Senior Research Associate of Melbourne University and was Head of Resource Management (2002- 2007). He was inaugural president of the ISA, Australian Chapter, a member of the National Trust’s Register of Significant Trees (1988) and served the Board of Greening Australia for 20 years. He has written three books, seven book chapters and published over 200 scientific papers and articles. He is a regular guest on the ABC, and was awarded an OAM in 2017 for services to the environment, particularly arboriculture.

Kate Auty currently lives and works in Taungurung and Yorta Yorta country. Kate’s formal appointments have included magistrate (Victoria and WA), commissioner for environment (Victoria and the ACT), senior lawyer RCIADIC (Victoria, Tasmania and WA), and University of Melbourne Vice Chancellor’s and Professorial Fellowships. Kate is a barrister, environmental scientist and published author. Her talk is about her commitment to community advocacy which centres on the Strathbogie and Euroa area with groups such as Strathbogie Voices and EuroaConnect.

Jimmy Stanton-Cooke is a passionate environmental activist with over 20 years of experience driving action for healthier forests, thriving wildlife, and a more sustainable planet. As the Co-founder and CEO of HalfCut, he is dedicated to addressing the climate emergency and inspiring others to join the fight for our planet’s future. The "HalfCut" concept is at the core of Jimmy’s mission. With 50% of the world’s forests destroyed, 50% of plant species extinct, 50% of the Great Barrier Reef bleached, and 50% of food wasted, Jimmy embodies these statistics – literally wearing the issue on his face – to amplify the message and engage people in a bold, memorable way. A positive disruptor, Jimmy combines creativity, optimism, and determination to make environmental advocacy both impactful and approachable. He invites everyone to be part of the solution, proving that taking action for our planet can be both meaningful and fun. "Flip the coin – our future depends on it."

Cathy Oke OAM has over 25 years professional and academic experience in urban sustainability and city leadership, with a focus on the nexus of policy, practice and research for accelerated cities’ climate change and biodiversity action.  Cathy is Director of the Melbourne Centre for Cities and Co-host and producer of  “Climate Talks” podcast . She was for 12 years a Councillor at the City of Melbourne 2008 – 2020 (principally in the Environment Portfolio) and was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for service to local government and the environment in 2023.

Travis Lovett is a proud Kerrupmara / Gunditjmara man and Traditional Owner who has spent his life advocating for truth and justice for First Peoples. He is passionate about practicing his Culture, working with Community and preserving Aboriginal languages. Travis has held senior leadership roles in the Victorian Public Service, including as Executive Director and Acting Deputy Secretary, First Peoples State Relations, at the Department of Premier and Cabinet. He played key role in supporting Victoria to progress and implement Treaty and Truth telling. He is currently the Commissioner of Victoria's truth telling process, the Yoorrook Justice Commission.

Sarah has campaigned for Australia’s forests for over two decades, collaborating with environmental organisations, businesses, schools, and universities to advance conservation policies that protect Australia’s forests and wildlife. An experienced policy advisor, she played a key role in ending industrial native forest logging in Victoria and in raising forestry standards in Australia and New Zealand. Sarah co-created the best-selling book The Great Forests and is now launching The Great Forest Park Guide, a new resource to help people explore and appreciate the Great Forests. She has also developed a $230M government impact bond to help restore the Great Forests through private investment.

Jesse Leeworthy is a Product Design Engineer and the co-founder of memobottle, a reusable lifestyle brand transforming the way we think about sustainability through innovative design. By combining thoughtful design with social impact, Jesse has helped memobottle divert over 200 million single-use bottles from landfills and provide more than 50 million days of clean water to those in need through Water.org — Driven by a belief that convenience is the ultimate catalyst for change, Jesse is on a mission to inspire a shift toward a reusable lifestyle, advocating for the mindful use of materials and sustainable consumption.

Ronni Kahn AO is a social entrepreneur and founder of Australia’s leading food rescue charity, OzHarvest. Ronni is a passionate advocate and activist renowned for disrupting the food waste landscape in Australia. She leads with purpose and conviction in the spaces of food security and sustainability while also appearing regularly in national media. Her mission to fight food waste and feed hungry people is supported by some of the world’s finest chefs. Ronni is an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) and was named Australian Local Hero of the Year. Her journey is the subject of feature film, Food Fighter directed by Dan Goldberg. In 2020 she co-authored her biography; A Repurposed Life, which was nominated for an ABIA award for Biography Book of the Year.