What if money was created, not by banks in exchange for debt, but by communities in exchange for good deeds? Imagine if we had a monetary system that created, not scarcity, but abundance. One that was designed to offer security for the most vulnerable in our society, rather than preying upon them. One that celebrated the uniqueness of a particular people and place, and supported a shared community vision for economic resilience, security and thriving, rather than exploiting and exporting local sources of wealth to feed a global network of corporate elites.  

Jodi is a regenerative economist, community connector and strategic designer living on Djaara Country. 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.

Double the cars or a new vision for Greater Bendigo? By 2050, our population in Greater Bendigo will hit 200,000. If we continue to build the existing transport system we will have another 80,000 cars on our roads.  This talk will ask what the alternative might look like, what it might cost and how it might impact liveability.  We currently have a choice: we can either let the future happen or we can shape a better transport system. 

Ian is an ecological sustainability practitioner who has inspired and enabled tens of thousands in business, manufacturing, government, schools and communities to move towards a better future.  He believes passionately that at this time in history when every natural system is in decline, it is people and therefore culture change that will gift us a sustainable society.

Every day, as a young person trying to live sustainably, I find myself up against a system that seems designed to prevent me from doing so. I can't shake the feeling that this struggle is entirely unnecessary - if only the system were better, we wouldn't have to work so hard just to achieve the bare minimum. Action is the antidote to despair. It's no use only talking to decision-makers without the backing of our communities. The climate justice movement is a people-powered movement, and without community, it's nothing more than empty slogans. Together, let’s discover how, with “many hands” working together, we can produce our way out of feeling powerless and build a sustainable future.

Ivy is a teenager who has been involved in the social justice advocacy space for the past two years. In that time, she has come to realize that social justice cannot be achieved without environmental justice. By learning from the unique life lessons of older generations and others paving their own path, young people can form their own stance on world issues and use their skillsets to contribute to solutions.

World Heritage is a big idea. It has status and conjures up the Taj Mahal, the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Great Barrier Reef. It can also send shivers down the spine of those wary of heritage protection, over-tourism and exclusive narratives. National governments and high-level experts have dominated this sphere for decades. Now First Peoples, local communities, and the need for sustainable development are taking centre stage.”

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. 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.

Local communities are the engine room in the response to the global biodiversity crisis. Their local knowledge, environmental stewardship and their many hands are critical to forging the solutions at scale that produce healthier river systems, woodlands, soils and native species populations, able to withstand the impacts of climate change. In Central Victoria, a region with more species than all of Europe, communities are working together to restore the ecological functionality of the region at scale. This is empowering many to act in a coordinated way to rapidly restore damaged landscapes and build climate resilience.

Dr Sophie Bickford is a landscape ecologist and environmental historian, leading the Biolinks Alliance, an organisation unleashing the potential of community-led nature repair and collective impact. She has specialist skills in environmental leadership, conservation planning, community engagement and empowerment to act for nature, scientific knowledge brokering, functional landscape repair, strategic planning, conservation finance and collaborative learning and action networks.

Rod has been trying for years to save the situation, but has come to the sad yet inevitable conclusion that we are looking at the extinction of Tim Tams. Rod Quantock OAM is a Melbourne-born pioneer of contemporary Australian comedy. His comic voice is uniquely and remarkably relevant, critical and enlightening. And, as a bonus, funny. Always the passionate, meticulously well-informed, fearless comedian he challenges the corruptions of the world with a uniquely wise yet wonderfully ridiculous brand of stand-up subversion.

Last year in a report UN mentioned that it will take is 132 years from now to achieve gender parity on a global scale. That is 1584 months of women being denied education, that many days to give women a seat on the table. It takes us that many years for us as a society to even stand a chance to work towards a sustainable future. Last year in a report UN mentioned that it will take is 132 years from now to achieve gender parity on a global scale. That is 1584 months of women being denied education, that many days to give women a seat on the table. It takes us that many years for us as a society to even stand a chance to work towards a sustainable future.

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.”

Trees are vital urban infrastructure essential to human development, health and well-being. They are key to the liveability, sustainability and affordability of the places where we live. How is it that at a time of climate change, the number of urban trees and the canopy cover they provide is diminishing in towns and cities every year. Those responsible for these decreases should be held to account. Those presiding over inappropriate development and utility clearing legislation that threatens trees and their canopy cover are negligent in terms of human development, health and well-being: they must be held to account.

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.

How can the wisdom of older generations shape a better world? Drawing from his own experience, growing up in a multi-generational household, Aiden shows how traditions, love, and culture are passed hand to hand, creating a bridge between past and future, highlighting how this exchange of wisdom—whether through family, friends, or mentors—helps us all build a more supportive, connected, and sustainable world.

Aiden is 11 years old and passionate about sharing big ideas to inspire connection and change. Born in Australia to immigrant parents from Hong Kong, Aiden grew up in a multi-generational household where his grandparents played a central role in shaping his values and identity. Fluent in both English and Chinese, Aiden balances school, coding, reading, and designing Mario Maker levels while exploring big philosophical questions with his family. His unique upbringing has given him a love for learning and a deep appreciation for collaboration across generations.

In the small town of Euroa, on a shire of 10,500 people, our theory of change is SOS. We always encourage people to start right where they are, take responsibility for change and organise to effect it, and show what we have done to inspire and enable others to do the same.

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.

Cities: Our Climate Change Superheroes challenges us to reimagine cities as powerful climate solutions rather than just sources of emissions. While national governments debate, cities are becoming command centers for climate action - a role so crucial that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is preparing its first-ever special report focused on cities. Through examples from Bendigo to Singapore, Cathy Oke shows how 13,000 local governments worldwide are already leading bold climate initiatives, often outpacing national action. The future of our climate will be decided in our cities, and every citizen has a role in this transformation.

Dr Cathy Oke OAM is a leading voice in urban sustainability and city leadership, combining 25 years of practical and academic expertise. She serves as Associate Professor in Informed Cities in the Faculty of Architecture Building and Planning and Director of the Melbourne Centre for Cities at the University of Melbourne, while advising the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy on research and innovation. Since 2021, she has co-hosted the ClimateTalks podcast covering the United Nations Climate Conferences. Her twelve years as a Melbourne City Councillor (2008-2020) and contributions to local government and the environment were recognized with an Order of Australia Medal in 2023.

Regarding activism - support and solidarity are only functional when combined with tangible change making. Especially in our digital landscape it's incredibly vital to use our technological privilege to our advantage rather than as a distraction. Who truly makes a lasting impact in our society? Not those who simply want change, but those who put in the effort to achieve it. With the facilitation of social media and online networking, it is more accessible than ever to join a movement of changemakers.

The youngest ever City of Greater Bendigo Youth Mayor, Levity Camilleri is a proud representative of teenage social justice activists. They are a passionate advocate for queer and neurodiverse voices within our region and have successfully founded and run community-based organisations for global peace. Levity lives and works by the core belief that it is our human duty to strive for progress and create positive change in any way we can.

Sustainability isn’t always at the top of everyone’s priority list, and convincing people to adopt environmentally friendly habits can be a challenge. But what if the key to change isn’t persuasion—it’s convenience? Perhaps good design can serve as a Trojan horse for positive environmental impact. When people aren’t naturally inclined to choose sustainability, it’s up to us to make environmentally-friendly choices irresistible by leveraging the transformative power of design.

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.

From a peaceful, disruptive protest to a national movement—how rewilding, reconciliation, and Indigenous leadership hold the key to restoring our forests and securing our future. The solution lies in rewilding, reconciliation, and Indigenous self-determination. Through the Heal Country, Heal Culture program, we’re working alongside Traditional Owners to acquire, restore, and regenerate critical ecosystems, ensuring both environmental and cultural survival. The question is—will we be the generation that lets it all slip away, or the one that stands up to heal our country and culture?

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, Jimmy embodies the statistic, wearing the issue on his face. Jimmy 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."