Climate Solutions Centre Advisory Group

The Climate Solutions Centre is headed up by Kim McKay, Director & CEO of the Australian Museum along with the Executive Leadership Team and is managed by Dr Jenny Newell.

An Advisory Group has been appointed, bringing together twenty-two of Australia’s greatest minds in climate solutions. The Advisory Group members will help guide and inform the CSC’s programs.

Dr Gab Abramowitz

Dr Gab Abramowitz is an Associate Professor at UNSW Sydney who works with climate observations and models to try to understand how models might give us meaningful information about our future climate. In particular, he is interested in how to synthesize the different information that different modelling approaches provide, as well as the use of machine learning or empirical approaches in climate-related applications. He has a background in mathematics, physics and philosophy.

Dr Jilda Andrews

Dr Jilda Andrews is a Yuwaalaraay cultural practitioner and museum ethnographer based in Canberra, Australia. Jilda draws from her heritage to recognize the cultural ecologies surrounding objects in museum collections. Her focus on material culture and their cultural worlds continue to push the definition of custodianship, from one that focuses on the preservation of objects, to one that is active in maintaining connections between cultural material and the dynamic systems that produce them. Jilda is a research fellow with the National Museum of Australia and the Australian National University, based in the Research School of Humanities and the Arts. Her recent museum projects include conceptual development and production of the National Museum of Australia’s permanent gallery of Environmental History (2022).

Nerida Bradley

Nerida Bradley works across all areas of GreenCollar to ensure operations align with GreenCollar’s strategic vision and business needs. She brings extensive legal, governance, project development and stakeholder engagement experience. Prior to joining GreenCollar, Nerida led organisations in the not for profit sector and teams in various government agencies. She also has considerable business management, strategy and corporate experience. Nerida has worked across many parts of Australia and is guided by a drive to see large scale environmental improvement become accessible and beneficial for people, business, regional and indigenous communities and the economy more broadly.

Teri Calder

Teri Calder is the Producer of Impact and Partnerships in ABC Factual and Culture and leads a team that produce impact campaigns alongside factual television programs. The team develop community partnerships and produce stories and resources for multiple ABC platforms that engage audience to participate in real-world positive impact, create social cohesion and extend national conversations.

Dr Rebecca Colvin

Dr Rebecca Colvin is a social scientist and senior lecturer with the Resources, Environment & Development Group at the ANU Crawford School of Public Policy. Bec researches the social and political dimensions of contentious issues associated with climate policy and energy transition. Her research is focused on understanding the complexity of how different people and groups engage with social, policy, and political conflict about climate and energy issues, particularly through the theoretical lens of the social identity approach. She has explored conflict about wind energy, coal seam gas, coal, and climate policy and energy transition more broadly, in settings ranging from the public sphere through to local communities.

Dr Bronwyn Darlington

Dr Bronwyn Darlington has more than 25 years industry experience in a variety of sectors, including senior roles in mining, engineering, agriculture, local government, community legal practice, finance, and textile and apparel design and manufacturing. She also has significant small business experience as a serial entrepreneur. Her latest deep tech venture, Agscent Pty Ltd, is applying nanotechnology to digitize the breath of cows in order to detect pregnancy at a very early stage.

Bronwyn also teaches at the Sydney University Business School. Courses have included Startups and New Opportunities and Business Innovation and Sustainability. Bronwyn currently leads the ‘Finding Opportunity in Disruption’ module of the Global Executive MBA (US) and the business lead on the interdisciplinary Unit ‘Inventing the Future’ which brings post graduate students and academics together from Business, Science, Engineering and Design to invent a deep tech solution to a critical real-world problem.

Lauren Drake

Lauren Drake has global experience in environmental markets and has deep legal and advisory experience in climate law and finance, renewable energy and commercial contracts. She was an Associate in Baker McKenzie’s Global Environmental Markets Practice, advising governments, companies and multi-lateral financial institutions on climate change law and policy. Her focus included implementation of the Paris Agreement and legal readiness for climate finance and investment, along with advice on carbon market design and transactions (including REDD+) and emissions trading. Lauren also advised multinational renewable energy developers on large-scale renewable energy projects and has experience working for a renewable energy developer and the International Energy Agency in Paris, where she focused on best practice policy frameworks for supporting renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

Sam Elsom

Sam Elsom is a passionate environmentalist with over 15 years' experience in sustainability. Having founded one of Australia’s first sustainable apparel businesses to measuring social and environmental impact across supply chains as well as implementing a satellite factory in India to support poor communities with income, training, clean water and education. Sam was drawn to explore seaweed cultivation for its impressive capacity to sequester CO2 as a potential solution to reverse Climate Change.

Professor Tim Flannery

Professor Tim Flannery is one of Australia’s leading writers on climate change. An internationally acclaimed scientist, explorer and conservationist, Professor Flannery was named Australian of the Year in 2007.

Professor Flannery has held various academic positions including Professor at the University of Adelaide, director of the South Australian Museum in Adelaide, Principal Research Scientist at the Australian Museum and Visiting Chair in Australian Studies at Harvard University in the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology.

Dr Saul Griffith

Dr Saul Griffith is an inventor, author, and founder of multiple companies and non-profits. He has led projects for agencies including NASA, DARPA, National Science Foundation and more. He has founded and co-founded multiple successful companies, including one acquired by Google, another by Autodesk, and another by a consortium of vehicle manufacturers including Toyota. In 2007 he was awarded a Macarthur Fellowship, the so-called ‘Genius Grant’, for inventions in the service of humanity.

A/Professor Melissa Hart

A/Professor Melissa Hart has used her role as Graduate Director in the ARC Centres of Excellence for Climate System Science and Climate Extremes to develop a national, cross-institutional graduate program which has reimagined the traditional Australian PhD. With a vital combination of breadth, depth, support, and collaboration, the program has provided over 160 PhD students with the skills, knowledge, and experience fundamental to developing world leading climate science researchers.

Melissa’s research looks at the impact of cities on climate and climate on cities, in particular the impact of land-use, surface characteristics and anthropogenic activities on the climate of cities, and quantification of the magnitude of urban heating. She also works in the area of air pollution meteorology, in particular air pollution impacts from hazards reduction burns. Melissa leads the citizen science project- SWAQ (Schools Weather and Air Quality) which has improved urban weather and air quality measurements around Sydney by placing meteorological and air quality sensors in its schools.

Christine Holman

Christine Holman has more than 20 years’ of extensive commercial and Board experience across a variety of areas including mergers and acquisitions, finance, sales, technology, digital transformations and marketing.

Christine currently serves on the Board of ASX companies, CSR Ltd and Blackmores Limited and the Boards of the Moorebank Intermodal Company and Moorebank Nominees Trust (Moorebank Precinct Nominees Pty Ltd), which are Federal Government Business Enterprises. She also sits on the Boards of The Bradman Foundation, the ICC T20 Cricket World Cup and The State Library of NSW Foundation.

In her previous executive capacity, as both CFO & Commercial Director of Telstra Broadcast Services, Christine brings a deep understanding of legacy and emerging technologies supported by a detailed knowledge of strategies related to growing businesses and digital transformations.

Christine holds a Masters in Business Administration and a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from Macquarie University and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors’ Company Directors Course. Christine is a member of the Chief Executive Women (CEW).

Professor Lesley Hughes

Professor Lesley Hughes is Professor Emerita in Biology at Macquarie University. Her principal research interests have been the impacts of climate change on species and ecosystems and the implications for conservation. She is a former Lead Author in the IPCC’s 4th and 5th Assessment Report, a former federal Climate Commissioner, a member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, a Councillor with the Biodiversity Council of Australia, a Director of the Environmental Defenders Office, and a Councillor and Director of the Climate Council of Australia. She has recently been appointed as a member of the Climate Change Authority.

Dr Rebecca Huntley

Dr Rebecca Huntley is one of Australia’s foremost researchers on social trends. She holds degrees in law and film studies and a PhD in Gender Studies. She has lead research at Essential Media and Vox Populi and was a director at Ipsos Australia. For a number of years, she ran her own research and consultancy firm working closely with climate and environment NGOs, government and business on climate change strategy and communication. She is now Director of Research at the agency 89DegreesEast. She is the author of numerous books including How to Talk About Climate Change in a Way that Makes a Difference (Murdoch books, 2020). She is the Chair of the Advisory Board of Australian Parents for Climate Action. She is a member of the Advisory Group for the Climate Solutions Centre at the Australian Museum and the Sydney Environment Institute.

A/Professor Brent Jacobs

A/Professor Brent Jacobs is a Research Director in the UTS-Institute for Sustainable Futures working in climate change adaptation, landscapes and ecosystems, and food systems. He has a background in agricultural science, a decade of experience in the natural resource sector in NSW Government, and his current research interests include vulnerability, transformation, and adaptive capacity of communities to support climate change adaptation. He led the Adaptive Communities Node of the NSW Climate Change Adaptation Research Hub.

Tim Jarvis AM

Tim Jarvis AM is an environmental scientist, author, adventurer and public speaker with Masters degrees in environmental science and environmental law. He is committed to finding pragmatic solutions to major environmental issues related to climate change and biodiversity loss. He uses his public speaking engagements, films and books about his expeditions/work to progress thinking in these areas.

Tishiko King

Tishiko King is a proud Kulkalaig woman from the Island of Masig, Kulkalgal Nation of Zenadth Kes. Tish is the Campaigns Director at Seed Indigenous Youth Climate Network and collaborates on the campaign Our Islands Our Home as an organiser. Based in Naarm, Tish is spirited about sharing culture and amplifying social inequality and the rights of First Nations people. During her studies in Ocean Science on the Gold Coast, Tish became passionate and actively involved with grassroots environmental groups and rallies across Australia and overseas. With experience across different industries at CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere and the exploration and minerals industry, Tish brings a diverse perspective of First Nations and environmental justice.

Tricia Lorenzo

Tricia Lorenzo works for Flow Power, an innovative energy retailer disrupting the energy market. Lorenzo is a business person and environmentalist, she believes the biggest levers to averting a climate crisis can be made by businesses. She has over 12 years’ experience working in, government, mining, health, construction, property and manufacturing sectors. Having worked in the energy and sustainability industry both in Australia and overseas, she is passionate about finding low carbon solutions for businesses. Studying for MBA in Sustainable Business.

Richie Merzian

Richie Merzian has been the inaugural Climate & Energy Program Director at The Australia Institute for the past four and a half years. During his time there he helped make the case for smart energy solutions in electricity and transport public policy, while challenging roadblocks like EV taxes, fossil fuels subsidies and dodgy international (Kyoto) credits.

Prior to this Richie was an Australian Government representative to the UN climate change conference for almost a decade and helped coordinate the Green Climate Fund Board during Australia’s tenure as Chair. Going forward he will be gearing into the huge international opportunities available to Australia, including the potential hosting of a UN climate conference (COP31).

Dr Negin Nazarian

Dr Negin Nazarian is a Scientia Senior Lecturer at UNSW Built Environment, Associate Investigator at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes, and CFRC fellow at the City Futures Research Centre. Negin is an urban climatologist evaluating the ways the built environment interacts with the climate, and in return, how urban dwellers are affected by this interaction. She leads the Climate-Resilient Cities (CRC) research lab, a multidisciplinary group focused on pressing challenges of urban climate (particularly urban heat exposure and ventilation) using a range of established and emerging methods such as climate modeling, environmental sensing, and IoT technologies. Her research is particularly focused on two streams: a) multiscale urban climate modeling and urban canopy parameterizations, and b) urban climate informatics for enhancing personal heat exposure assessments. Dr. Nazarian is a graduate of the University of California San Diego and before joining UNSW in 2020, was the SMART Scholar at the MIT-led group in Singapore.

Blair Palese

Blair Palese is global climate editor at Climate & Capital Media, focused on the trends, investment opportunities and innovators of the emerging climate economy. She is also the Director of Philanthropy at investment firm Ethinvest, overseeing the company’s foundation and supporting the charitable giving of clients. Blair has consulted to organisations including the C40 Cities for Climate Action, Climate Institute, Australian Museum’s Climate Solutions Centre and with Google X’s climate moonshot team. In 2009, Blair founded 350.org Australia and was CEO for 10 years. Previously she was Communications Director for Greenpeace International and head of PR at The Body Shop.

Audrey Quicke

Audrey Quicke is a smart transport advocate, with five years of experience in climate change research and advocacy. Prior to joining the Smart Energy Council, Audrey led the transport decarbonisation research at the Australia Institute. She has authored research on Australian attitudes to climate change, transport decarbonisation and electric vehicle policy, including a published book chapter comparing Norwegian and Australian EV policy.

She is passionate about making transport clean, smart, safe, equitable and accessible for everyone. Audrey trained as an Al Gore Climate Reality Leader and holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Environment in Environmental Management and Climate Science.

Professor Peter Ralph

Professor Peter Ralph is the Executive Director of the Climate Change Cluster (C3), an institute that through science and discovery is delivering new insights into the environmental response to climate change and transforming these into innovative solutions to mitigate or prevent further ecosystem damage. The institute is 14 years old and has over 90 staff and students. Peter has 25+ years of experience in aquatic photosynthesis research (algal biotechnology, seagrass, corals and sea-ice algae) collaborating internationally within the education, research, and industry sectors as well as NGOs and start-ups, to deliver a sustainable, circular bioeconomy. He has a patent in the foodtech sector and several patents pending.

Craig Reucassel

Craig Reucassel is an Australian writer, comedian and broadcaster. Craig and a group of friends founded The Chaser newspaper, which led to a number of ABC TV Chaser programs, including The Election Chaser, CNNNN, The Chaser's War on Everything, The Hamster Wheel and the satirical consumer affairs show The Checkout. As well as his TV work, Craig has worked at triple j with fellow Chaser Chris Taylor and acted in David Williamson's Jack of Hearts and Tim Firth's Neville's Island at The Ensemble Theatre. In 2017 and 2018, he presented the multi award-winning ABC TV series War on Waste. In 2020, Craig presented the ABC TV documentary series Fight for Planet A and Big Weather (and how to survive it).

David Rickards OAM

David Rickards OAM is Co-Founder of Social Enterprise Finance Australia (SEFA) and for the period 2006 - 2016 was a Director and Treasurer of Bush Heritage Australia. David has over 25 years of equity market experience, most recently as an Executive Director at Macquarie Group where David was head of equities research globally as well as equity strategy since 1989 until he retired in mid-2013. David was also a Consultant for the financial analysis firm Barra International.

David holds a Masters of Business Administration majoring in Accounting and Finance from the University of Queensland as well as two Bachelor degrees, one in Engineering (Civil and Structural) from the University of Sydney, and a Bachelor’s degree in Science (Pure Mathematics and Geology).

David received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2021 for his service to the not-for-profit sector, and to the environment.

Anna Rose

Anna Rose is an author and campaigner who has worked for two decades to help Australia make progress on climate change. She is Founder and CEO of Environmental Leadership Australia, a Director of Farmers for Climate Action, a Governor of WWF-Australia, author of the book "Madlands: A Journey to Change the Mind of a Climate Sceptic" and co-starred in the ABC documentary "I Can Change Your Mind on Climate Change". Anna is a Churchill Fellow, a former Myer Foundation Innovation Fellow, an Associate at Melbourne University Sustainable Society Institute and a Visiting Fellow at the ANU Climate Change Centre. She is an advisory board member of the University of Queensland’s Global Change Institute and a former Director of Solar Citizens, Green Music Australia and the Aussie Farmers Foundation.

Professor Veena Sahajwalla

Professor Veena Sahajwalla is an internationally recognised materials scientist, engineer, and inventor revolutionising recycling science. She is renowned for pioneering the high temperature transformation of waste in the production of a new generation of ‘green materials’ at the UNSW Sustainable Materials Research and Technology (SMaRT) Centre, where she is Founding Director.

Professor Veena is the inventor of polymer injection technology, known as green steel, an eco-friendly process for using recycled tyres in steel production. In 2018, Veena launched the world’s first e-waste MICROfactorieTM and in 2019 she launched her plastics and Green Ceramics MICROfactoriesTM, a recycling technology breakthrough.

Veena is the director of the ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub for ‘microrecycling’, a leading national research centre that works in collaboration with industry to ensure new recycling science is translated into real world environmental and economic benefits. Professor Veena has also been appointed hub leader of the national NESP Sustainable Communities and Waste Hub.

Professor Katerina Teaiwa

Professor Katerina Teaiwa is an interdisciplinary scholar, artist and award winning teacher of Banaban, I-Kiribati and African American heritage born and raised in Fiji. She is Professor of Pacific Studies in the School of Culture, History and Language, College of Asia and the Pacific, and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Katerina was founder and convener of the first Pacific Studies teaching program at ANU, Head of Gender, Media and Cultural Studies in CHL, founder of the ANU Pasifika Australia Outreach Program, and co-founder and co-chair of the ANU Family Friendly Committee. From 2020-2022 she was Deputy Director - Higher Degree Research Training in CHL.