Women's Climate Conversations online 2021

Scroll down below to read about our eight monthly Women's Climate Conversations online of 2021.

And the series also made the news!
Listen to the following podcasts from Canberra Radio 3CR made by Congress member Rebecca Horridge:
Featuring our July conversation with Jonica Newby and Rebecca Huntley:
Womens Climate Congress Conversation; Strategies for Climate Grief, Climate Communication. | 3CR Community Radio
And featuring our August conversation with Michele Maloney and Mart Graham:
Women's Climate Congress Conversation #6: Listening to First Nations knowledge to inform Earth-centred, collaborative governance
(first broadcast Sat 9 October 2021

Clockwise: Joanne. Janet, Emma, Susan, Jenny

Women's Climate Conversations 2021 #8 (October )
Tuesday 12 October, 12-1.00 pm AEDST online
After the pandemic. What happens next? And why women's leadership is important
Watch the video recording here
Listen to the audio recording
Read the chat here (includes various links relevant to the conversation)

Thanks to Joanne Ede for technical assistance,

For our October online conversation, Congress founding members Dr Jenny Robinson and Dr Janet Salisbury were joined by Dr Emma Dawson (Executive Director, Percapita; co-editor of the book What happens next? Reconstructing Australia after COVID-19) and Professor Susan Harris Rimmer (Director, Griffith University Policy Innovation Hub; co-convenor of the Griffith Gender Equality Research Network; leader of the Climate Justice theme of the new Griffith Climate Action Beacon).

The Black Summer bushfires of 2019-20, which were the impetus for founding the Women’s Climate Congress, already showed that urgent action was needed to stabilise the climate and rebalance the political culture that had brought us to this impasse. Then COVID came along. In this conversation we ask how this health crisis will reshape our thinking. The Black Death of the 14th Century disrupted European society and contributed to the Renaissance. And after the Great Depression and the Second World War, economic thinking was transformed with a determination to create a more equitable society. What will be the legacy of COVID-19? And at this pivotal moment in history, why is it vital for ‘Women Rising’ to inform these changes?

Meet our guest conversationalists
Dr Emma Dawson Emma Dawson is Executive Director of public policy think tank Per Capita. She has worked as a researcher at Monash University and the University of Melbourne; in policy and public affairs for SBS and Telstra; and as a senior policy adviser in the Rudd and Gillard Governments.

Emma has published reports, articles and opinion pieces on a wide range of public policy issues. She is a regular contributor to Guardian Australia, The Age, Independent Australia and The Australian Financial Review, and a frequent guest on various ABC and commercial radio programs nationally. She appears regularly as an expert witness before parliamentary inquiries and often speaks at public events and conferences in Australia and internationally.

Emma is the co-editor, with Professor Janet McCalman, of the collection of essays What happens next? Reconstructing Australia after COVID-19, published by Melbourne University Press in September 2020. She joined the Board of Australia21 in June 2021.

Professor Susan Harris Rimmer
Human rights are the basic minimum protections which every human being should be able to enjoy. Women remain a group who have been denied many basic human rights such as education, right to vote, having their own independent identity, being able to plan families, being protected from violence and achieving equality in the workplace. Susan’s work is about changing this.

As the Director of the Griffith University Policy Innovation Hub, Susan leads the gateway for government, industry and community knowledge partnerships. The Hub provides insights and analysis that help to shape the future of Queensland, Australia and the Asia-Pacific. They collaborate with industry partners such as The Electoral Commission Queensland, CSIA and WOW Women of Australia.

With Professor Sara Davies, Susan is co-convenor of the Griffith Gender Equality Research Network. https://www.griffith.edu.au/research/gender-equality-research-network. Sue also leads the Climate Justice theme of the Griffith Climate Action Beacon. https://www.griffith.edu.au/research/climate-action

Top row L-R: Janet Salisbury, Joanne Ede, Melissa Hart; Bottom L-R: Angela Maharaj, Barbara Baikie

Women's Climate Conversations 2021 #7 (September)
Tuesday 14 September, 5.30-6.30 pm AEDST online
Climate science, women and kindness — connecting the dots
Tuesday 14th September 5.30pm - 6.30pm AEST

Watch the video recording of the conversation
Listen to an audio recording of the conversation (small portion missing from intros)
Read a report of the conversation
Read about the Kindness in Science movement
Read an article about the lack of cultural diversity in science
Find out more about the Homeward Bound women in STEMM leadership program

In this conversation Congress founding members Barbara Baikie and Dr Janet Salisbury talked with climate scientists Associate Professor Melissa Hart and Dr Angela Maharaj about their experiences as climate scientists, the Kindness in Science movement, and Melissa’s experience as a participant on the 2018 Homeward Bound women-in-science leadership residential voyage to Antarctica. Can their ideas and experiences help facilitate deeper respect and understanding between climate scientists and policy makers?
With thanks to Joanne Ede for technical assistance.

Meet our guest conversationalists
Associate Professor Melissa Hart has used her role as Graduate Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science 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 120 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, and the meteorological controls on air pollution. Melissa is a strong advocate for gender equity in science and is the former chair of the Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society’s equity and diversity committee, and a proud participant of the 2018 Homeward Bound Women in STEMM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine) leadership initiative.

Dr Angela Maharaj is an adjunct senior lecturer at the Climate Change Research Centre (CCRC) at the University of New South Wales, Australia and an Associate Investigator with ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes. Angela's work has a discipline and education focus. Her research interests intersect across oceanography and meteorology, and her education expertise includes online education excellence, climate change education and science engagement for lifelong learning across all stages. Angela is passionate about science literacy and is involved in several initiatives which aim to improve links between schools, universities and science research. Angela is a lead investigator on the Schools Weather and Air Quality (SWAQ) Citizen Science project, co-chair of the Science Development Team for the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) Academy
and is the current President of the Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society (AMOS) which is the peak national scientific society representing scientists working in weather, climate and allied fields.

Top L-R: Kirsten, Janet; Middle: L-R Joanne, Michelle; Bottom: Mary

Women's Climate Conversations 2021 #6 (August)
Listening to First Nations knowledge to inform Earth-centred, collaborative governance
Tuesday 10 August , 12-1 pm AEDST online
With guests Dr Mary Graham (Kombu-merri and Wakka Wakka person from SE Queensland) and Dr Michelle Maloney (Co-Founder and National Convenor, Australian Earth Laws Alliance) in conversation with Women's Climate Congress founding members Dr Janet Salisbury and Kirsten Anker.

With thanks to Joanne Ede and Johanna McBride for technical assistance.

Watch the video recording of the conversation
Watch a video clip of Mary Graham speaking about the need to rebalance our western institutions to allow full collaboration of women
Listen to an audio recording of the conversation
Read a report and reflection on the event by Honey Nelson
Read the chat – including many informative links

NEWS!
Listen to this podcast from the Canberra Radio 3CR Earth Matters program presented by Congress member Rebecca Horridge on Sat 9 October 2021 and featuring excerpts from this conversation.
Women's Climate Congress Conversation #6: Listening to First Nations knowledge to inform Earth-centred, collaborative governance

This recent article by Jane Gleeson-White was recommended by Mary Graham during the conversation:
What really counts? How the patriarchy of economics finally tore me apart.
The Guardian, 1 August 2021

About our guest conversationalists
Dr Mary Graham is a Kombu-merri and Wakka Wakka person from SE Queensland with an extended career in First Nations affairs across government agencies, community organisations and universities). She is a Adjunct Assoc Professor at the University of Queensland in the School of Political Science and International Studies (POLSIS), the Schools of Psychology and of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry.

Dr Michelle Maloney is the Co-Founder and National Convenor of the Australian Earth Laws Alliance; Co-Founder and Director of Future Dreaming Australia; and Co-Founder and Director of the New Economy Network Australia.

Mary and Michelle work together on a number of initiatives: they are both directors of Future Dreaming Australia; Mary is a First Nations Adviser for the Australian Earth Laws Alliance, which Michelle leads; and Michelle is working closely with Mary and other First Nations leaders on the Regenerative Songlines Australia initiative.

Rebecca Huntley

Jonica Newby

Women's Climate Conversations 2021 #5 (July)
Women’s voices changing the public conversation on climate change
Tuesday 6 July, 12-1.15 pm AEDST online
Watch the video recording of the conversation
Listen to an audio recording of the conversation
Two buckets: Watch a video of Jonica Newby reading a passage from her book Beyond climate grief
Two Buckets: Listen to an audio recording
Read the chat with many interesting idea/links

And listen to a podcast from Canberra Radio 3CR made by Congress member Rebecca Horridge:
Womens Climate Congress Conversation; Strategies for Climate Grief, Climate Communication. | 3CR Community Radio

Our First Tuesday online conversation for July featured Dr Rebecca Huntley (author, How to talk about climate change in a way that makes a difference) and Dr Jonica Newby (author, Beyond climate grief: a journey of love, snow, fire and an enchanted beer can) in conversation with Congress founding members, Dr Janet Salisbury and Lyn Stephens.

Rebecca and Jonica’s recent books approach talking about climate change from two different ’directions’ with Rebecca’s focus on connecting emotionally to communicate with others, and Jonica’s on managing our own emotional load.

About our guest conversationalists
Dr Jonica Newby is a science reporter, author, TV presenter and director best known for her two decades on ABC TV’s popular weekly science program, Catalyst. She has twice won the Eureka Award, Australia’s most prestigious science journalism prize, and is a recipient of a World TV Award. Known for presenting stories with a rare honesty and intimacy, Jonica’s current book, Beyond climate grief: a journey of love, snow, fire and an enchanted beer can, charts her struggles navigating the emotional turmoil of climate change.

Dr Rebecca Huntley is one of Australians foremost researchers on social trends. She holds degrees in law and film studies and a PhD in Gender Studies and was an adjunct senior lecturer at the School of Social Sciences at The University of New South Wales.
For nearly 9 years Rebecca was the Director of The Mind & Mood Report, Australia's longest running social trends report. She has lead research at Essential Media and Vox Populi, part of the CIRCA research group, before starting her own research and consultancy business. She works closely with The Sunrise Movement on the Climate Compass Project as well as with many other climate and environment NGOs.
She is the author of numerous books, notably How to Talk About Climate Change in a Way that Makes a Difference (Murdoch books, 2020). She is also a sought after speaker at writers’ festivals, has presented many radio shows, and has written extensively for essay collections, magazines, newspapers and online publications. She has also held a number of board positions, including for The Bell Shakespeare Company, The Whitlam Institute, The Dusseldorp Forum and the NSW Branch of the ALP. The mother of three girls, Rebecca is the Chair of the Advisory Board of Australian Parents for Climate Action.

Top row L-R: Janet Salisbury, Joanne Ede, Kirsten Anker; Bottom row L-R: Sarah Bachelard, Lynne Reeder

Women's Climate Conversations 2021 #4 (June)
Finding compassion in public discourse and policy making
Tuesday June 1st 12-1 pm AEDST online
Watch the video here
Read the Chat - with responses from guest speakers/hosts
Read a report/reflection on the event by WCC member Honey Nelson
Lysistrata quote from Kirsten's introduction
One of the Women’s Climate Congress values statements states ‘ We assert that qualities of the heart (such as compassion, love, empathy and forgiveness) are the basis for true strength. These human laws must be reactivated for us to survive.’
In this online conversation, Dr Lynne Reeder (National Director of the Australian Compassion Council) and Revd Dr Sarah Bachelard (founder of Benedictus Contemplative Church based in Canberra) talked with Congress founding members Dr Janet Salisbury and Kirsten Anker about how we can tap into the ‘true strength’ that is revealed through compassion, empathy, love kindness and forgiveness, to overcome our currently adversarial public discourse and set humanity on a safer path. And we will be introduced to the new evidence base from disciplines such as neuroscience, social psychology and evolutionary biology where research increasingly identifies compassion as a motivator creating patterns in our brains that organize our motives, emotions, thoughts and actions.
With Thanks to Joanne Ede for technical assistance.

About our guest conversationalists
Dr Lynne Reeder is the National Director of the Australian Compassion Council and a member of the global Board of Trustees for the Charter for Compassion, International. With other members of the Australian Compassion Council, she is developing the strategic plan and structures to facilitate the work of the Charter for Compassion in Australia. In addition to supporting the creation of Charter cities and compassion sectors across Australia, Lynne also established a national compassion scholar’s network to bring together the leading Australian compassion researchers, and has organised a number of forums examining the evidence base of compassion with the University of Sydney’s Business School. Her recent compassion research, includes a randomised control trial of the early childhood program, Think Equal, in conjunction with the Centre for Emotional Intelligence at Yale University.
Revd Dr Sarah Bachelard is founder of Benedictus Contemplative Church based in Canberra and a retreat leader and theologian. She is a member of the World Community for Christian Meditation and has taught contemplative prayer nationally and internationally, with a focus on the relationship between spiritual practice and an integral ecology. She is the author of Experiencing God in a Time of Crisis, Resurrection and Moral Imagination and A Contemplative Christianity for Our Time.

Top L-R: Barbara, Janet; Middle: Millie, Joanne; Bottom: Julie

Women's Climate Conversations 2021 #3 (May)
Listening as we go: connecting over shared values despite difference
4 May , 12.00-1.00pm AEDST online
Imagine waking up in the country of your dreams... What does it look like, smell like, feel like? What does it mean to truly listen to the futures people want and how can this be done across difference?
Watch a video of this lively conversation here
Read the chat here
In this event, Women’s Climate Congress founding members Janet Salisbury and Barbara Baikie were joined by Millie Rooney, National Coordinator at Australia reMADE, and Julie Lyford OAM, leader of many sustainable futures initiatives in her community of Gloucester, NSW, to talk about their experience of working across differences for a wonderful shared future. We'll be talking about hope, listening, collaboration and the power that comes with connecting with others and standing up for what we believe is right. Millie and Julie met at a Women's Environmental Leadership Australia training and have since shared cups of tea of joy and sadness, elation and frustration. They have collaborated on events and continued to support each other in the different work that we do.
With Thanks to Joanne Ede for technical assistance.

About our guest conversationalists:
Dr Millie Rooney is the National Coordinator for Australia reMADE, a network of civil society individuals and organisations promoting a vision of the country we’re aiming for, and the systems change needed to create it. Millie has a teaching and qualitative research background and has worked in and around universities for over fifteen years. She is passionate about supporting people to translate ideas into action and helping them to learn to lead from where they are. Millie is also a carer for her family and community and is passionate about acknowledging this as a valid, valuable and legitimate use of her time.
Julie Lyford OAM is a strong, dedicated and experienced advocate for rural and regional communities. As a former registered nurse, local councillor and mayor, Julie is committed to the core values that build progressive and resilient societies. Her priorities are sustainable, liveable communities with fair, transparent and trustworthy political processes. Julie has extensive board and decision-making experience with Hunter Councils, Regional Development Australia (Hunter), Midcoast Water, Upper Hunter Arts, tourism and economic development committees. As a young mother concerned about climate change, Julie co-founded the Gloucester Environment Group in 1990 and went on to chair Groundswell Gloucester; a volunteer team protecting the Gloucester and Manning Valley from coal and coal seam gas extraction.

Top L-R: Janet, Lyn; Middle: Val, Rhian; Bottom: Joanne

Women's Climate Conversations 2021 #2 (April)
Building a unified national agreement for Australia’s climate response
To hear how the Women’s Climate Congress can promote nonpartisan collaboration to develop a national approach for climate action, join us for our April Tuesday online conversation
Tuesday 13 April, 5.30-6.30pm AEDST
Watch the recording here
Read the Chat here
Read more about the Bega Cheese story here
In this event hosted by Congress founding member Lyn Stephens, Congress Founder, Dr Janet Salisbury, was in conversation with Rhiân Williams, a highly experienced dispute systems design practitioner with over 30 years’ experience in large scale public policy dispute resolution processes, and Val Lang AM, who has contributed significantly to the Rural Women’s Movement over many years particularly through the Foundation for Australian Agricultural Women. Rhiân and Val have worked together in the past to bring rural women from across the sector together for united action. . With Thanks to Joanne Ede for technical assistance.

About our guest conversationalists
Rhiân Williams is a dispute systems design practitioner whose work focuses on supporting governments and others to transition from adversarial to collaborative dispute resolution mechanisms. Her work centres on projects that extend the capacity of individuals and communities in creating partnerships to support dialogue and mutual problem solving. She is particularly skilled in working in highly diverse contexts ranging from remote Indigenous communities through to senior executives in the Australian Public service and business and in developing programs that support those engaged in complex, challenging and changing environments.
Val Lang AM is a life member of Australian Women in Agriculture. Val lives in rural Victoria and continues to be active in agriculture, environment and community engagement. Val has formal training in agriculture, education and leadership and director experience in health, philanthropy and catchment management. She has a special interest in how contentious issues can be discussed in a community while the community can still stay together.

Top L-R: Lyn, Cristina Bottom L-R: Janet, Kim

Women's Climate Conversations 2021 #1 (March)
How can women’s leadership inspire collaborative national action on climate change?
An International Women's Day event
Tues 2 March 2021, 12 -1 pm AEST, online
Featuring: Cristina Talacko, Chairperson of Coalition for Conservation
Dr Kim Loo, NSW GP, NSW Chair, Doctors for the Environment Australia and the Citizen's Climate Lobby
In conversation with Dr Janet Salisbury, Founder of the Women's Climate Congress; hosted by Congress founding member Lyn Stephens.
With Thanks to Joanne Ede for technical assistance.
Watch the recording of this event here

About out guest conversationalists
Dr Kim Loo is a doctor working as a GP practice in the Riverstone Family Medial Practice in Western Sydney where she has worked as leading member of the team for over 20 years - providing long-term continuity of care for her patients. She is Chair of the NSW chapter of Doctors for the Environment and has worked tirelessly to communicate about the impacts that climate change on public health. She is also active in other community groups working to enable a safe climate future including Hills 4 Climate Action – a community group based in NW Sydney, and the Australian branch of the Citizens Climate Lobby – which is a bipartisan/multipartisan initiative first started in the US but now with an active Australian presence.

Cristina Talacko is the Chair of the Centre right organisation Coalition for Conservation – a movement for conservatives who support decarbonisation and protection of the environment. She has a corporate legal background and extensive experience in executive boards and management of not-for-profit associations, including various energy & renewables boards including the think-tank Beyond Zero Emissions. She is Vice President of NSW Women’s Council and Secretary of the NSW Energy and Environment Policy Branch. Cristina is also a business woman and founded SalDoce Fine Foods, manufacturing allergen sensitive foods to Australia and export She is also one of the owners of the organic foods retail stores Naked Foods. She is passionate about the environment, female empowerment and diversity.