I was delighted this morning to co-host my second networking event for Women in Climate and Health. This year's event was themed 'reducing consumption'. Again this year, the event was made possible by the generous contributions of Dr Sophie Lewis, Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment, and Dr Arnagretta Hunter, Physician and Cardiologist and Human Futures Fellow at the ANU. Ms Selina Walker provided a Welcome to Country.
Our guest presenters were:
- Dr Melinda Dodson - Founder of the Canberra Low Carbon Housing Challenge;
- Mr Chris Dennis - Founder and Managing Director of the Two Before Ten Group of companies; and
- Ms Serina Bird - The Joyful Frugalista
We had a really engaging session, with a great Q and A with women who attended. A copy of the speech I provided is available beneath the speaker's bios.
I look forward to next year's breakfast already!
About the speakers and hosts
Dr Melinda Dodson is the founder of the Canberra Low Carbon Housing Challenge. Melinda has dedicated 20+years to lowering carbon in buildings; advocating for sustainable cities as Australian Institute of Architects ACT then National President; in advisory roles to governments on demonstration and ‘climate-wise’ housing; through her PhD on compact housing liveability; and by delivering 80+lower carbon houses and 30+adaptive reuse projects through her practice Melinda Dodson Architects. Her work has been recognised through grants and competition-wins.
The Canberra Low Carbon Housing Challenge is a volunteer non-profit initiative. Our mission is to help reduce housing carbon emissions by researching and sharing low carbon design features found in architect-designed houses. We provide support to architects to carbon model their low and net-zero carbon housing designs. An exhibition of 2021 entrants, winners and 'fast facts' can be seen at https://www.lowcarbonhousing.com.au/
Mr Chris Dennis is the founder and Managing Director of the Two Before Ten Group of companies, which operates a variety of business in the hospitality industry.
After opening a small café with a friend in 2008, Chris spent the first five years fervently driving himself towards bankruptcy in a mission to learn as much as he could about how NOT to run a business. In the absence of any formal business education, it seemed the simplest way to prepare himself for future success.
Nowadays, things are tracking better, with the group employing 100 people across a dozen businesses including cafes, coffee roastery, bar, wellness studio, management consultancy and an urban farm in the Canberra suburbs.
The group aims to operate in a sustainable way; in the broadest possible definition of that word – it’s not just about saving the planet; it’s about caring for its people – our suppliers, our customers and our staff.
Ms Serina Bird is former diplomat who is author of The Joyful Frugalista, host of The Joyful Frugalista podcast and now the author of The Joyful Startup Guide. Her frugalista advice includes tips for the home that help save money - and also the environment. Serina is a former Savvy Shopper columnist for The Daily Telegraph, and is a freelance writer for Money Magazine and Canstar, and her articles have appeared in Mamamia, HerCanberra, The Daily Telegraph, Australia’s Best Recipes and Kidspot. She is frequently asked to write and comment on issues around food waste, especially in the context of high grocery prices. She is also the founder of the online marketplace for buying and selling second-hand clothing, The Joyful Fashionista, co-founder of Founders Alliance and serves as Regional Ambassador Pan Pacific for Women's Entrepreneurship Day Organization.
Speeches
- 21 June 2022 - Welcome address
7 April 2022
Speeches
- 7 April 2022 - Response to Executive Motion on World Health Day in the ACTs Legislative Assembly
10 June 2021
On 10 June 2021 I hosted the 'Women in Climate and Health Breakfast - communities tackling climate change, in conjunction with the Office of the Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment.
Dr Arnagretta Hunter (physician and cardiologist, ANU Climate Change Institute) led a panel discussion with Ms Edwina Robinson, Dr Hedda Ransan-Cooper and Ms Beth Mitchell to hear from these government, community and parent leaders about how they're tackling the challenges of climate change in their local area.
Ms Violet Sheridan provided a Welcome to Country.
Edwina Robinson founded The Climate Factory in 2019 after Australia had its hottest and driest summer on record.
In 2020-21, she created Canberra’s first urban community micro-forest - a dense pocket of native vegetation designed to cool the landscape and return native species to the suburbs. This urban sanctuary transformed a dusty, weedy park in Downer, and has inspired the Watson community to raise $53,000 for their own micro-forest and nature play space.
With more micro-forests lined up for other parts of Canberra, Edwina’s vision is to build a micro-forest in every hot place where people gather in Australia.
Dr Hedda Ransan-Cooper leads the social research activity at the Battery Storage and Grid Integration program at ANU. In her work, she explores how the community voice can be better represented in decision making and technology design of energy systems.
Hedda's research has covered various dimensions of sustainability transitions, primarily in the areas of migration and energy change.
Beth Mitchell is the Director for Asset Strategies in the ACT Education Directorate, responsible for coordinating efforts for ACT’s public schools to transition to a zero-emission future.
As a Sustainability Professional with extensive experience Beth’s career journey has covered diverse settings, including remote and urban Indigenous communities, rural industries, sustainable procurement, tourism and urban planning.
Beth’s mantra is ‘Think Again’. She enjoys challenging conventional practice to develop creative approaches that align the unique economic, social and environmental characteristics, and objectives of clients.
In the ACT, Beth is an author of the Australian National University Biodiversity Management Plan, the inaugural University of Canberra Sustainability Strategy, and ‘Life in the Suburbs – Urban Habitat Guidelines for the ACT’.
Speeches
- 10 June 2021 - Welcome address
