Clean Energy Transformation Q&A

As part of Global Climate Change Week, University of Wollongong have formed an organizing committee to facilitate a suite of activities and events to engage across faculties, policy makers and the whole community to inspire behaviour change and political transformation in relation to climate policy. This particular event is co-sponsored and organized by Healthy Cities Illawarra.

Given this year’s challenges on the east coast of Australia with ‘energy’, the transition to renewables and the need for a net-zero environment, we are holding a local Illawarra version of Q&A to stimulate conversation and also provide factual information to the community. Your host and expert facilitator is Laura Wells. Laura Wells is an Environmentalist, presenter and one of Australia’s top plus size models. Holding degrees in both Biology and Law, qualifications in Environmental management systems and currently studying a Diploma of Paramedical Science; Laura’s passion for the environment, love for the ocean and interest in facilitating climate change action has led her to become a positive role model, advocate and ambassador for change.

MC:

Laura Wells is an Environmentalist, presenter, Science communicator and one of Australia’s top models. She holds degrees in both Biology and Law and qualifications in Environmental management systems. She is a proud advocate for environmental change and believes in the importance of educating people not only on the issues, but focusing on solutions, to empower individuals to create change.

Panelists:

Kate Minter is the General Manager of Rewiring Australia, a research and advocacy organisation set up to make mass and rapid electrification a reality. Kate’s background is in research and campaigning on pressing social equity issues including women’s safety and the rights of migrant workers.

Dr Rochelle Macdonald became Executive General Manager of Squadron Energy in June 2022, an Australian-owned energy company, dedicated to accelerating the decarbonisation of Australia’s economy. Prior to that, she was the chief executive of Sea Swift, Northern Australia’s largest shipping company. She spent nearly three years as chief executive of Mid West Ports Authority in Geraldton, and held senior management positions at North Queensland Bulk Ports and the Dampier (Pilbara) Port Authority.

Warwick Peel was recently the APAC Executive for a global tech company who were the 1st carbon neutral company in their industry. A longstanding entrepreneur across four climate related ventures, he is an advisor to startups, mentor to Inspiring Rarebirds Female Founders, Co-Founder of social enterprise Entrepreneurs&Co. He holds an international Masters of Business from Swinburne University, and Northeastern University, Boston. Warwick is a Climate Reality Leader trained by Al Gore in 2014, he is SDGs Lead for the Global Entrepreneur Congress in Melbourne, May 2023, and he is passionate about social enterprise and enacting entrepreneurship towards climate action and SDGs. He is also a board member for United Nations Association (Victoria) and co-chair of United Nations Association national climate committee.

Yael Stone is best known for playing Lorna Morello in seven seasons of the multiply- awarded Netflix series, Orange Is the New Black. She is a proud ambassador for AIME, and has written for The Guardian, The Sydney Morning Herald, Elle and Vogue, and Junkee. In Jan 2020 at the height of the Australian bushfires, Yael announced that she would be abandoning her US Green Card, returning home to Australia as a symbol of her commitment to reducing CO2 emissions. Since then Yael founded Hi Neighbour; an organisation that uses solar projects to fund scholarships for local workers training for Technical Low Carbon jobs. Yael is studying Sustainable Communities at University of Wollongong.