Listening as we go: connecting over shared values despite difference, My 2021

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?

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.