Kate Auty is a lawyer, environmentalist and regional community contributor.  

She has been active in campaigns to inform about climate change, resist inappropriate infrastructure, avoid poker machine installations, and promote Indigenous constitutional recognition. 

She is a member of community groups that have taken out Premier's Sustainability Awards. 

Kate has held roles as environment commissioner (Victoria and the ACT) and as a Koori and community Court judicial officer (Victoria and WA). She was the chair of the Banksia Foundation and is the chair of the Victorian EPA board.  Kate also co-chairs the Open Government Partnership multistakeholder forum (Australia). 

Kate's theory of change is start right where you are, organise and take responsibility, and show what you did to encourage others.

Executive Officer, Bendigo Sustainability Group

Mel is a community builder passionate about helping people reach their full potential so they can take action on the issues that matter – like the climate and nature crises.

She founded a community group from scratch, growing it to 30 regular members while mentoring four emerging leaders across different areas. The group continues to thrive today.

As the Executive Officer of Bendigo Sustainability Group, Mel has led projects like the Community Power Hub, overseeing renewable energy initiatives across the Loddon Mallee region.

Those who know Mel describe her as a person of integrity who lives her values, empowers others, fosters collaboration, and thinks strategically.

Djaara Traditional Owner
Welcome to Country

WCC - Victorian Congress convenor

Janet is the Founder and Program Lead for the Women’s Climate Congress.
She has a background in medical research and science communication working across health, agriculture and environment.

With a lively interest in public engagement and dialogue across controversial scientific issues, in 2006 she joined Canberra’s A Chorus of Women and this led her to an understanding of the role of the arts in public discourse and with Chorus she created public spaces for transformative multi-stakeholder dialogue.

In January 2020, with bushfires still raging, she called the women in her networks together to discuss her ideas around amplifying women’s voices for a collaborative national approach for climate action.

Since then, the Congress has become a diverse national network of women, hosted many online and in-person events, met countless women, parliamentarians and community leaders and developed the WCC Charter for Change.

A Chorus of Women began when 150 women gathered ingognito in the Marble Foyer at Parliament House on 18 March 2003 to sing a lament for the people of Iraq as the then prime minister John Howard announced that Australia would join the US-led war.

1 years later, Chorus is still singing up public wisdom. Peace, social justice and effective climate action are the matters of heart in their original songs, major productions and civic conversations.

In April 2015, Chorus presented world premier performances of ‘A Passion for Peace’ - a choral work by the late Dr Glenda Cloughley that told the remarkable and little known story of the 1915 International Congress of Women, which was the only peace congress of WW1.

See www.chorusofwomen.org

CEO, Women’s Environmental Leadership Australia (WELA)

Victoria has worked in climate and environmental leadership for the past 17yrs. Her former roles include Chair of the Climate Action Network Australia (CANA), Climate Campaign Manager of the Australian Conservation Foundation, and Manager of Strategy at Bank Australia.

WELA is an independent not-for-profit organisation that is empowering, supporting and funding diverse women’s leadership for our environment and climate, in order to transform Australia’s response to these crises.

Global advocate for human rights, climate action and Just Transition. Australian convenor, Women Leading on Climate network.

Sharan is the Former General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (2010-2022). Previously, she was President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (2000–2010) and President of the Australian Education Union (1992-2000).

She is currently a Visiting Professor in Practice to the LSE-Grantham Institute and chair of its Just Transition Finance Lab’s Advisory Council, a Vice-Chair of the European Climate Foundation, a board member of the Green Hydrogen Association, Co-Chair of the IEA Labour Council, an adviser on Temasek’s Sustainability Advisory Panel, a board member of Novonix and Chair of the Curtain University Institute for Energy Transition Advisory Council.

Managing Director, First Nations Australia and WCC Steering Circle

A Noongar Traditional Owner, experienced working with communities across Australia, Bec is a driven and experienced executive with 15+ years in project delivery, program design and people leadership in human rights and social justice.

She is the Managing Director of First Nations Affairs, an advisory firm that partners with industry, government and Aboriginal corporations towards a just transition, we: elevate First Nations voices and lived experience in policy and programs that impact them; understand and embed the principles of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; understand and promote First Nations self-determination; promote and work towards Nation Building; and drive meaningful and sustainable reconciliation.

Founder, Raise Our Voice Australia (ROVA)

Named a "youthful visionary" by Forbes, Ashleigh Streeter-Jones has dedicated over a decade to closing societal gaps. Her work focuses on gender equality and youth leadership, for which she has been recognised as a Forbes 30 Under 30 and a finalist for Victorian Young Australian of the Year. She has spoken alongside leaders such as US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and former Prime Minister Julia Gillard, and has written for domestic and overseas publications, including the IMF.

She is the founder and CEO of Raise Our Voice Australia, mobilising young women and gender diverse people in policy and politics. Ashleigh's influence extends globally, from the United Nations to the World Economic Forum, where she serves as Pacific Community Champion for the Global Shapers Community.

Professor Susan Harris Rimmer is the Director of the Griffith University Policy Innovation Hub, which helps policy-makers solve policy problems through evidence based collaboration with multidisciplinary experts.

Sue works at the intersection of human rights and politics and researches gender dynamics in transitions. She is a member of the Law Futures Centre and the Griffith Asia Institute and is co-convenor of the Griffith Gender Equality Research Network. Sue also leads the Climate Justice theme of the Griffith Climate Action Beacon.   In 2018, she was named one of Apolitical’s 100 Most Influential People in Gender Policy, globally, and one of 20 Queensland Voices Female Leaders in 2019.  

She is the founder of the EveryGen coalition and a board member of Foundations for Tomorrow - which seek to amplify the voices of current and future generations and highlight the long-term impacts of today’s policy decisions.

President, National Older Women’s Network; Chair of the NSW Older Women’s Network.

The OWN promotes the rights, dignity and wellbeing of women as the age.

Beverly is also the CEO of the Aboriginal Education Council, the oldest charity established to support Aboriginal people of all ages change their lives through access and success in mainstream education.

She is a member of the Blundell Swamp Cooperative, established in 1974 for the preservation and protection of a significant wetland at Lower Portland NSW.

Beverly has been a “voice in the wilderness” banging on since 1974 on the threat posed to our civilisation by climate change. From her perspective the situation is now dire on a number of fronts

Mamta Borgoyary is the Executive Diresctor of She Changes Climate, an organisation committed to promoting gender parity and women’s leadership in climate decision making, especially women’s empowerment in the Global South.

Mamta is a development professional and trained economist. She has an extensive background in health, education, water and sanitation, rural livelihoods, natural resource management and environmental intersectionality in climate justice. She has facilitated 5000 women from vulnerable backgrounds to run their own small-scale businesses, helped over 300 women farmers to receive professional training to practice agriculture, integrated more than 500 school dropout children per year back into the education system, and rescued more than 12000 children from human trafficking, sexual abuse and exploitation.

An alumna of the prestigious International Visitor Leaders Program of the US State Department and the Common Purpose January Program, Mamta was recently honoured by Women Entrepreneur Magazine as one of the top 10 women leaders of 2023 in India.

Jennifer Cameron is a historian, writer and social activist, particularly for women’s rights and the rights of Nature. She has a lifelong interest in understanding the experience of women through the ages and, particularly in prehistory and through that, Goddess Spirituality. She has worked as a teacher, trainer, policy writer for government and management consultant to the not-for-profit sector. She is author of the book Ancient Ways for Current Days - Women, Goddess and Communities of Peace; author of the play ‘Out of Chaos’ performed in Australia and England, and Co-Convenor of the Gaia Temple Inc in Melbourne.

Policy Officer, Women With Disabilities Australia

Clare Gibellini is woman with multiple disabilities, including Autism, working as a passionate advocate for the inclusion of people with a disability in all areas of the community. She is the former Co-Chair of the Oversight Council for the Australian Federal Government’s first National Autism Strategy, and the Chair of the Board of the National Disability Research Partnership. She is also the Co- Chair for Inclusive Rainbow Voices, supporting LGBTQIA+ people with disability.

Ms. Gibellini currently works as Policy Officer for Women With Disabilities Australia, and an independent consultant. She has served on multiple boards and is a passionate human rights campaigner both in Australia and internationally. She was a delegate to the United Nations in 2022, 2023 and 2024 as part of the Australian delegation to the Conference of State Parties.

Policy and Research Manager at ActionAid Australia.

Sophie has over 10 years’ experience working in NGOs and social justice movements in Australia, the UK and India to progress women’s rights and campaign for systems change at the national and international level. At ActionAid, Sophie leads the organisations research, evidence building and advocacy work to drive policy reform for gender and climate justice.

Robyn James is the Global Director of Gender Equity for The Nature Conservancy. Over a 20+ year conservation career, Robyn has developed deep experience in gender, equity and social justice, community-based conservation, philanthropy, and government policies and programs. She joined TNC in 2010 and has held staff positions managing projects and was formerly the Melanesia Conservation Director. 

Prior to TNC, Robyn held research, teaching, conservation and planning positions at the University of Queensland and Queensland State Government. She is currently finalising her PhD on women in Conservation at the University of Queensland School of Social Sciences.

CEO, National Rural Women’s Coalition

Keli MacDonald advocates for the needs and voices of rural, regional, and remote women across Australia. She is also a business owner specialising in community support for not-for-profits and small businesses, a dedicated farmer, living on a broadacre cropping and beef operation, and an active volunteer in her community.

Keli believes women are the backbone of resilience and strength in rural areas. Through her work, Keli represents rural women on various national committees and collaborates with federal government departments to ensure the issues that matter most to rural, regional, and remote women and their families are heard and understood.

Student, Duty of Care campaigner

Hannah Vardy is a student at ANU, where she studies law, climate science and biology. She is running for the Senate alongside Independent ACT Senator David Pocock in the upcoming Federal election. Since mid-2023, Hannah has led the Duty of Care campaign alongside three other young people. The campaign is seeking to establish that governments must consider the health of children and future generations when making decisions that could worsen climate change. She has also spent several years coordinating youth climate action groups, and has worked as a research assistant, investigating the history of Australian environmental law over the past five decades.

National Union of Students Women’s Officer

Ellie Venning is an undergraduate student at the University of Adelaide, studying Environmental Policy. She is particularly focused on the importance of good governance in environmentalism and ensuring that broader policies are fair and equitable – thus a feminist approach. She says : “I am attending this Congress to ensure that young women’s voices are represented, heard and listened to in the wider climate movement, and to highlight the growing innovation and enthusiasm young women and women students bring to the table around environmental action.”

Dr. Rahda Wagle has more than 20 years of experience in the field of climate change, forestry and sustainable forest management, protected area management and biodiversity, conservation, gender integration and women’s empowerment in forestry and climate change.

She was formerly the Director General of the Department of Plant Resources, Ministry of Forests and Environment in Nepal and also served as a National Gender and Climate Change Focal Person and National Focal Person for UNFCCC and National Focal person for IPCC.

Radha is currently the Biodiversity and Climate Adaptation Lead at Glen Eira City Council, Victoria.

Chloe Wegener (she/her) is a proud Garrwa woman who works at the Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute for First Nations Gender Justice at the Australian National University, where the team focuses on systemic change by amplifying the voices and knowledges of First Nations women.

Chloe is also a visual scribe, using illustrations to capture key ideas and support group learning.

Stephanie is a PhD student with the Institute of Water Futures at the Australian National University. She is also an experienced teacher, facilitator and designer of learning programs, immersive experiences and community events. She has worked across schools, museums and natural resource management organisations.

Independent Federal Member for Kooyong.

Federal Senator for Victoria.

Steph is a dedicated climate, environment and social justice campaigner, with a background in environmental law, advocacy, and healthy food systems.

Steph took her seat as a Senator for Victoria in May 2024, and holds the Early Childhood Education and Care portfolio, and the Science, Industry and Innovation portfolio.

She has worked as an adviser to the United Nations in New York, successfully strengthening Australia’s position on the impact of the climate crisis on food security, negotiating stronger reef protections and increasing Australia’s humanitarian intake of refugees and asylum seekers.

Steph’s fight for climate justice has taken her across the globe - she has worked as the Head of Pacific for a major international non-profit, achieving landmark legal victories in deep allyship with Indigenous frontline Pasifika communities.

Born to a fifth generation farmer and rural public school teacher, Steph has a close connection to her regional roots in Central Victoria. She founded a local organic food business informed by her upbringing on the family farm.

Steph lives with her partner and two young kids in St Kilda.

Victorian State Member for Bendigo West (representing Hon Lily D’Ambrosio MP, Victorian Minister for Climate Action).

The Hon Maree Edwards MP has been a Member of the Victorian Parliament since November 2010 and was re-elected in 2014, 2018 and 2022.

She serves as the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, which she has held since August 2022. Previously, Maree served as Deputy Speaker from 2017-2022.

Prior to her election Maree served as an Electorate Officer to the former Member for Bendigo West for eleven years. This allowed Maree to get to know the electorate well and the Bendigo West community.  

Maree has served as the Chair of the joint Parliamentary Family and Community Development Committee in the 58th Parliament overseeing inquiries into: Abuse in Disability Services in Victoria; Autism services in Victoria; Perinatal services in Victoria.

Victorian State Member for Mildura, Opposition Whip in the Legislative Assembly.

Jade Benham MP is the Member for Mildura and Opposition Whip in the Legislative Assembly, in the Victorian Parliament.

She is a second-generation Australian on her father’s side and a World War I soldier settler’s great-granddaughter on her mother’s. The Mallee is in her blood.

Born and educated in Swan Hill, Jade is proud to call the Mildura electorate home. Serving as Mayor for 1 year gave her the opportunity to advocate for the community and region.

Jade has been running a small business since 2011 and married Luke, a Robinvale local, in 2017 and they now live on an almond orchard at Bannerton with our two sons.

Having a deep attachment to the towns throughout our region makes me incredibly passionate and driven to support our people. I want to fight for these communities so that they not only survive, but thrive.

WCC Steering Circle

WCC Steering Cirlce

Victorian Congress Hosting Team

WCC Steering Circle

Victorian Congress Hosting Team

WCC Steering Circle
Policy and Research Lead

WCC Founder and Program Lead

WCC Steering Circle
Membership and Communications Lead

Victorian Congress Communications Lead

Victorian Congress website

A yoga teacher and sacred circle dance teacher for the past 30 years, Pauline integrates her knowledge of body and spirit into the physical work of movement.

Pauline teaches the importance of movement to maintaining a healthy well integrated body. Her dance includes the spiritual and physical, including the stories of the myths and symbols behind the dances. 

Pauline continues on her path as a lifetime activist, particularly for the environment.

All of this allows Pauline to imbibe her deep knowledge into her teaching as she guides the dancers through the movements to enjoy a gentle deep spiritual experience.

Visual artist

Sue Gee is a singer-songwriter with an "edge" who has long amused audiences with her acerbic lyrics on politics, society and women's "herstory". In 2012-13 Sue participated in the inaugural “Goddess Studies” program run by Gaia’s Garden. This inspired several Goddess-themed songs and a strong passion for environmental activism. Her foray into Ecopella (choir) and ukekele-playing has spawned quite a few new environmental ditties and political parodies. Sue has recently become a member of the Knitting Nannas against Coal Seam Gas in Sydney and sings at the weekly protests. Conservatives be warned!

Sue accompanies herself on guitar, autoharp, ukelele and harmonica.

Sue has recently launched her new CD: ‘Planet Hot’, comprising a selection of her latest songwriting efforts on the above-mentioned topics, accompanied by several other musicians and singers.

Artist