Wattle Fellowship

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The Wattle Fellowship is the University’s co-curricula program for students to foster leadership on global sustainability. We focus on multidisciplinary approaches, transformative leadership and practical skills development.

Applications are now closed for the 2022/23 program.

This year-long program supports students to bring ideas to life, to create positive impact, and develop within a community of change-makers. Fellows will participate in retreats, workshops, events, mentoring opportunities and have the opportunity to implement their own action project.

We are looking for students from all backgrounds to come on the journey, and encourage you to join us.

The Wattle Fellowship is a year-long leadership development program for students at the University of Melbourne. We aim to build leadership skills, support action on sustainability and create a cohort of leaders with the skills and networks to create positive lasting social and environmental impact. Fellows will participate in retreats, workshops, events and have the opportunity to implement their own action project.

Our vision is a world where Wattle Fellows are embedding sustainability practices and principles into every social endeavour.

This program is made possible through philanthropic support, including the McCall MacBain Foundation, our founding partner. Learn more about our partners and supporters.

The wattle is iconically Australian and as a native flower celebrates the place, theme, and growth that this Fellowship represents. Wattles are essential in pollination and we aim to have our Fellows spread ideas, approaches and impact globally.

We are looking for students from all backgrounds to come on the journey, and encourage you to join us.

The Wattle Fellowship is a year-long leadership development program with a focus on global sustainability. This program is co-curricular and fits alongside a student’s degree program. It has been designed to engage students from all disciplines, build leadership skills, and support new ways of approaching sustainability challenges.

Throughout the program students are supported to develop in the following five areas: skills, knowledge, mindset, networks and experience.

Our Leadership Learning Framework underscores our approach to supporting and nurturing our Fellows. Our program has been designed with a focus on multidisciplinary approaches, leadership development, experiential learning and practical skills development to enable students to bring ideas to life which contribute to a more sustainable world.

Wattle Fellowship Learning Ecosystem

This is a fully-supported Fellowship, and the program covers the following:

All program activities (retreats, workshops, events) including facilitators, educational content, accommodation, catering, and program coordination.
Funding and support to develop and work on a student-led sustainability Action Project and personal Leadership Development Plan.
Recognition as a Wattle Fellow on your University transcript and ongoing engagement as a program Alumni.

Students that face financial difficulties in participating in this program may be eligible for additional funding in the form of an Equity Grant to assist their participation.

Delivered by academic experts and external practitioners, students will gain access to a range of expertise in the areas of: project design, values-led decision-making, tools for collaboration, impact storytelling, community organising, advocacy, measuring social impact and public speaking amongst other things.

This is an exciting opportunity and we expected that all Wattle Fellows will:

Be committed to active leadership on global sustainability.
Participate fully in all aspects of the program and make progress on their individual project and leadership journey. (There is a formal attendance requirement of 80% of all official activities).
Approach the program in a positive, supportive, collaborative and respectful manner. (This holds true for anyone involved in the program as we believe everyone has a role to play in building an inclusive and learning-focused environment).

Applications are now closed for the 2022/23 cohort.

Passionate about sustainability and looking to make a difference?
The Wattle Fellowship is looking for you.

We are after budding designers and policy makers; artists and engineers; advocates and economists. There is no singular type of person that we are looking for in this personal and professional development program, recognising that leadership can be practiced in many ways. Applicants at any stage, including the start, of their leadership journey are welcome to apply.

The Wattle Fellowship is an extracurricular leadership development program focused on sustainability where students will:

Participate in regular workshops to deepen your sustainability knowledge, learn practical skills and practice your leadership
Have access to world-leading academic experts and external sustainability practitioners
Attend residential leadership development retreats
Be provided with mentoring, coaching and support to implement an action project
Receive $5,000 for your action project and leadership development plan
Learning and growing with a cohort of peers from across the University
Formal recognition upon successful completion of the program on your University transcript

If you are not sure that you meet all of the requirements – we would still strongly encourage you to apply. You might be exactly the type of person we are looking for!

Applications are now closed for round two of the 2022/23
Wattle Fellowship Program

Please read the eligibility guidelines below to check that you are eligible to apply.

See the list of proposed dates for the 2022/2023 program at the bottom of this page.
These are subject to confirmation upon the acceptance of students.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, our timelines for the interviews and commencement of the program have shifted. All candidates who applied before 8 May will be considered as part of our “early consideration” round.

If you have any questions about the program or the application process please email:
wattle-fellowship@unimelb.edu.au

Eligibility guidelines

The program will accept up to 20 students.

Applicants must:

Be a current undergraduate or postgraduate student at the University of Melbourne.
Have completed at least one semester of an undergraduate degree prior to the commencement of the program.
Be in good academic standing. There is no WAM requirement for the Fellowship.

Domestic and international; part-time and full-time students are eligible for this program.

How to apply

Students will submit:

Written answers to questions that correspond to the selection criteria.
Evidence that demonstrates the applicant’s leadership qualities and ability to succeed in the program (this could take shape in the form of a reference letter or a portfolio of previous efforts for example).

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend a short interview with the Wattle Fellowship selection committee consisting of program staff, a University of Melbourne expert and external practitioner. This interview, along with the submitted information will be assessed across the four selection criteria.

Selection criteria

Note that we are committed to creating a diverse cohort, so we encourage people from all backgrounds and levels of experience to apply.

Commitment to sustainability

Applicant demonstrates a genuine passion for sustainability issues in a global context, and making a contribution to these issues.
Applicant has the knowledge and ability to apply sustainability solutions and actions in their relevant discipline and in an interdisciplinary manner.

Leadership potential and vision

Applicant can clearly articulate a vision for their role leading sustainability initiatives, including through contributing to and/or leading interdisciplinary projects as part of the program.
Applicant demonstrates strong leadership potential and related skills including teamwork, communication, and self-reflection.

Motivation and experience

Applicant can demonstrate instances of initiative, motivation and resilience through previous involvement with other formal and informal experiences.

Personal and professional attributes

Applicant demonstrates the attitudes, commitment and skills to successfully complete the program, collaborating and working alongside a diverse cohort.
Applicant is likely to make a strong and positive contribution to the Leaders for Global Sustainability program including ongoing engagement as an alum.

If you are a University of Melbourne staff member and would like to recommend a student for this program, please contact us wattle-fellowship@unimelb.edu.au.

Program Dates 2022/2023

*Please note these are the revised proposed dates for all program elements for the 2022/23 program, they may be subject to change if necessary.

Orientation Session - Aug 2022 (daytime, date and location TBC)

Residential Retreat #1 – 21-23 October

2022 workshop dates:

Workshop 1	Sunday 14 August	6:00pm – 8:00pm
Workshop 2	Wednesday 21 September	6:00pm – 8:00pm
Workshop 3	Saturday 19 November	4:00pm – 8:00pm*
Workshop 4	Friday 24 February	6:00pm – 8:00pm

Residential Retreat #2 - 13-16 April

2023 workshop dates:

Workshop 5	Tuesday 7 March	6:00pm – 8:00pm
Workshop 6	Wednesday 8 March	6:00pm – 8:00pm
Workshop 7	Wednesday 29 March	6:00pm – 8:00pm

Residential Retreat #3 - 14–17 April 2023

Showcase event - 3 May 2023 (evening event)

Graduation Dinner - 10 May 2023 (evening event)

Linh Do

Director

Linh Do is passionate about climate justice and leadership development. She's spent the last decade working across advocacy and engagement, media and social enterprise. Linh sits on the board of Climate Action Network Australia and is a board observer with the Australian Council for International Development. She was most recently Australia and Pacific lead for Climate Reality, Al Gore’s leadership program having brought over 800 people together for Climate Week Queensland.

As an alum of the University of Melbourne, Linh is excited to see students apply their academic knowledge with practical skills to tackle sustainability challenges. Outside of work, she can be found consuming ice cream, walking extremely quickly and dabbling in podcast creation.

Email: linh.do@unimelb.edu.au

Julian O’Shea

Director

Julian O’Shea is a social entrepreneur, humanitarian engineer and advocate for innovation in higher education. He is the Founder of Unbound, an educational startup that works with Australian universities to develop innovation educational experience, often with a global perspective. Prior to this, he worked in a leadership position heading up the education, research and innovation division of a global development not-for-profit as the Director of the Engineers Without Borders Institute.

A wearer of many hats, Julian is also researching a PhD in sustainable transportation and producing accessible science video content. He is looking forward to working with students to bring their ideas to life.

Email: julian.oshea@unimelb.edu.au

Alicia Crawford Bell

Wattle Fellowship Program Coordinator

Alicia is a social change maker who is passionate about working towards social, economic and environmental justice. With over 15 years experience designing and facilitating personal and leadership development programs and a background in community development, youth engagement, project management and large-scale events logistics, she has worked with some of Australia’s leading social change organisations to engage and inspire others to take action.

Alicia is also the founder of Liminal Life, a small business which provides yoga and meditation, values and strengths-based education and nature connection workshop and retreat experiences as well as program evaluation and design services for individuals and organisations wanting to prioritise personal growth and transformation and self and community care. As an advocate and practitioner, Alicia is committed to helping those working within the social change and community sectors to integrate wholistic health and wellness practices into their life and work in order to sustain and deepen their engagement both personally and professionally.

Email: alicia.crawford@unimelb.edu.au

Wattle Fellows 2022/23

Alex Dekker (he/him)

Bachelor of Commerce
Alex is a Bachelor of Commerce student passionate about contributing to the social impact sector. He is the unintentional founder of Alex Makes Meals, a non-profit kitchen alleviating food insecurity, after identifying a problem he could address during the COVID-19 pandemic. His work has been recognised with a Premier’s Sustainability Award in 2022 and as a finalist for the 2021 Victorian Young Australian of the Year award.
Growing up on a farm in eastern Victoria highlighted the ecological impacts that follow extreme weather events, and his resolve to address climate change through tackling waste in the charity sector. During the Wattle Fellowship, Alex’s project will explore plastic and non-recyclable waste, and the role of Indigenous ingredients and training in providing employment pathways.
When not working with a team to make over 3,000 meals a week, Alex can be found telling jokes or rock climbing with mates.
Alex Oswald (he/him)

Bachelor of Arts
Alex is a Bachelor of Arts student majoring in politics and philosophy and a 2023 Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet graduate.
The role of social justice in his life was imbued from a young age through his family. His passion for sustainability was particularly ignited whilst volunteering in Fiji where he witnessed the first-hand consequences of climate change. During the Wattle Fellowship, he will be exploring the link between these two areas of interest within the Pacific.
Alex currently works as a disability education support officer and has previously interned at the Melbourne Disability Institution. He presented a paper based on this experience at the International Research Society for Public Management.
Outside of his studies and work, Alex can be found playing or coaching hockey and contributing to the national disability magazine Link as well as the University of Melbourne’s local rag, Farrago.
Anke Oatley (she/her)

Master of Electrical Engineering
Anke’s desire in having an impact through her career led to her pursuit of a low-carbon power systems major within a Master of Electrical Engineering degree. Her interest in learning about power generation and distribution stems from her commitment to being part of the energy transition to a more sustainable future. She is coupling this with professional experience through internships, including with Wannon Water.
She is also interested in the role of education, having volunteered for Robogals and organised the inaugural Biodesign Competition with the Melbourne Bioinnovation Student Initiative (MBSI). Anke will further these two interests during the Wattle Fellowship by providing opportunities for students to engage with renewable energy projects.
Outside of engineering, Anke loves to cook (and eat!) alongside playing sport. During the pandemic, she did a stint at a vent after a childhood growing up with many dogs and chickens.
April Golder (she/her)

Bachelor of Arts
April is a Bachelor of Arts student majoring in geography exploring the intersection between politics, power dynamics, and the natural environment.
Her love for Australian landscapes and conservation began in Brisbane, where she grew up, especially following her personal experience with the 2011 floods. Her interests in water policy, native forest protection and Indigenous land sovereignty have led to her volunteering with the Friends of Earth Forests Collective and the Victorian Forest Alliance.
April will focus on the role of education across generations through the Wattle Fellowship by partnering with local conservation groups. This builds on her current leadership role as a member of the executive for the Wildlife Conservation Society.
Outside of her volunteering and studies, she can be found reading tarot cards, bike riding and cooking with produce from the Queen Victoria Markets.
Bronte Alston (she/they)

Master of Public Health
Bronte is a Master of Public Health student, having completed a Bachelor of Biomedicine with a neuroscience major. Her master’s thesis is focused on emerging trends in reproductive health decision-making, such as the rise in eco-anxiety.
Her passion lies at the nexus of health equity and climate justice, with an overarching interest in decolonising health systems. Bronte’s interest in public health was initially catalysed through volunteering in Cambodia where she discovered first-hand the importance of culturally appropriate health programs and the legacy of colonisation in the form of voluntourism.
Through the Wattle Fellowship, she will lead a multidisciplinary team to apply a one health approach to assist local ethnic minority groups in Thailand.
Outside of her studies, she loves to read, hike, and watch the latest release at the cinema with a choc top in hand.
Cait Symon (she/her)

Master of Ecosystem Management and Conservation
Cait brings a background in social science to her Master of Ecosystem Management and Conservation studies. She is interested in better understanding how to balance the variety of social and ecological values that the Australian landscape holds; in light of competing agricultural, forestry, and conservation land-use needs.
Having grown up inner-city Melbourne, she used the lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic to move to rural Victoria. Cait has had first-hand opportunity to learn about agroecology and how to sustainably and ethically farm pigs. During the Wattle Fellowship, Cait will produce resources for those new to farming using storytelling and communication practices.
Alongside her studies, Cait works as a seasonal firefighter for Forest Fire Management Victoria where she has learnt the importance of fire in land management.
Her hobbies include hiding her city-kid upbringing by making food from scratch, getting handy with power tools and waving at strangers.
Candice Colman (she/her)

Master of Business Administration
Candice is a qualified lawyer having worked across carbon trading, renewable energy, health and technology law. Following her experience in the public sector during the pandemic, she realised her love of cross-disciplinary teamwork and is now undertaking a Master of Business Administration.

Her sustainability values stem from her upbringing on a farm in southern Tasmania and is still reflected in her lifestyle choices and role as the co-president of the MBS Sustainable Business Club.

With experience in governance, reporting and negotiating on environmental projects, she is excited to translate this into a service offering through her Wattle Fellowship project. Her past governance experience includes serving as a board member on the Australia-Indonesia Business Council (Vic) and delivering governance advice to the Victorian Public Service and various not-for-profits.

Candice speaks three other languages (Indonesia, Portuguese and Spanish) and dances bachata, salsa and hip hop.
Cindy Chen (she/her)

Bachelor of Commerce
Cindy is a Bachelor of Commerce student majoring in economics and finance. She has coupled her academic skills with her interest in environmental sustainability through being involved in student clubs such as 180 Degrees Consulting and the Financial Management Association of Australia (FMAA). This has been accompanied with professional experience through internships at AustralianSuper and Macquarie Group.
Her interest in helping businesses and industries reduce their emissions considering the energy transition started in high school where she helped organise the September 2019 School Strike. Cindy was also part of WEAII Youth where she advocated for circular economy usage in businesses and the community.
Through the Wattle Fellowship, Cindy will utilise these experiences to engage with businesses. In her spare time, she enjoys getting active and creative with singing and classical guitar.
Craig Hyde-Smith (he/him)

Master of Professional Psychology
Born in Dubai and raised in Perth, Craig now resides in Melbourne where he is studying the Master of Professional Psychology with a background in geography. He is a keen lover of the outdoors and passionate about both mental health and sustainability.

During the Wattle Fellowship, Craig hopes to explore behavioural change interventions to address increasing levels of climate anxiety amongst young people and the explore the role that mental health professionals can play.

Having been involved in public speaking and the professional acting industry since he was young, Craig brings his love of storytelling and performing to everything that he does. Craig’s curiosity has led him to work opportunities varying from working for Starlight at the Royal Children’s Hospital and delivering cyberbullying awareness workshops in schools around Australia.
Beyond this, Craig has been fortunate enough to travel to six out of seven continents (Antarctica eludes him!).
Crystal Tang (she/her)

Bachelor of Design (Degree with Honors)
Crystal holds a Bachelor of Design and spent five years in industry as an urban planner and design practitioner before returning to complete an honours year. Her work as an urban planner and design stem from her passion for sustainability. Crystal’s interest in sustainability and waste management has included raising funds for the installation of rainwater tanks in Cambodian villages.
She grew up in Singapore and relocated to Australia, where she has an interest in supporting the community’s vulnerable members. Crystal continues to volunteer as a home tutor to young people living in social housing flats.
During the Wattle Fellowship, Crystal plans on exploring the importance of representation in sustainability through a storytelling project.
Her creative traits lead her to spending her spare time indulged in music, visual art and cooking.
Finnian Gregg-Rowan (he/him)

Bachelor of Science
Finn is studying a Bachelor of Science majoring in environmental science with a sustainability science specialisation. He recently joined Parks Victoria as a project fire fighter where he hopes to learn more about the role of fire in ecosystem management for the health of this country and its inhabitants.
Having grown up on a bush block in Melbourne’s east, his childhood consisted of countless hours of exploring and being surrounded by the natural world. This has since grown into an interest in climate adaptation, old growth forest protection, sustainable agriculture, and First Nations justice. He has volunteered with different grassroots organisations in a campaigning capacity and on research projects.
During the Wattle Fellowship, Finn plans on producing educational resources around the value of plants in the context of our changing climate adaptation needs.
In his spare time, you can find him hiking and camping with mates.
Jesse Clune (they/them)

Bachelor of Agriculture
Jesse is a self-confessed nature nerd relishing in the earthly delights of fungi, insects, flora, and dirt. They are studying a Bachelor of Agriculture with a major in plant and soil science, having previously obtained an arts degree and working professionally as a dancer.
Their passion and interest in sustainability stems from a desire to contribute to the climate crisis, alongside utilising their degree to design and implement more resilient farming systems that support the planet and its people. They have an interest in reconnecting households to natural environments, and farmers to environmental stewardship.
During the Wattle Fellowship, Jesse plans on working with local community groups to bring biodiversity back into Melbourne’s suburbs through a plant propagation project.
Outside of study, Jesse is an avid gardener, growing fresh produce for their household and neighbours and works at a vertical farm producing microgreens and herbs.
Jun Park (he/him)

Master of Science (Chemistry)
Jun is studying a Master of Science (Chemistry) where he is researching the application of green bio-based chemicals. He aims to demonstrate that green alternatives can outperform conventionally used chemicals – which are often toxic and made from fossil fuels – in hope of consolidating the scientific argument that a circular economy is not simply about environment conservation, but also beneficial to the Australian economy.
Having grown up in South Korea, his interest in sustainability was solidified through a volunteering experience with AIESEC in Indonesia. There he worked with a village to install a water delivery system following the loss of their clean water source from flooding. After observing the detrimental impact of natural disasters, Jun has made acting in the urgency of sustainability issues his priority.
When outside of the lab, he can be found hiking for fresh air away and volunteering as his local church.
Kayvan Gharbi (he/him)

Doctor of Medicine
Kayvan is studying a Doctor of Medicine, with a background in engineering and data science. He is passionate about combining these topics to improve the healthcare system for patient and environmental outcomes.
During the Wattle Fellowship, Kayvan is utilising a systems thinking approach to sustainability within the healthcare sector through designing a community-level preventative health intervention.
When not in scrubs, Kayvan is a classically trained cellist who holds a diploma from the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. He placed first at the American Protégé International Music Competition in New York and still regularly performs in the Panacea Quartet and Corpus Medicorum Symphony.
Kayvan loves to sing in the medical school’s acapella group, having recently joined the theatrical revue and enjoys occasionally stumbling around the salsa dance floor or nose diving a surfboard.
Lily Collins (she/her)

Master of Public Health
Lily is studying a Master of Public Health having previously completed a Bachelor of Science with an environmental science major. Whilst at the University of Melbourne, she was a founding member of the environmental committee at St Hilda’s College, where she also served a term as student president.
Originally from a small country town outside of Scone in NSW, Lily’s interest in the intersection of human health and environmental sustainability was cultivated from a young age. She has since worked on a project to establish sustainable sources of drinking water during an internship in Cambodia.
During the Wattle Fellowship, Lily plans on providing opportunities for students and professionals to work across their academic disciplines in aid of public health and sustainability outcomes.
In her spare time, Lily enjoys yoga, a good book and catching up with friends.
Malindo Wardana (he/him)

Master of Energy Systems
Malindo is currently studying a Master of Energy Systems sponsored by the Indonesia’s Endowment Fund for Education. He brings over nine years of experience as a field engineer in different parts of the Asia Pacific and Africa.
He is passionate about connecting science and engineering education with practical applications for sustainability solutions, especially within remote communities in his home country of Indonesia or Indigenous ones in Australia. Through the Wattle Fellowship, Malindo hopes to learn more about Aboriginal cultures and create designs for sustainable living off-grid that can benefit remote communities. His other interests are implementation of aquaponics in urban environments and waste management.
Outside of his studies Malindo volunteers as vice president of the LPDP University of Melbourne Association (@lpdp.unimelb), and runs a tour guiding company related to culture and sustainability called Jalan Jalan Toraja.
Maroushka Saldanha (she/her)

Master of Environment (Governance, Policy and Market)
Maroushka is studying a Master of Environment, specialising in governance and policy, having previously completed a Bachelor of Commerce. In her undergraduate degree, she started The Impact Review as part of the Melbourne Microfinance Initiative.
She currently works at Homes for Homes, a social enterprise created by The Big Issue Australia. Maroushka is passionate about social impact, technology, and the detrimental effect the climate crisis is having on vulnerable communities.
During the Wattle Fellowship, she hopes to further advocate for sustainable development and safe, affordable housing for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Maroushka will achieve this through a storytelling project.
Outside of work and studies, Maroushka loves indoor cycling, spending time with her two dogs and listening to podcasts.
Oscar Tudge (he/him)

Bachelor of Music with Honours (Performance)
Oscar is a classically-trained percussionist currently studying a Bachelor of Music with Honours (Performance). He is particularly passionate about experimental Australian music and the construction of instruments through repurposed materials. Oscar has held multiple leadership roles within the University of Melbourne Music Students Society.
His interest in sustainability and the importance of education stems from his role as a music teacher and his time as a Scout. Here he has the opportunity to mentor others to develop personal skills in areas of leadership, teamwork, and the outdoors.
During the Wattle Fellowship, Oscar plans on using his skillset in the music and arts sector to explore how art can be created with the explicit intent of furthering environmental values and action.
Outside of music, Oscar enjoys camping and hiking; having spent over a 100 nights under canvas – including one in a self-made igloo!
Robert McIntyre (he/him)

Juris Doctor
Robert is a Juris Doctor student, as well as a composer and musician. For Robert, music is innate to the human condition, so making something that can resonate so deeply internally that also has artistic impetus is one of his continual ambitions.
Within the realms of sustainability, he has a specific interest in ocean and forest conservation. During the Wattle Fellowship, Robert will bring his two professions together for the first time in a composition based on a legal ruling in a court case.
Described as 'strikingly contemporary' (Limelight), recent 2022 achievements include Composing in the Wilderness (Alaska, USA), winning the 2022 NDKC International Art Song Competition, 2nd Prize in the Luna Nova Composition Contest and being awarded the MSV David Henkels Composition Award.
Outside of his work and studies, Robert enjoys running, eating bunch, and hiking in nature.
Sam Lucas (he/him)

Juris Doctor
Sam is a Juris Doctor student, having previously completed a Bachelor of Commerce with a major in economics and marketing. He is interested in environmental policy and issues that relate to the current climate emergency.
His legal studies have seen him engage with the Australian Earth Laws Alliance and Victorian Environmental Law Students Society. Sam was previously the project director of Nexus which involved supporting Nepali women affected by the earthquake.
He is currently an analyst at the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) where he supports sustainability issues facing competition and consumer regulation. During the Wattle Fellowship, Sam plans on combining his avid love of the great outdoors (ranging from climbing through to skiing and surfing) with his work in a project focused on greenwashing.
His passion for the environment stems from his desire to protect these natural environments into the future.
Steffi Ferrnando (she/her)

Master of Energy Systems
Steffi is a Master of Energy Systems student having previously trained in finance where she worked for over a decade in Australia, the UK, New Zealand, and parts of Asia to help businesses grow sustainably.
Through the Wattle Fellowship, Steffi plans on combining her professional experience and current studies by creating educational resources for people to participate in the circulat economy.
Her passion for sustainability and education started as a Girl Guide, an organisation that she continues to volunteer with. Her commitment to education is also evident with her contribution to the growth of a coding club in the UK for disadvantaged children; what started as a singular class turned into a program with over 70 students learning about HTML, Python and data science.
Outside of her studies and work, she can be found practicing her Spanish, learning to play tennis, and hiking.
Tushar Ramesh (he/him)

Bachelor of Agriculture
Tushar is studying a Bachelor of Agriculture where he is focused on soil health, crop production and global food insecurity. He is passionate about bridging the regional and urban divides that exist in Australia and believes that sustainability issues need to be tackled through cooperative dialogue and action from both consumers primary producers. Tushar will further explore this through his Wattle Fellowship project.
Outside of his studies, Tushar has volunteered with the Victorian State Emergency Services for over five years. This role gives him the opportunity to provide assistance to those in the community who have been impacted by extreme weather conditions.
Having grown up in India and New Zealand, Tushar enjoys immersing himself within the diverse landscapes not only in Victoria, but across the country. In his spare time, he can be found on multi-day hikes, reading history books and adventure motorcycling.
Vittoria van der Hoeven (she/her)

Master of Social Work
Vittoria is devoted to spending her lifetime making a meaningful difference to all beings in the world - people, plants and animals. She is currently undertaking a Master of Social Work to build upon her previous studies in anthropology.
Through the Wattle Fellowship, Vittoria hopes to use her belief in serendipity to combined her interests in climate action with her future profession of social work. She plans to establish a community of practice for eco-social work.
She has long held her sustainability values, having had the opportunity to work and live in numerous countries. This has given her the opportunity to work with an environmental sustainability hub called De Ceuvel in Amsterdam with a focus on the circular economy.
In her spare time, Vittoria volunteers with Helping Hand Project, plays and writes music, tends to her windowsill garden and learning languages.

Wattle One Cohort

Emily Andolfatto (she/her)

Master of Environment
Emily is studying a Master of Environment and is passionate about communicating the centrality of sustainability and climate change within corporate and community spheres. She is interested in environmental policy and urban sustainability, especially how city landscapes can coexist with environmental conservation efforts. She has a passion for green roofs, sustainable infrastructure, coastal streetscapes; and is starting to explore sustainability approaches within her work at an environmental engineering firm.
Outside of work and study, Emily is a student-athlete and has previously studied in the USA whilst on a rowing scholarship. She loves spending time by the beach, challenging herself with hikes in beautiful natural environments and admits to getting way too intense about the footy.
Emma Bowman (she/her)

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Emma is a zoology and chemistry graduate, now studying for a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. She has an interest in scientific research, animal health, and environmental conservation and is determined to put a spotlight on the three pillars of sustainability: planet, people, and profit. Through the Wattle Fellowship, Emma is eager to explore how the concepts of sustainability can influence values and practices within the veterinary industry.
Emma is passionate about protecting and connecting with the natural environment, and this greatly influences her actions in everyday life. Her favourite place in the world is an island part of the Great Barrier Reef where she learnt to scuba dive, and where her love of marine ecosystems and passion for conservation was inspired. She loves bird watching, spending time doing arts and crafts, and exuding individuality in every facet of her life and work.
Helen Shen (she/her)

Master of Music (Research)
Helen is studying a Master of Music (Research) which involves a performance piece. She started playing the violin from a young age and enjoys the creativity that playing music brings to her life. As an aspiring professional musician and educator, Helen hopes to be able to use her craft to encourage others to reflect on their relationship with nature and encourage them to make sustainable choices every day.
Helen is a recipient of the Leaders in Communities Award and the Kate Flowers Memorial Scholarship. She enjoys volunteering her time in a range of programs assisting other students and writes and hosts a podcast on University of Melbourne’s Radio Fodder called “What’s All This?”.
“It matters to me that we start seeing ourselves as part of nature. If we become aware of this connection, we can more readily shift our perspectives to the new and creative.”
Imogen Senior (she/her)

Bachelor of Arts
Imogen is studying politics and criminology as part of a Bachelor of Arts. Hailing from rural NSW, she is passionate about the role of regional communities in addressing the climate crisis.
She is interested in environmental activism, the intersection of climate and gender justice and is committed to ensuring that politics and policy making centres marginal voices. Imogen believes we need to seek transformative structural change rather than just individual behaviour change. She is looking to gain experience within institutional settings to push for policy change on climate related issues.
Imogen has completed a Community Campaigning Fellowship with the Greens and is the President of the Greens Club on campus. In 2020, she was a member of Plan International Australia’s Youth Activist Series where she led global research into girls’ visions for a world transformed by the global pandemic. The final report she prepared was presented at the United Nations General Assembly.
Jamieson Lowe (she/her)

Bachelor of Agriculture
Jamieson is studying a Bachelor of Agriculture majoring in plant and soil science.
Growing up on a fifth-generation livestock and cropping farm on the Victorian-NSW border has fostered a love of being outdoors and a deep appreciation for nature. She has a lived, ingrained interest in the intersection of sustainability and agriculture including alternative technologies and regenerative farming techniques. She is also interested in exploring small-scale urban gardening, garden compost systems and finding ways to help others live a more sustainable lifestyle.
In her spare time Jamieson has been involved in setting up nesting boxes for squirrel gliders and has organised native tree planting days to promote ecological sustainability. She enjoys hiking and climbing in national parks and exploring new places.
Jarred Abrahams (he/him)

Master of Environment
Jarred is studying a Master of Environment. He is passionate about people and the role they can play in addressing sustainability as well as creating a more just and fair society.
He has completed a Permaculture Design Certificate and has worked in both conventional and regenerative agriculture practices. Following his graduation from a Bachelor of Science, Jarred spent time working in Israel, designing programs with young people to connect them to social and environmental issues and solutions. He now focusses on community organising to achieve more ambitious climate targets for Australia.

“I would like to see a more sustainable world in which people build meaningful relationships with others, living in communities, focusing more on fulfilment and less on wealth. A world such as this would be better for the planet and the human beings that inhabit it. Through my career, I endeavour to inspire others to focus on community driven solutions.”
Jem Yumru (he/him)

Bachelor of Commerce
Jem is a final year Bachelor of Commerce student majoring in management and finance. His keen interest in environmental sustainability and leadership has led to his involvement in projects lead by 180 Degrees Consultancy with CERES Community Environment Park and with the Aboriginal Carbon Foundation.
Jem’s interest in environmental issues centre around climate change policy at a local and global level, marine conservation, indigenous land management and how sustainability is approached within the corporate sector. He is pursuing a career utilising his consulting skills and experience to advance genuine sustainable practices within organisations, both domestically and globally and will be undertaking an internship focussed on social impact with Ellis Jones alongside the Wattle Fellowship in 2021.
Jem also enjoys several creative hobbies including nature and ocean photography, DJing and dance music production.
Jessica Clarke (she/her)

Master of Public Health
Jessica is a public health professional with over eight years’ experience working across different areas of health including policy, research, and physiotherapy. She is passionate about population health, public policy responses and recognises that climate change is one of the greatest threats to health and wellbeing. She is studying a Master of Public Health with a focus on environmental health.
Through her involvement with the Climate and Health Alliance and the Victorian Branch Council of the Australian Physiotherapy Association, she has contributed to projects and sector-level discussion around the health impacts of climate change and the importance of sustainability.
Jessica works at the Victorian Department of Health as a Senior Policy Officer. She has previously completed an internship with the World Health Organization in Fiji, worked as a Project Officer and Research Assistant with the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and as a physiotherapist at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne.
In her spare time, she loves playing sports, being outdoors, travelling and spending quality time with family and friends.
Joe Fulwood (he/him)

Master of International Relations, Diploma of Languages
Joe moved from his family farm in central Queensland to Melbourne to complete a Master of International Relations and language studies in French. He is interested in pursuing a career in diplomacy, advocacy or policy within the sustainability sector; working in the international sphere to apply a sustainability lens to the work of governments and businesses and help instigate change from the inside out.
Joe has a particular interest in challenging traditional economic mindsets such as ‘infinite growth’ and looking at ways to mainstream alternatives to ensure a more sustainable social and political model.
“I want to reset the way we see the world and our relationship with it – not as masters of nature but as components of it. I would like to help drive a movement that taught us to live in harmony with our surroundings, to take only what we need, and share what we have equitably amongst ourselves and the rest of the planet.”
Kate Melville-Rea (she/her)

Master of Environment
Kate grew up in Japan, Costa Rica, and Abu Dhabi before starting a Master of Environment in Melbourne. Prior to starting her studies, Kate chaired her undergraduate university's sustainability committee and worked for a small environmental non-profit in Cairns.
She is interested in the intersection of sustainability and financial literacy and would like to work on projects with a focus on ethical financial management.
She “stumbled into sustainability” after offering to manage her school’s worm farm and is passionate about advocating for a happier, healthier, and fairer future. She believes that looking after our environment is a beneficial and necessary step to achieve this and hopes to work with people at all levels of society to frame sustainability issues and actions in a way that matches people’s values, personal interests, and sense of social responsibility.
In her spare time, she volunteers as a mentor at a primary school, sings in the university choral society, and enjoys learning Auslan.
Elizabeth Hu (she/her)

Doctor of Medicine
Elizabeth is studying for a Doctor of Medicine whilst also completing a diploma of Sustainable Living. She hopes to use to engage the community in practical projects related to sustainability in their daily lives.
As a medical student involved in healthcare environments every day, Elizabeth is passionate about working on the issue of climate change and its impact on individual and human population health.
She is the founder of two social impact start-ups – Folding Our Futures, a non-for-profit dedicated to educating high-school students about sustainability and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and working with them to implement the goals through youth-led social impact projects; and Chariteach, an education initiative which aims to address social connection and academic inequalities.
She is extensively involved in community volunteering, is involved in numerous committees within the medical industry and education field, and is passionate about community engagement, youth empowerment and in the potential of young people to change the world.
Meg Chatterton (she/her)

Master of Urban Horticulture
Meg arrived at a Master of Urban Horticulture after taking a winding path through graphic design, administration, and disability support services. She is passionate about creating a greener future for all and wants to focus on ensuring appropriate access to green spaces and working with those on the margins to create healing, meaningful, biodiverse, food-producing spaces that feel like home.
Meg would like to advocate for better transparency within horticulture so that it is clear how current practices contribute to global warming, loss of biodiversity and poor respiratory health in workers. She is interested in pursuing projects focussed on emissions reductions within this field.
Through volunteer work with the Growing Friends Nursery at the Sydney Botanic Gardens, Meg realised that people at the margins of society are often excluded from the sustainability discourse and is interested in working on projects which create opportunities for cross-generational learning and connection, and which help keep oral traditions alive.
“I value what people, plants and places on the margins of life can offer and seek to bridge gaps between humans and nature as a form of socioenvironmental justice.”
Monyq San Tropez (she/her)

Master of Environment
Monyq San Tropez is passionate about finding innovative solutions to social and environmental issues. She is studying the Master of Environment focusing on the circular economy and sustainable supply chains. Her dream is to build a social enterprise which enables the circular economy to become more inclusive, accessible, and more mainstream, particularly in rural areas and in developing countries.
As a writer, researcher and strong advocate for environmental sustainability, Monyq directs her time and efforts towards greater awareness of environmentally sustainable solutions in the community by volunteering with the Hume Sustainability Taskforce. She regularly shares simple sustainability hacks on her Instagram account @sustainablemelbourne.

She enjoys spending time tending to worm farms and growing fruits and vegetables. She is co-president of Net Impact, the Melbourne chapter of a global student club, which advocates for business as a force for good. She also volunteers with Sustainable Campus to provide innovative circular solutions for different waste streams at the new University of Melbourne student precinct.
Paloma Bugedo (she/her)

Master of Urban Planning
Paloma is a creative nomad from between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. She has studied architecture in Chile, printmaking in Argentina and is now completing the Master of Urban Planning in Melbourne.

As a visual translator, she loves working and playing alongside others to find inspiration and insights through different platforms, techniques and disciplines.
Paloma has been involved in a range of projects linked to urbanism, placemaking, sustainable transport, community building storytelling and participatory design. She is interested in activating urban spaces through collaborative, creative and performance art, and has worked with diverse teams of collaborators in Guatemala, Honduras, Chile and Australia.
“Nature is my source of inspiration, and its protection is the objective of all of my work and process. I believe in art as a tool of expression, coproduction, and revolution. I aim to use it to generate structural social change and strengthen community bonds for building just, resilient and sustainable societies.”
Roma Bodycomb (she/her)

Master of Environmental Engineering
Roma is studying a Master of Environmental Engineering and is passionate about sustainable engineering, design and its role in tackling global environmental and social issues.
She has a deep love of the ocean and an interest in working on projects related to the restoration of coastal marine ecosystems, particularly through the application of ecological engineering principles to mitigate coastal hazards and enhance biodiversity.
Her honours thesis explored how sustainably farmed seaweed could provide a fire resilient building material, simultaneously ameliorating the impacts of climate change and Victoria’s waste crisis. Roma has been involved in projects focussed on mangrove restoration in Western Port Bay. She is interested to continue researching and developing these projects further having previously participated in the Engineers Without Borders Humanitarian Design Summit and part of the team that analysed the impact of environmental impacts on Australian diets.
“I aspire to pursue a career in environmental engineering, delivering innovative solutions to challenges in climate change, water resources, bushfire management and waste reduction, enabling positive social change for communities impacted by these problems.”
Sean McConnell (he/him)

Master of Ecosystems Management and Conservation
Sean has been working environmental assessing for several years and is studying a Master of Ecosystem Management and Conservation. As an environmental planner, field worker, landscape photographer and environmental advocate, he has travelled extensively throughout Australia to experience and study alpine regions, outback wetlands and everything in between.
Growing up in a rural NSW during drought has cemented a concern for the sustainability of rural and remote communities, regional food bowls and water security within Australia.
Sean is pursuing a career pushing innovative and adaptive future practices within the fields of agriculture; community resilience and adaptive capacity; large-scale reforestation, rehabilitation, landscape restoration and rewilding projects; sustainable land management; land stewardship, indigenous knowledge systems and traditional land management practices.
“I come from a lineage of farmers, and now look upon the barren, drought-ridden plains with remorse, but also hope. I believe sustainable food production and land management is needed for our ongoing survival and the wellbeing of our landscape, rural communities and ecosystems.”
Shawn Ingle (he/him)

Master of Engineering
Shawn is a student-athlete with a passion for rugby, engineering and sustainability. Studying a Master of Engineering (mechanical with business), he desires to make a meaningful impact through sustainable engineering solutions. He's passionate about sustainable transport systems, renewable energy and waste reduction innovation.
Shawn is involved as a student ambassador for the Faculty of Engineering & IT, the treasurer for the Mechanical Engineering Student Society and an engineer for MUR Motorsports, the University’s student racing team. He was also awarded the prestigious Alan Mulally Leadership in Engineering Scholarship.
A strong advocate for the power of sport, Shawn is a board member at Melbourne University Sport, he captains the UoM rugby team and is a UoM Elite Athlete Scholarship holder.
Shawn is a voracious reader, dabbles in hobby robotics and adores the great outdoors, hiking and camping his way around Australia whenever he gets the chance.
“I dream of making a positive impact on society. I would love to use my engineering background to innovate solutions to the climate crisis by accelerating the transition towards a circular economy powered by clean energy.”
Thea Shields (she/her)

Juris Doctor
Thea is a Juris Doctor student originally from the hills of Mullumbimby. She has an interest in strategic climate litigation and empowering young environmental activists to gain greater knowledge about their legal rights and capacity to influence political process. Thea is the co-coordinator for Extinction Rebellion Vic Legal where she assists in the legal representation for activists arrested for protesting political and social inaction on climate change.
She is interested in innovative legal defences and the potential for the legal system to be utilised as a powerful tool for radical change. Thea envisions a path that involves working with both communities, government and the legal industry to incorporate elements of environmental policy reform.
Thea enjoys DJing and music that spans genres from classical to hard trance. She loves spending time cultivating her urban veggie garden and drinking vast quantities of tea.
“I am passionate about access to climate justice, particularly its inherent intersection with feminism and de-colonisation. The law, as a powerful and fundamental pillar to our society, has a critical role to play in solving the climate crisis, yet remains mystifying, inaccessible and often hostile to those who will need it most.”
Verity Kowal (she/her)

Master of Development Studies
Verity is studying Master of Development Studies and has over a decade of experience working in the not-for-profit sector in Southeast Asia, the Horn of Africa and in Australia, specialising in communications for development as well as child protection and child rights.
Her passion for sustainability began whilst in Ethiopia working on disaster response, where many communities were facing food insecurity and displacement as a result of drought, insect plagues and soil erosion. Verity has worked as a project-based consultant on social sustainability in supply chains in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors and firmly believes that environmental, social, and economic sustainability must go hand in hand.
Verity loves travelling and getting to learn about new cultures as well as drinking coffee and spending time with her dogs.
“Through my work I hope to create better awareness and understanding of complex social issues that will result in people taking positive action – whether it is through a change in their own behaviour, volunteering, donating to a cause, or becoming an advocate and changing the mindset of others.”

Wattle Fellowship Ambassadors

Sophie Lamond (she/her)

Sophie is a PhD candidate and research assistant at the Melbourne School of Government, Melbourne Law School. Sophie holds a Master of Environment from the University of Melbourne with a focus on sustainable food systems and a Bachelor of Arts from the Australian National University.
She researches institutional food environments with a focus on how universities develop and implement comprehensive food policies that create healthier, more sustainable, just and equitable communities. In 2020, she completed a fellowship at UC Berkeley to conduct fieldwork across the USA to investigate this topic. More broadly she has interests in education governance, social procurement, civil society activism and systems change from the individual to institutional spheres.
Sophie has worked on several community food projects including as a director of Fair Food Challenge, an NGO empowering young people to transform campus foodscapes and take an active role in policy development. She also started the Melbourne chapter of the Youth Food Movement and regularly speaks, teaches, and writes about contemporary food politics issues.
Kimi Pellosis (she/her)

Kimberly Pellosis graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Science and Master of Agricultural Sciences. She is a precision agronomist at Precision, a board member director for the Ag Institute of Australia, and the National Students and Early Careers Committee representative for the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand. Throughout her degree, Kimberly was the President of the Graduate Agriculture and Food Society, and team manager for the Melbourne University Softball Club.
As a Crawford Fund Scholar, she has worked with the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research in Timor-Leste regarding intensified and sustainable farming systems. She is an ambassador for Thought For Food, the National Farmers’ Federation: 2030 Leaders Program, and Grain Growers: 2020 Australian Grain Leaders Program. Kimberly is also a volunteer firefighter, and mentors students through Young Scientists of Australia and Engineers Without Borders.
Kimberly strives to drive innovative, economically efficient, and sustainable practices in the Australian agricultural sector. She is geared towards the intersection between agriculture and environmental science, with a long-term goal to be a leader in the AgTech and carbon markets space.
Cristina Napoleone (she/her)

Cristina Margherita Napoleone is an emerging multi-disciplinary artist-curator living and working in Melbourne on Woiworung and Boonwurrung country. She has a background in geography from the University of Melbourne and UC Berkeley with emphases in environmental ethics and communication. Cristina’s studies have propelled her explorations at the intersections of art, technology and the environment across formats that include mixed reality, live audio-visual projections, installation, photography, and writing.
Cristina founded TERRAIN Projects in 2020, an initiative that creates playful physical and digital spaces to remind humans that they are embedded in a more-than-human world. TERRAIN’s other capabilities include curation, spatial and experiential design, creative direction; functioning as both a think tank and community hub. She collaborates with San Francisco based Emergence Magazine and Go Project Films and has previously designed immersive VR displays at Austin’s SXSW for their award-winning film Sanctuaries of Silence.
Cristina’s broader vision and projects have been recently shared as a panelist and speaker for Transitions Film Festival, Real World VR, the NGV Art Book Fair, RMIT University, the Geography Teachers Association of Victoria and Hmmm Podcast.
Hazel Lee (she/her)

Hazel is passionate about responsible consumption and production. During her Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Melbourne, she majored in media and communications and did a student exchange program at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
Her interest and passion for sustainability education and advocacy started when she saw the amount of camping gear waste left behind at music festivals in Victoria. Inspired by a need for change, she co-founded Good Intentions Camping – a sustainable business that reclaims, recycles and hires out festival camping equipment. The idea won The Big Idea social enterprise competition run by The Big Issue. She is proud to have saved bins-loads of camping gear from being incinerated at landfill sites after a single use.
Hazel is now working at a fashion company, providing quality used clothing as an ethical alternative to fast fashion. Here, she works to keep clothing out of landfill and ultimately reduces global waste. She aspires to create digital content to inspire positive change by shining a light on the impact of mindless consumption and through telling bite-sized, interesting and compelling stories people will want to share with their friends.
Hayden Burch (he/him)

Hayden Burch is working as a junior doctor at the Northern Hospital in Melbourne after completing a Bachelor of Science, a Master of Public Health and Doctor of Medicine at the University of Melbourne. He has a particular interest in the human health implications of climate change in Australia, and healthcare decarbonisation, particularly hospital energy supply and is passionate about planetary health and sustainable healthcare teaching within medical curricula.
He is the Victorian chair of the sustainable healthcare committee for Doctors for the Environment and chair of the University of Melbourne Planetary Health Curriculum Taskforce.
Gabi Hayman (she/her)

Gabi is a Doctor of Medicine student at the University of Melbourne. She has previously completed a Bachelor of Biomedicine with a focus in population and global health through an honours project. Gabi is pursuing a career combining clinical medicine and public health research and policy.
She has a long-held sense of concern about planetary health and its impact on human health which has fueled her study and involvement in several initiatives in this area.
Gabi is involved with Doctors for the Environment Australia as a member of the UoM student committee and secretary of the organisation’s National Sustainable Healthcare Special Interest Group. She has previously volunteered with the UoM chapter of Habitat for Humanity and is a recipient of the Leaders in Communities Award.
Jeff Xia (he/him)

Jeff is a business analyst at McKinsey & Company and a passionate environmentalist interested in green metals, recycling and decarbonisation strategies. He is a graduate of the Bachelor of Commerce (economics) from the University of Melbourne and has a particular interest in environmental economics and looking into how private sector decision-making, public policy and individual-level action can drive progress towards a more sustainable future.
Jeff sits on the youth advisory committee at AMP Capital, where he helps guide investment decisions in sustainable funds, and on the Faculty of Business and Economics young alumni committee.
He has co-founded a sustainability-focused social enterprise that facilitates youth-led sustainability projects in low socio-economic schools; previously led 180 Degrees Consulting, student-run social impact consultancy; and has been involved in researching zero-emission metals at a leading climate think tank; alongside internships at Goldman Sachs, Google and the Victorian Treasury.
Harriet Deans (she/her)

Harriet Deans is an early childhood teacher and researcher, and Green Impact ambassador at the University of Melbourne Early Learning Centre. She holds a Bachelor of Environments (urban planning and design), Post Graduate Diploma of Teaching (secondary) and a Master of Education (early childhood teaching). She is committed to embedding sustainability throughout early learning curriculum and dedicates her time to engaging colleagues, children, and their families in learning about how sustainability can be enacted in daily life.
Harriet is passionate about reinforcing values of environmental stewardship and mentors her colleagues to ensure consistency in environmental role modelling within her workplace. She has designed and led several key projects focused on children’s ‘eco-literacy’ and early-learning staff training in this area and has presented at conferences and forums on this work.
As a teacher and researcher, Harriet is committed to progressing and challenging environmental understanding, encouraging and empowering people to rethink what meaningful contributions they can make to society; locally, nationally, and globally.
Kathleen Owens (she/her)

Kathleen is currently completing her final year of a Master of Chemical Engineering with an additional business stream. She has previously completed a Bachelor of Science majoring in chemical systems. She is passionate about sustainability and the environment, and believes that change must come from both small, individual actions and large-scale industry and policy shifts. She is interested in working in a cross-disciplinary way to find the best outcome or innovative solutions when solving complex problems such as sustainability.
Kathleen is a student representative of the University of Melbourne Chemical Engineering Student Society and is the events manager at Robogals Melbourne – part of an international network which aims to inspire, engage, and empower young women into engineering and STEM related fields. She is passionate about increasing diversity in all levels of education and business, providing everyone with an opportunity to reach their best selves.
Jeanette Chan (she/they)

Jeanette is a strong advocate for social and economic inclusion and environmental sustainability. She is a Bachelor of Commerce graduate from the University of Melbourne. She is currently a project officer at the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions focused on agriculture policy issues and recently trained with The Climate Reality Project led by Al Gore.
Jeanette’s interest in sustainability encompasses all three of its social, environmental, and economic pillars. This is grounded in a fundamental belief in equal opportunity, inclusion, and sustainable development.
While at university, Jeanette was the president of the Melbourne Microfinance Initiative, where she led domestic capacity building initiatives in support of purpose-driven careers, and international pro-bono consulting projects focused on financial inclusion. Her interest in development and inclusion have also led her to work with World Vision Australia and the Giant Leap Fund, an impact venture capital firm. A strong mental health advocate, she is passionate about equity and an intersectional approach to the lived experience of complex mental health issues in her work with SANE Australia.
Tim Shue (he/him)

Timothy Shue is a sustainability communications specialist with a focus on sustainable cities. He is curious about communicating climate change and likes to explore ways to bridge research and practice. He currently works as the communications and marketing manager at the Yarra Energy Foundation. He completed a Bachelor of Environments and a Master of Environment at the University of Melbourne.
Timothy has worked in communications for national and international not-for-profits and established a multi-disciplinary sustainability student leadership program while working for local government in Denmark. He is also the co-host of the podcast, ‘Talking In This Climate’, which is dedicated to empowering listeners with mindfulness about the way they communicate climate change and environmental issues.
Timothy continues his involvement with the University of Melbourne as an alumni and through involvement with the Office for Environmental Programs, including hosting a climate language workshop for Master of Environment students, and tutoring ‘Interdisciplinarity and the Environment’. He enjoys engaging with students and believes their knowledge and passion has an essential role to play in the climate movement.