Veerawit Tianchainan is the Executive Director of Greenpeace Southeast Asia, providing strategic leadership across its operations in Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia. With over 25 years of experience in environmental governance, human rights, and international cooperation, he has been at the forefront of advancing rights-based climate action and sustainability across the region. 

Before joining Greenpeace, Veerawit served as Chief of Party for the USAID–WWF Mekong for the Future program, leading regional initiatives that strengthened environmental governance and promoted community-centered policy solutions in the Greater Mekong and ASEAN. He is also the founder of the Thai Committee for Refugees Foundation, Thailand’s first refugee-focused NGO, and has worked with the UNHCR, the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, and The Freedom Story. 

His leadership bridges environmental science, human rights, and public health, emphasizing that a healthy environment is fundamental to human well-being. Veerawit continues to champion inclusive climate solutions that integrate indigenous knowledge, policy innovation, and grassroots action to protect both people and the planet. 

Francyne Wase-Jacklick is the Secretary of Health and Human Services for the Republic of the Marshall Islands. A graduate of Hawaii Pacific University in Biology, she has led public health initiatives addressing climate change, infectious disease outbreaks, and women's health. Her career spans communications, program planning, and community-based services, including work with homeless populations in Hawaii. She played a key role during the Zika and COVID-19 responses and champions evidence-based policy for health equity. Francyne is also pursuing an MBA at the University of the South Pacific and continues to advocate for sustainable health reforms across the Marshall Islands.

Dr. John S. Ji is a tenured Associate Professor at the Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University. He researches climate-related health impacts—air pollution, greenness, and temperature extremes—especially among aging populations. He co-chairs the WHO Technical Advisory Group on Climate Health Ethics and serves as Senior Technical Officer at the WHO Asia-Pacific Centre for Environment and Health in Seoul. A graduate of Johns Hopkins and Harvard, Dr. Ji has published in Nature Medicine and The Lancet, and advises on China’s Health National Adaptation Plan. He contributes to The Lancet Countdown and Healthy Cities initiatives.

Prof. Kim Oanh is the Distinguished Professor of the Environmental Engineering and Management Program at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand. She is also the founding Director of Center for Nexus of Air Quality, Health, Ecosystem, and Climate at AIT. She has over 35 years of working experience in research, education, consultancy, and capacity building and is internationally recognized for her work on air pollution and climate in Asia with a focus on Southeast Asia. She spends untiring efforts to provide a better characterization of air pollution issues in Asian developing countries through field measurements, emission inventory, and modeling studies at urban, national, and regional scales. She has published 2 books (ed.), 130+ international peer-reviewed scientific papers, 45+ book chapters, and 60+ important development reports. With her extensive experience and professional networking capacity she has conducted, as PI or Co-PI, 60+ regional collaboration research projects. She also organized, co-organized, and served as a key resource person for 200+ training courses in air quality and climate related topics. Under her supervision as the advisor, as of 2024, there are 145 Master’s and 16 Ph D AIT graduates who are now working in Asia and beyond. Professor Kim Oanh has taken sabbaticals at the University of Washington in Seattle and University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, USA (2004), and the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies, Germany (2012).

Dr. Tippawan Prapamontol is a senior researcher at the Environment and Health Research Unit, Research Institute for Health Sciences, Chiang Mai University. Her work focuses on environmental health, particularly the impacts of air pollution, pesticides, and biomass burning on vulnerable populations in Northern Thailand. She has led numerous interdisciplinary studies on PM2.5, respiratory health, and chemical exposure, contributing to national and international research collaborations. Dr. Prapamontol is widely published in environmental science and public health journals and is recognised for integrating community-based approaches and Indigenous knowledge into climate-health research and policy development.

Professor Kraichat Tantrakarnapa is involved in both teaching and research in Social and Environmental Medicine at Mahidol University. He has led numerous national and international projects and maintains strong collaborations with agencies such as GIZ (Germany) and Thai government organisations. His research partnerships span the UK, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia, and Southeast Asia through programs like the Newton Fund, e-Asia, PMU-B, the Wellcome Trust, IRDR International Centre of Excellence Taipei Advanced Institute Seed Grant Program and ICoE-Taipei. He has been working with both government and private sectors to provide the scientific information for working groups and further policy work. Dr. Kraichat holds a PhD (Environmental Engineering), MSc (Environmental Management), and BSc (Statistics), with postgraduate training in Occupational Health.  

Ivanie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning with eight years of professional experience and has contributed to more than 20 projects in the development sector. Her work spans academic research, advocacy, experimentation, and program implementation, with a strong focus on climate adaptation. At Kopernik, Ivanie has led projects on air pollution, focusing on testing technology interventions to improve indoor air quality for vulnerable groups, including children, pregnant women, and the elderly. She has also conducted impact evaluations of multi-year projects in several locations in Indonesia across Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), and economic livelihoods in agriculture and fisheries.

Dr. Ann is the vice-dean and (university) lecturer in the Faculty of Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering at the Institute of Technology of Cambodia (ITC), focusing on teaching spatial hydrology, GIS, and remote sensing. His Ph.D. research was mostly about how the physical properties of sediment affect biogeochemical processes in riverbeds, especially the amount of biofilm and enzyme activity in hyporheic zones. His current research focuses on using biostatistics, deep learning, and machine learning to determine the impact of environmental factors, such as hydroclimate variables and land use changes derived from satellite imagery, on water quality, micro- and macro-organisms, ecological functioning, and biodiversity in the Lower Mekong Basin. He is also interested in modeling hydrological processes at the watershed scale, climate change, and health-related issues. He has participated as a principal investigator (PI), co-PI, or team member in several projects focusing on the integration of hydrometeorological, ecological, and social research. 

Dinda Shabrina, Research and Collaboration Manager at Nafas Foundation, holds a strong interest in the interdisciplinary science and science systems policy regarding air pollution in Indonesia. Her interest was developed during her Master's at Victoria University of Wellington and builds upon her foundational knowledge from her Bachelor's in Meteorology, where she assessed the potential impact of air pollution on the local weather. Today, she applies this systemic, interdisciplinary approach to navigate air pollution's complex impacts at Nafas Foundation, a non-profit organisation by Nafas Indonesia which tackles Indonesia air pollution through research, education, and collaborative actions.

Asst. Prof. Dr. Keonakhone Khounvilay is an Assistant Professor and Senior Air Quality Expert at the National University of Laos. Holding a D.Eng. in Chemical and Environmental Engineering, he has over a decade of experience in environmental projects across multiple countries. His expertise spans air quality assessment, climate attribution modeling, wastewater treatment design, and biofuel production from waste materials. Asst. Prof. Dr. Khounvilay has contributed to international initiatives such as the Clean Air for Sustainable ASEAN (CASA) and CLEAR-HEALTH projects, and has led numerous national projects focused on sustainable industrial development, biogas technology, and plastic waste management. 

Budi Haryanto is a Professor and former Chair of the Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Public Health, and Chairman of the Research Center for Climate Change at the University of Indonesia since 2017. His research focuses on environmental epidemiology, including the health effects of air pollution, lead, and climate change. He serves as a Board Director of the Pacific Basin Consortium on Environment and Health, Advisory Group member of APRU Global Health, and Fellow of the Collegium Ramazzini. Professor Budi also leads national initiatives on climate change and human health in Indonesia

Professor Bin Jalaludin is a senior public health physician and environmental epidemiologist with extensive expertise in air pollution, climate, and health. He is Manager of Population Health Intelligence at South Western Sydney Local Health District, Conjoint Professor at UNSW, and Honorary Fellow at the University of Sydney and University of Wollongong. He holds an MBBS, MPH, and PhD from the University of Sydney. Professor Jalaludin is a key investigator in the HEAL Network and Centre for Safe Air, and serves on WHO expert groups. His research spans environmental exposures, health equity, and policy-relevant epidemiology.

Achim founded AirGradient in 2019 after witnessing severe air pollution during Thailand's "burning season" while volunteering at his son's school. As a social impact business, AirGradient provides affordable, accurate air quality solutions using open-source designs—making hardware schematics, firmware, and design files freely available under a Creative Commons license. This approach has empowered a global community of over 30,000 users in 80+ countries, democratizing access to air quality information for communities most affected by pollution and climate change.

Dr. Shiva Nagendra SM is a Professor at IIT Madras with over 24 years of experience in research, teaching, and consultancy. He has authored two books, published 120+ journal papers, 100+ conference papers, and holds five patents. He leads the CEPHA Network (UKRI-funded), is founder of AQMA and IICAQM, and serves as associate editor for several journals. His research focuses on air quality management, including monitoring, modelling, exposure assessment, and emission control. He is a WHO expert on airborne transmission of respiratory pathogens and collaborates widely on national and international grants.

Prarthana Borah is the Vice President of Sustainability at Momentum, where she designs ESG, Net Zero, and Nature Positive strategies, with a focus on supply chains and MSMEs. A sustainability leader with expertise in climate action, air quality management, and corporate responsibility across emerging markets and the Global South, she has previously served as India Country Director for CDP and Clean Air Asia. Prarthana has led innovative programs on emissions reduction, resilience building, and climate finance, while contributing to national and international policy dialogues. She is also committed to mentoring young climate leaders and advancing just and sustainable transitions.  

Dr. Sandeep Pai is an author, advisor and researcher and has worked with think-tanks such as the Center for Strategic and International Studies and multilateral organisations like Asian Development Bank over the last 15 years. His expertise spans the political economy of energy transitions, coal sector dynamics, energy access, and just transitions. In 2018, he published his first book on global energy transitions, titled Total Transition: The Human Side of the Renewable Energy Revolution. He holds a PhD in resources, environment, and sustainability from the University of British Columbia. He also holds a joint MSc degree in environmental sciences, policy, and management from Lund University, Central European University, and the University of the Aegean. 

Dr. Garima Dadhich is Associate Professor and Head of the School of Business Environment at the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India. She leads the Centre for Business and Human Rights and the Centre for Responsible Business Advisory. A PhD in Corporate Governance, she holds advanced degrees from Queen Mary University of London and certifications from Harvard and Cambridge. Dr. Dadhich is a pioneer in ESG education in India, having launched the Certified ESG Professional – Impact Leader Programme. She provides policy support to the Government of India and serves as visiting faculty at LBSNAA.

Professor Linda Payi Ford is a Rak Mak Mak Marranunggu Traditional Owner from Kurrindju in the Northern Territory. She is a Senior Research Fellow at the Northern Institute, Charles Darwin University, where she leads Indigenous Knowledge Systems research. Her work integrates Mirrwana and Wurrkama methodology, grounded in Aboriginal epistemologies, across disciplines. Educated in both bush and formal institutions, Ford has received multiple research grants and national recognition, including a NAIDOC Caring for Country Award. She is deeply committed to preserving Aboriginal languages, culture, and Country, and contributes to national and international dialogues on Indigenous futures and education.

The Hon Bill Shorten became Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Canberra (UC) in January 2025, after a career that included leadership roles with the Australian Workers’ Union and 18 years serving federal politics, including six as Leader of the Opposition. Bill’s broad aim for the UC is continuous improvement: in the student experience, the teacher experience, the researcher experience and in the ways UC contributes to the community of Canberra, the region, the nation and the world. 

Rebecca White has been a Labor Member of Federal Parliament since 2025 and is the Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Indigenous Health and Women.

Veronica Matthews is a Quandamooka woman from Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) and an Associate Professor at the University Centre for Rural Health, University of Sydney. She co-leads the Indigenous Knowledge Systems theme within the HEAL Network and leads a collaboration on First Nation building for health and wellbeing. Her research focuses on improving holistic Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health care systems through systems-thinking, quality improvement, and community-based participatory research. Veronica’s work integrates environmental, social, and cultural determinants of health, aiming to embed Indigenous knowledges into policy and practice for equitable, sustainable health outcomes

Dr Kate Wylie is a GP and the executive director of Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA), a not-for-profit advocacy organisation that recognises that human health depends upon a healthy environment.

Based in Adelaide, Dr Wylie’s work centres on the need for emissions reduction and the protection of biodiversity in order to protect human health and on the need for sustainability in health care.

Dr Wylie is the immediate past chair of the RACGP’s Climate and Environmental Medicine Specific Interest Group, elevating the need for climate action with GPs across Australia and a previous chair of DEA. 

In all her work, Dr Wylie applies a medical model to the climate crisis and as such offers a treatment plan for climate change. She seeks to activate her audience so they can help create the paradigm shift that we need to combat the climate crisis. 

“Our planet is worth saving, and so are we.”

Jan McDonald is Professor of Environmental and Climate Law at the University of Tasmania, a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law, and Lead Councillor with the Biodiversity Council. She serves on the Board of the Tasmanian Land Conservancy and has served on the Board of the Environmental Defenders Office – Australia’s largest public interest environmental law firm. 

Francis Nona is a Senior Lecturer in Indigenous Medical Education at the Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, Queensland University of Technology (QUT). He holds a Master of Public Health from the University of Queensland and is a Torres Strait Islander, whose work bridges public health, Indigenous knowledge systems, and climate justice. He is also actively involved in advocacy and policy work, contributing to national conversations on climate litigation and Indigenous-led responses to environmental change.

Professor Cordia Chu AM is Director of the Centre for Environment and Population Health at Griffith University. With a PhD in medical sociology and anthropology, she is internationally recognised for her work in global health, health promotion, and climate change adaptation. Her research spans eco-friendly healthy settings, reproductive health, risk communication, and integrated health planning. She has led over 70 international and national projects, published more than 230 academic works, and supervised over 50 PhDs. A Member of the Order of Australia, Professor Chu is committed to translational research and capacity building across the Asia-Pacific to advance sustainable, equitable health systems

Dr Tamara Riley is a Wiradjuri woman and Research Fellow at Yardhura Walani – the National Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing Research at the Australian National University. A veterinarian and epidemiologist, she specialises in One Health—exploring the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health—particularly within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Tamara holds a PhD, MPhil in Applied Epidemiology, and a Bachelor of Veterinary Science. She has been a Visiting Scholar at the University of Edinburgh and contributes to Indigenous health, zoonoses, and data sovereignty through interdisciplinary research and policy engagement

Vicki Sellick is a Senior Policy Officer in the One Health Unit of the Interim Australian Centre for Disease Control. She is the environmental health lead for the One Health Unit, due to her knowledge and experience in environmental public health, especially the health impacts of a changing climate. She has been with the Australian CDC for over a year but comes with many years’ experience in state public health in South Australia across health climate adaptation and risk reduction, emerging health risks from the environment especially heatwaves and air quality, disaster risk reduction, horizon scanning, intelligence and public health disaster response. Living is South Australia, she has had a keen eye on the unfolding algal bloom on her doorstep, as well as the drivers and risk pathways for this event. 

Dr Paul Barnes is a Senior Research, Policy and Practice Fellow at Griffith University’s Centre for Environment & Population Health and a leading expert in disaster risk reduction and resilience. With over 28 years of experience across academia and government, his work focuses on climate change impacts, One Health, biosecurity, and national risk management strategies. He has held senior roles at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, UNSW, and Queensland Disaster Research Alliance. Dr Barnes has advised national and international bodies, attracted over $10M in research funding, and continues to shape policy and practice for safer, more resilient communities.

Professor Murray is a marine biologist researching ecology and evolution, using molecular genetic techniques. Marine biotoxins produced by phytoplankton, single-celled marine protists, are amongst the most toxic substances yet recorded. They can have severe detrimental impacts on a diverse range of marine species and ecosystems. In particular, poor water quality from harmful algae and pathogenic bacteria impact fisheries and aquaculture industries, both in Australia and worldwide. Phytoplankton are increasingly impacted by climate change, and their toxins are changing their distribution as a result. Many important harmful algal species are little known, and we frequently discover species new to science, and investigate their phylogenetics and evolution.

Professor Murray leads the Seafood Safety: Marine Algal Biotoxins research program - developing novel genetic tools for the monitoring of marine water quality and implementing them across important aquaculture and fishing industries and work closely with industries and government such as shellfish aquaculture, fisheries, food safety regulators, and the environmental biotechnology sector.

Professor Craig Williams is Dean of Students in the College of Health and a leading researcher at UniSA STEM, University of South Australia. With a PhD in Biomedical Science, his work focuses on the intersection of environmental and public health, particularly mosquito-borne diseases and infectious disease ecology. He leads the Healthy Environments, Healthy People research group and has developed tools like the RR Forecaster to predict arbovirus outbreaks. A passionate science communicator and educator, Craig has received multiple awards, including the South Australian Young Scientist of the Year and a national citation for outstanding contributions to student learning.

Dr Alison Turnbull is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, where she leads the Fish Health, Biosecurity and Seafood Safety team. Alison is focused on current and emerging seafood safety and market access issues impacting the Australian seafood industry. Her main research focus has been marine biotoxins associated with harmful algal blooms, pathogenic Vibrio, facael and chemical contaminants. Alison is passionate about translating research into impact. She works closely with industry and regulators to design and deliver research projects targeted to solve food safety or market access issues. Wherever possible the pathway to uptake by industry and government is considered in the research design

Veronica Matthews is a Quandamooka woman from Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) and an Associate Professor at the University Centre for Rural Health, University of Sydney. She co-leads the Indigenous Knowledge Systems theme within the HEAL Network and leads a collaboration on First Nation building for health and wellbeing. Her research focuses on improving holistic Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health care systems through systems-thinking, quality improvement, and community-based participatory research. Veronica’s work integrates environmental, social, and cultural determinants of health, aiming to embed Indigenous knowledges into policy and practice for equitable, sustainable health outcomes

Professor Linda Payi Ford is a Rak Mak Mak Marranunggu Traditional Owner from Kurrindju in the Northern Territory. She is a Senior Research Fellow at the Northern Institute, Charles Darwin University, where she leads Indigenous Knowledge Systems research. Her work integrates Mirrwana and Wurrkama methodology, grounded in Aboriginal epistemologies, across disciplines. Educated in both bush and formal institutions, Ford has received multiple research grants and national recognition, including a NAIDOC Caring for Country Award. She is deeply committed to preserving Aboriginal languages, culture, and Country, and contributes to national and international dialogues on Indigenous futures and education.

Professor Cordia Chu AM is Director of the Centre for Environment and Population Health at Griffith University. With a PhD in medical sociology and anthropology, she is internationally recognised for her work in global health, health promotion, and climate change adaptation. Her research spans eco-friendly healthy settings, reproductive health, risk communication, and integrated health planning. She has led over 70 international and national projects, published more than 230 academic works, and supervised over 50 PhDs. A Member of the Order of Australia, Professor Chu is committed to translational research and capacity building across the Asia-Pacific to advance sustainable, equitable health systems

Professor Priya Rajagopalan is Associate Dean (Research and Innovation) at RMIT University’s School of Property, Construction and Project Management, and Director of the Post Carbon Research Centre. An internationally recognised building scientist, her research spans energy-efficient building design, indoor environmental quality, urban climatology, and climate adaptation. She has led multidisciplinary teams and secured major grants to develop innovative methods for sustainable infrastructure and urban resilience. Priya’s work integrates citizen science, building performance simulation, and urban microclimate monitoring. She teaches in the Master of Energy Efficient and Sustainable Building program, bridging research and practice to shape climate-responsive built environments.

Dr Rebecca McNaught is a Research Fellow at the University Centre for Rural Health (University of Sydney), where she explores the intersection of climate change, health, and wellbeing in rural communities. With over 20 years of experience in climate adaptation and disaster risk management across the Asia-Pacific and Middle East, she has worked with the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, UNDP, and the World Bank. Her PhD at Griffith University focuses on collaborative governance for climate and disaster-resilient development. Rebecca is also a board member of Plan C and co-leads the Northern Rivers Community Resilience Team.

Bhiamie Williamson is a Euahlayi man from north-west New South Wales with familial ties to north-west Queensland. Bhiamie is a Senior Lecturer at Monash University. He leads the National Indigenous Disaster Resilience research program, the only Indigenous-led nationally focussed research program focussed on quantifying the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities before, during and after major environmental disasters.

Professor Debra Rickwood is a Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of Canberra and Chief Scientific Advisor to headspace, Australia’s National Youth Mental Health Foundation. A leading expert in youth mental health, her research focuses on help-seeking behaviour, early intervention, and mental health service delivery. She has contributed extensively to national policy and research translation, with over 200 publications. Professor Rickwood is a Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society and has held senior advisory roles with the NHMRC. Her work bridges academic research and real-world impact, improving mental health outcomes for young people across Australia.

A/Prof Fiona Charlson is a well-respected and experienced psychiatric epidemiologist and health services researcher who has dedicated her career to addressing challenging global mental health research questions. Her work at the Queensland Centre of Mental Health Research and School of Public Health, University of Queensland, has focused on developing an evidence base to support adaptation and mitigation strategies that address the mental health impacts of climate change. 

As the leader of UQ’s ‘Mental Health and a Changing Climate Transdisciplinary Impact Research Network’, A/Prof Charlson is at the forefront of efforts to understand and address the mental health impacts of climate change. Her work is important in ensuring that policymakers, healthcare providers, and communities have the knowledge and tools they need to adapt to the changing climate and support the mental health and well-being of individuals and communities around the world. 

In addition to her research work, A/Prof Charlson is also highly sought after for her technical expertise, and she has collaborated with a wide range of Australian and international stakeholders, including the World Health Organization, United Nations Development Program, US National Institutes of Health, and numerous government and non-government organizations. 

Veronica Matthews is a Quandamooka woman from Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) and an Associate Professor at the University Centre for Rural Health, University of Sydney. She co-leads the Indigenous Knowledge Systems theme within the HEAL Network and leads a collaboration on First Nation building for health and wellbeing. Her research focuses on improving holistic Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health care systems through systems-thinking, quality improvement, and community-based participatory research. Veronica’s work integrates environmental, social, and cultural determinants of health, aiming to embed Indigenous knowledges into policy and practice for equitable, sustainable health outcomes

Lisa Paul AO PSM is the seventh Chancellor of the University of Canberra and a distinguished Australian public servant. She served as Secretary of the Federal Department of Education from 2004 to 2016, advising five Prime Ministers and nine Cabinet Ministers. Lisa has held leadership roles across education, science, and innovation policy, and chaired the board of headspace. She is a director on multiple boards including the Future Battery Industry CRC and the Australian Academy of Science. Recognised with an Officer of the Order of Australia and a Public Service Medal, Lisa is a passionate advocate for social justice, equity, and inclusion.

Professor Lauren Rickards directs the La Trobe Climate Change Adaptation Lab and Chairs the Climate Change Exchange. A cross-disciplinary researcher, her work is focused on understanding the systemic complexities of climate change impacts and risks and the intellectual and practical work required to adapt well.  She is a Lead Author of the recent National Climate Risk Assessment where she led analysis of the cross-system issue of Governance Risk and six regional case studies of complex climate change impacts. She was also a Lead Author of the Australasia chapter of the latest IPCC Assessment Report on Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability.

Nick Godden is a director in the National Adaptation Policy Office in the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. The National Adaptation Policy Office led the development of the recently released National Adaptation Plan. Nick’s team has responsibility for supporting mainstreaming climate adaptation into health, social support, infrastructure, energy and housing policies and programs across the Commonwealth. Nick has worked in the Australian Public Service for fifteen years in climate change, environment, circular economy and strategic policy roles.

Dr Georgia Behrens is Assistant Director of the Australian Government’s National Health, Sustainability and Climate Unit. In this role, she helps lead implementation of Australia’s first National Health and Climate Strategy. Georgia trained and worked as a medical doctor before moving into public policy. 

Dr Kimberly Humphrey is a Senior Emergency Medicine Specialist and Public Health Medical Consultant at SA Health, and a Clinical Senior Lecturer at the University of Adelaide, with recognised expertise in climate change and health. She holds Masters degrees in infectious diseases, health leadership, and public health, and a Graduate Diploma in Emergency and Disaster Management. Kimberly has many years of experience in government, including as Climate Lead for SA Health, where she led development of the South Australian Climate Change and Health Framework, and has contributed to national and international climate-health policy through Doctors for the Environment Australia and as a member of the WHO Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health Steering Group. Dr Humphrey was a 2022-2023 Fellow in Climate Change and Human Health at Harvard University and sits on the Editorial Board for the Journal of Climate Change and Health.

Michelle Isles is Chief Executive Officer of the Climate and Health Alliance, Australia’s leading body advocating for climate action in the health sector. With over 20 years of experience across the Asia-Pacific, she has worked at the intersection of climate, health, and wellbeing, influencing national policy on energy, housing, and pollution. Michelle has led innovation and strategy within essential service organisations and advised health boards on climate risk. Her leadership focuses on amplifying healthcare voices in climate advocacy, building sector resilience, and promoting sustainable practices to safeguard public health in the face of the climate crisis.

Professor Veena Sahajwalla is an internationally recognised materials scientist, engineer, and inventor revolutionising recycling science. She is renowned for pioneering the high temperature transformation of waste in the production of a new generation of ‘green materials’ at the UNSW Sustainable Materials Research and Technology (SMaRT) Centre, where she is Founding Director. Professor Veena is the inventor of polymer injection technology, known as green steel, an eco-friendly process for using recycled tyres in steel production. In 2018, Veena launched the world's first e-waste MICROfactorie^TM and in 2019 she launched her plastics and Green Ceramics MICROfactories^TM, a recycling technology breakthrough. Professor Veena is the director of the ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub for ‘microrecycling’, a leading national research centre that works in collaboration with industry to ensure new recycling science is translated into real world environmental and economic benefits. Professor Veena has also been appointed hub leader of the national NESP Sustainable Communities and Waste Hub. In 2021, Professor Veena featured in the ABC’s Australian Story and she was named the 2022 NSW Australian of the Year in recognition of her work. Professor Veena was named the 2022 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes winner for the Celestino Eureka Prize for Promoting Understanding of Science and was also awarded the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE) Clunies Ross Innovation Award. In 2023, Professor Veena was awarded the Engineering Australia Chemical College Chemical Engineer Achievement Award and the Good Design 2023 Women in Design Award. In 2025, Professor Veena was awarded the ‘Officer of the Order of Australia’ (AO) for distinguished service to science, sustainable materials research and technology and waste management on Australia Day. Professor Veena won the prestigious Excellence in Sustainable Innovation (Industrial) Award at an event honouring trailblazing and visionary women as part of the Vogue Codes Summit 2025.

Dr. Geetika Bhagwat-Russell is an early career researcher and NHMRC-HEAL Research and Policy & Practice Fellow at the Australian Plastics Research and Innovation Lab (APRIL), University of Newcastle (NSW). She also oversees the materials testing and research services in her team’s ISO-certified lab. 

Her research focuses on the risks of human exposure to micro- and nanoplastics, the harmful chemicals they carry, and emerging contaminants. With extensive expertise in multi-omics, microbial ecology, polymer chemistry, and pollutant monitoring, she is working to unravel the particle, chemical, and biological toxicity of micro- and nanoplastics. Her doctoral work laid the foundation by exploring how microplastics interact with biofilms and environmental contaminants. 

Dr. Bhagwat-Russell has successfully secured competitive funding and her collaborations span across the USA, South Africa, India, China, Fiji, Nigeria, Singapore, and Germany, covering topics such as biodegradable plastics, water remediation, plastic pollution, and human health. 

Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. Through her research, Dr. Bhagwat-Russell seeks to generate critical knowledge that strengthens the Food, Soil, and Water Security theme of HEAL, raises community awareness, and informs evidence-based policy reforms to protect both human and planetary health. 

Evan Sutter is an author, keynote speaker, wellbeing coach, and Starboard Ocean Ambassador passionate about reconnecting humans with nature and purpose. Evan blends storytelling, adventure, and psychology to inspire positive change. A lifelong nature lover and ultra-endurance athlete, he’s currently completing his film Run River Run—a 470km environmental journey exploring our deep connection to rivers, resilience, and the natural world. Through his talks, writing, and podcast, Evan invites others to slow down, explore, and rediscover what truly makes life meaningful.

Dr Rebecca McNaught is a Research Fellow at the University Centre for Rural Health (University of Sydney), where she explores the intersection of climate change, health, and wellbeing in rural communities. With over 20 years of experience in climate adaptation and disaster risk management across the Asia-Pacific and Middle East, she has worked with the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, UNDP, and the World Bank. Her PhD at Griffith University focuses on collaborative governance for climate and disaster-resilient development. Rebecca is also a board member of Plan C and co-leads the Northern Rivers Community Resilience Team.

Lindsay is the Knowledge Exchange Coordinator at the HEAL Global Research Centre, University of Canberra, where she aims to translate the outcomes and impacts of the HEAL Network’s research to governments, organisations and the general public. For the last 15 years she has worked for the Australian Federal Government in their Research Division and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, with Honours, from the Australian National University. 

Dharani Sabba is the Senior Centre Coordinator for the HEAL Global Research Centre at University of Canberra. She plays a pivotal role in coordinating strategic initiatives, research impact reporting, and stakeholder engagement across the HEAL Network. With a PhD and a diverse background in clean energy, she brings extensive experience in research management, leadership, and strategic operations. Prior to HEAL, she was Program Manager for the ANU Zero-Carbon Energy for the Asia-Pacific initiative, where she led transdisciplinary collaborations and policy engagement. Dharani was previously a scientist at Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), and later managed knowledge sharing portfolios for R&D and decarbonisation projects at the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). Her work bridges science, policy, and community impact.

Veronica Matthews is a Quandamooka woman from Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) and an Associate Professor at the University Centre for Rural Health, University of Sydney. She co-leads the Indigenous Knowledge Systems theme within the HEAL Network and leads a collaboration on First Nation building for health and wellbeing. Her research focuses on improving holistic Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health care systems through systems-thinking, quality improvement, and community-based participatory research. Veronica’s work integrates environmental, social, and cultural determinants of health, aiming to embed Indigenous knowledges into policy and practice for equitable, sustainable health outcomes