Inspiring women leaders accelerate climate action

Inspirational women from professional fields including environmental science, engineering, law, financial services, sustainability and the not-for-profit sector are joining forces to tackle climate change as part of a global mentoring program.

The City of Sydney is supporting 20 emerging climate leaders and their innovative, environmental projects through the C40’s renowned Women4Climate mentoring program.

Sydney is the first city in Australia to sign up to the global leadership program which pairs mentees with 20 established leaders from business, government, media and the not-for-profit sector.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore congratulated the 20 women for their ongoing work to accelerate action on climate change and recognised the value that their mentors bring to the projects.

“These 20 women represent the smart and fearless climate advocates we urgently need to tackle our climate emergency,” the Lord Mayor said.

“Our C40 Cities Women4Climate mentees, who all live and work in Sydney, were chosen from a competitive field of women at the forefront of global climate action.

“In the lead up to April’s C40 Cities Women4Climate Conference, this mentorship program aims to empower the next generation of climate champions by pairing them with some of Australia’s best leaders.

“Together, they will develop innovative projects to tackle climate change and maintain hope in the face of state and federal inaction on climate change. We expect great things of these dynamic teams.”

The program includes projects to rebuild the energy market to be clean and sustainable, green the built environment one building at a time, help the finance industry to understand that climate risk equals financial risk, develop schemes to split incentives between tenants and landlords for energy efficiency upgrades, and create a supportive network of renewable energy professionals.

Other mentees will develop projects that support the local share-economy and the reuse of existing resources, encourage the community and businesses to reduce waste, advocate for more green space for local communities, crowd-fund a community solar garden, and research the water requirements of trees under climate change.

Mentees will meet with their mentors at least once a month until the Women4Climate Conference hosted by the City of Sydney at Sydney Town Hall in April 2020, when the mentees will present their final projects.

Women4Climate Sydney mentees and mentors:

Dani Alexander (Researcher, Institute for Sustainable Futures) mentored by Jacki Johnson (Co-chair, United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative Global Steering Committee and Co-chair, Australian Sustainable Finance Initiative) Claudia Barton (renewable energy engineer) mentored by Siobhan Toohill (Group Head of Sustainability, Westpac Group) Emma Bombonato (Manager of Environmental Sustainability, Sydney Opera House) mentored by Beck Dawson (Chief Resilience Officer, Resilient Sydney) Marine Calmettes (Sustainability Manager, Corporate and Investment Property, Frasers Property) mentored by Emma Herd (CEO, Investor Group on Climate Change) Sofia Carvajal (President, Hurstville Community Garden) mentored by Ronni Kahn AO (Founder and CEO, OzHarvest) Duygu Caymaz (Sustainability Programs Coordinator, Veolia ANZ) mentored by Ming Long (Chair, AMP Capital Funds Management Limited) Amy Croucher (Founder, Inner West Tool Library and A Library of Things) mentored by Natalie Isaacs (Founder and CEO, 1 Million Women) Melinda Dewsnap (Sustainability Engagement Manager – Residential, City of Sydney) mentored by Naomi Hogan (National Coordinator, Lock the Gate Alliance) Jacqueline Fetchet (renewable energy lawyer and Associate Solicitor, Herbert Smith Freehills) mentored by Monica Barone (CEO, City of Sydney) Claire Higgins (Emergency Management Support Officer, Northern Beaches Council) mentored by Bernie Hobbs (Presenter and Science Writer, ABC) Madeleine Hill (Team and Communications Coordinator, Investor Group on Climate Change) mentored by Juliette Wright OAM (Director and CEO, GIVIT Founder) Komal Jalan (Senior Investment Stewardship Analyst at NSW Treasury Corporation) mentored by Monica Richter (Senior Manager Low Carbon Futures, WWF-Australia) Anna Jane Linke (Founder and CEO, Seaside Scavenge) mentored by Blair Palese (Founder and Director, 350.org Australia) Tricia Lorenzo (Senior Business Development Manager, Flow Power) mentored by Kim McKay AO (Director and CEO, Australian Museum) Christine Luo (Cluster Program Evaluation Manager, Department of Premier and Cabinet) mentored by Preeti Bajaj (CEO, Clipsal Solar) Anna Mitchell (Senior Sustainability Strategist, City of Sydney) mentored by Dr Sarah Hill (CEO, Greater Sydney Commission) Daniela Ramirez (Senior Sustainability Manager, Georges River Council) mentored by Lucy Sharman (Sustainability Manager, Lendlease) Jillian Reid (Principal, Senior Responsible Investment Specialist, Mercer) mentored by Tina Perinotto (Managing Editor and Publisher, Fifth Estate) Clare Stephens (environmental engineer and PhD student, UNSW) mentored by Dr Gabrielle Kuiper (Distributed Energy Resources Strategy Specialist, Energy Security Board) Johanna Walton-Hespe (Senior Sustainability Consultant, Arup) mentored by Romilly Madew AO (CEO, Infrastructure Australia)

The Women4Climate initiative brings together mayors of the world’s leading cities, CEOs, climate experts and powerful women leaders from across the world who are committed to accelerating action on climate change.

Women4Climate mentoring programs have already been rolled out in other major cities, including Paris, London, Montreal, Vancouver, Tel Aviv-Yafo and Quito.

For more information about C40 Women4Climate mentoring program visit w4c.org/mentorship

For media inquiries or images, contact Angela Salt or Roxanne Macara. Phone 0438 554 640 or email [email protected]

For interviews with Lord Mayor Clover Moore, contact Julia Lenton. Phone 0410 748 039 or email [email protected]