Break-out 
Session 1 Details

11:30PM

Please choose one
of the four options

​/

[Rooms 101 & 102]
Climate Risk Management - you can do it!

Climate change risk management is complex, potentially time-consuming and resource-intensive. So, yes, it can be daunting. The Victorian Climate Resilient Councils program is designed to take councils through the process step by step. This session will provide some useful advice and case studies about navigating the first 3 critical steps: Step 1: gaining executive buy-in and resources; Step 2: climate change risk assessment; and Step 3: climate change adaptation planning. 

​Facilitator: Fran MacDonald, Executive Officer, Western Alliance for Greenhouse Action  (slides)
​
Sally MacAdams, Coordinator, Climate Emergency Australia 
Ashley Onori, Climate Emergency Officer, Brimbank City Council  
Cara Horner, Senior Climate Adaptation Officer, Department of Education 

/

[Room 103]
Decarbonising Construction - finding innovative ways to report and reduce embodied emissions in the built environment

Decarbonising embodied emissions from civil works is an emerging area for councils as they near the due dates to achieve their net zero targets for operational emissions. The session will explore how these emission sources are accounted for, what are the options to mitigate them, and what are some of the challenges in doing so. 

Facilitator: Dean Thomson, Executive Officer, Northern Alliance for Greenhouse Action  (slides)

​Shaun Thompkins, Sustainable Buildings Officer, Merri-bek City Council
​Liam Henderson, Principal Energy and Carbon, City of Melbourne

/

[Room 104]
Councils Doing More With Less - successful case studies and great ideas

Many regional councils operate across vast distances and fund services to communities with a fraction of the public income of their metropolitan counterparts. With climate change impacting coastlines, roads, residential and public infrastructure, and social wellbeing, many councils are asking what is a priority, and what can be dropped. But both regional and metro councils have found innovative ways to ensure financial sustainability, whilst working in the tightest of times.
​
Facilitators: Natasha Palich, Executive Officer, CASBE  (slides)
Carole Hammond, Executive Officer, Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance

Asal Ahmadlou, Future Network Engineer, AusNet Services
Joerg Werdin, Coordinator Sustainability & Resilient Environment, Yarra Ranges Shire Council
Dr Isla Fitridge, Coordinator Environment & Sustainability, Indigo Shire Council

/

[Rooms 105 & 106]
​​First Nations Climate Knowledge - Caring for Country

First Nations communities hold incredibly sophisticated knowledge of Country and our changing climate. We all know that listening to and integrating First Nations knowledge adds depth and improved outcomes for our climate work. However, council systems and bureaucracy often seem to get in the way of fostering genuine partnerships, and the local government sector arguably has a lot to learn in this space. This session explores the importance of First Nations knowledge and practices, the steps you can take in your own work to build those key relationships, and how council can assist in outcomes that are important for your local First Nations communities, such as supporting Caring for Country plans. 

Facilitator: Tiffany Harrison, Coordinator, Gippsland Alliance for Climate Action (slides)

Heidi Michael, Regional Manager, Community & Partnerships, Loddon Mallee Region
Uncle Dave Wandin, Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation

​
​Go back to Conference Program >

---