Breakfast panel: COP31 – Australia’s opportunity

Australia has officially bid to co-host COP31 in 2026 in partnership with the Pacific.

COPs (Conference of the Parties) are the leading global platform where different entities and sectors collectively discuss, debate and create more inclusive climate solutions.

With global attention focused on host countries, COP31 could be a defining moment for Australia and the Pacific that will catalyse innovation, investment and impact on climate solutions.

Hosted by WWF-Australia and Perpetual, this breakfast panel, facilitated by Craig Connelly, Partner at Perpetual Limited, will discuss how COP31 is our chance – across all communities throughout Australia and the Pacific – to deliver real change for people, the climate and nature. 

A light breakfast will be served on arrival, between 7:30-7:50am, before the panel commences.

You can expect a robust conversation between thought leaders:

Hon Susan Close MP, Deputy Premier

Susan Close is the Deputy Premier of South Australia and the Minister for Climate, Environment and Water; Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science; and Minister for Workforce and Population Strategy. Susan has been the Member for Port Adelaide since 2012.

Before entering parliament, Susan was an executive in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and played a key role in the establishment of the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary as a community advocate. She previously worked at the University of Adelaide managing student services and holds a PhD from Flinders University.

Karen Grogan, Senator for South Australia

Karen Grogan entered Federal Parliament as a Senator for South Australia in October 2021. Karen is the Chair of the Senate Standing Committee of Environment and Communications and is a passionate advocate for the environment and action on climate change.

Karen’s work has included serving as CEO of the South Australian Council of Social Service, working in the university sector and at the Central Lands Council, time as director of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, and holding senior roles in the offices of then-Federal Minister Mark Butler and South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill.

Most recently, Karen worked at the United Workers Union, fighting for some of the most vulnerable and low-paid workers in the country.

Claire O’Rourke

Claire O’Rourke is an author, environmentalist and advocate, with two decades working in journalism, communications and campaigns across Australia and around the world. Claire helps others take action on climate change, currently as Australia Program Director at The Sunrise Project and will soon join the Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network as CEO. Claire's first book, Together We Can, was published by Allen & Unwin in 2022.

Previously Claire was National Director of Solar Citizens, a community-led renewable energy advocacy organisation. A former journalist, Claire has extensive experience advocating for social impact, including driving communications for the Every Australian Counts campaign for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and as a senior leader at Amnesty International Australia.

Tiahni Adamson

Tiahni Adamson is a Kaurareg woman and a passionate wildlife conservation biologist. She is a proponent for the participation of First Nations people and women in STEM careers and was recognised as one of Science and Technology Australia’s Superstars of STEM and an InDaily South Australian 40 Under 40 for 2023. Tiahni is currently building two-way knowledge preservation resources with First Nations Communities, and runs her own business with nature-based solutions for climate change, social justice and science communication.

Tiahni has worked with the CSIRO on Indigenous education programs, trained under Al Gore as a Climate Reality Leader in 2019, works as a casual lecturer and tutor at the University of South Australia, and was a youth dialogue member for the Uluru Statement from the Heart. Tiahni is currently working to mitigate agricultural methane through sustainable aquaculture production of a native seaweed in her role as the Lead Community Engagement Officer at CH4Global, finding ways to walk alongside Traditional Owners while Healing Country. She is also on the board of Green Adelaide, helping to create a cooler, greener and wilder greater Adelaide region.

Tiahni has received the Dr Kay Price AM Award for demonstrated excellence in and ambassadorship for STEM, and was also one of two students to be awarded the inaugural Indigenous Time at Sea Scholarship from CSIRO’s Marine National Facility. As a regular public speaker, she has spoken to over 1 million people about thought leadership and the intersection of First Nations and Climate Justice. Tiahni was also announced as this year’s 2024 South Australian ‘Young Australian of the Year'.

Dermot O’Gorman

Dermot is the Chief Executive Officer of the World Wide Fund for Nature, Australia (WWF-Australia) and a global sustainable development leader with 25 years’ experience in envisioning, ideating, and implementing solutions to protect wildlife, the environment and people. He is the Chair of the social venture OpenSC and has been a CEO at WWF for two decades across China, the Pacific and Australia. He is a member of the COP31 Collaboration group, supporting a whole-of-society approach to COP31 to deliver a just, resilient, low carbon future.

As a Fulbright Visiting Scholar at Stanford University’s Digital Civil Society Lab in 2022, Dermot explored the intersection of digital technology, civil society, and big philanthropy and how it’s fundamentally changing the charity sector. His experience in new technology – blockchain, AI and NFTs has helped shape this thinking about the role technology can play in the Fourth Industrial Revolution in delivering regenerative solutions at scale.

Facilitated by Craig Connelly

Craig Connelly is a former partner at Goldman Sachs JBWere, co-founder of the Ascot Fund, an Australian equities long/short fund and the former Chief Executive Officer of The Ian Potter Foundation.

Having joined Perpetual in March 2023, Craig is working in two distinct roles. Firstly, to assist Perpetual’s philanthropic and not-for-profit clients think deeply about effective philanthropy, social impact, values and investment alignment and the role Perpetual can play to amplify social impact and social outcomes that benefits both our clients and Australian society more broadly. Secondly, to assist Perpetual’s Family Office clients manage their wealth journey as their own family develops and evolves.

Outside of Perpetual, Craig supports several charitable organisations, including as Patron of SANE Australia, as Chair of Philanthropy Australia’s Financial Advisor Senior Working Group, as co-Chair of the Transforming Evidence Funders Network Advisory Group (Washington-based) and is a former trustee of the National Parks Conservation Trust, and a former Board member of Watertrust Australia Limited and SANE Australia.

Venue Access:
The event will be held at The Playford Hotel, 120 North Terrace. The best access to hotel is on Victoria Street which can be accessed via North Terrace or Hindley Street.
Once in the hotel, to the left of reception is the grand staircase that leads up to Ballroom 1 where the event will be held. There are also lifts available.

If you’d like to know more about Australia’s opportunity to host COP31 in 2026, please see further information here https://wwf.org.au/what-we-do/climate/cop31-australias-opportunity/