Climate Connect: Gender and Climate Justice

Presented by Geelong Sustainability, Women’s Environmental Leadership Australia (WELA), and Women’s Health and Wellbeing Barwon South West.

Date: Thursday 18th Sept
Time: 5.30pm- 8.00pm
Location: Geelong Library, 51 Little Malop St, Geelong
Tickets: Free | Bookings Essential

Climate change is not gender neutral, and neither are the solutions.

Join us for a powerful evening that brings together local voices, lived experiences, and national expertise to explore the vital intersection of gender and climate justice. In the face of rising temperatures, natural disasters, and shifting landscapes, it’s more important than ever to understand how these impacts are experienced differently and how local women and gender-diverse leaders are stepping up into roles of leadership and working toward solutions.

What to Expect

MC and Panel Moderator Jane Spence, CEO of Geelong Sustainability
Keynote Presentation:
Hear from Victoria McKenzie-McHarg, CEO of WELA, as she unpacks the gendered dimensions of climate change and the leadership solutions we need.
Panel Discussion
We will have a panel of dynamic local women and gender-diverse leaders who will share their experiences and work across health, community care and climate advocacy/leadership. Panellists include:
- Corinna Eccles, Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation
- Liz Bonner, Cloverdale Community Centre
- Julie Spec, Women’s Health and Wellbeing Barwon South West
- Melesa Osborne, Gender and Disaster Australia
Audience Q&A & Reflections
Engage in conversation, bring your questions, and help shape a shared understanding of what gender-aware climate solutions could look like in our region.
Connection & Networking
Stay for networking and meet like-minded people, and find ways to collaborate and take action.

Venue & Accessibility:

This event will be held at Geelong Library, located at 51 Little Malop St, Geelong VIC 3220.

The venue is wheelchair accessible, with accessible bathrooms on site. There is a small foyer beside the event space that attendees are welcome to use should they need a quiet space – there are several armchairs for comfort. Public transport options and nearby parking will also be available. If you have specific accessibility needs, please let us know when registering, or contact us via info@wela.org.au so we can support your participation.

Further accessibility information can be found here: https://www.grlc.vic.gov.au/glhc/accessibilityatthedome

Speakers:

Jane Spence, MC & panel moderator, Geelong Sustainability.
As the CEO of Geelong Sustainability, Jane leads the organisation's strategy, operations and growth. With 18 years of experience in community sustainability, climate action, and environmental leadership, she is passionate about fostering collaboration and building connections to drive meaningful change and support more resilient communities. Before joining Geelong Sustainability, Jane was the Manager of Environment and Sustainability at Surf Coast Shire Council and has experience across all levels of government and non-profit organisations. In her spare time, Jane loves being out in nature.

Victoria McKenzie-McHarg, Keynote presenter, Women’s Environmental Leadership Australia.
Victoria is the CEO of Women’s Environmental Leadership Australia (WELA), and has worked in climate and environmental leadership for the past 17yrs. Her former roles include Chair of the Climate Action Network Australia (CANA), Climate Campaign Manager of the Australian Conservation Foundation, and Manager of Strategy at Bank Australia.

Corinna Eccles, Welcome to Country and Panellist, Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation.
Corrina Eccles is a proud Wadawurrung Traditional Owner living on Wadawurrung Sea Country, where she has always felt a deep spiritual and cultural connection to saltwater. A direct descendant of one surviving Wadawurrung bloodline, Corrina is deeply engaged in her ancestral Country—and is widely respected for her cultural knowledge and leadership.

With over 28 years of experience working in Aboriginal organisations, community engagement, advocacy, and cultural governance, Corrina has made a profound impact across the Geelong region and Wadawurrung Country. In recognition of her contributions, she was awarded the 2022 Frank Costa Leadership Award by the Committee for Geelong, celebrating her dedication to promoting identity, culture, and empowerment among First Nations children and communities.

Liz Bonner, Panellist, Cloverdale Community Centre.
Liz is a passionate community leader with a background in aquatic science, education and community development. She is the CEO of Cloverdale Community Centre, a community-owned and governed Neighbourhood House and Learn Local organisation, committed to creating a more connected, resilient and inclusive community. Cloverdale delivers place-based programs that respond to local needs, strengthen wellbeing and encourages people to take part in education, training and community life.

Julie Spec, Panellist, Women’s Health and Wellness Barwon SouthWest. Julie is the Deputy CEO and Regional Manager of Women’s Health and Wellbeing Barwon South West (WHWBSW), an organisation focused on empowering women in all aspects of its work. WHWBSW aims to deliver programs and strategies that ensure women throughout the region are healthy, safe, and able to access all of life’s opportunities. A key priority for the organisation is to foster respect for women, their bodies, and their relationships.

Melesa Osborne, Panellist, Gender and Disaster Australia.
Melesa is an experienced strategic leader with a varied background in science, business, education, nutrition, health psychology and gendered approaches to wellbeing. She is currently the Business Development Manager at Gender and Disaster Australia (GADAus), where she has led national-scale training initiatives and secured further project funding to support program expansion and impact. With a deep commitment to advancing the rights and safety of women and gender-diverse people—especially in disaster contexts—Melesa combines strong stakeholder engagement, business acumen, and a values-driven approach to leadership. Her qualifications in clinical and health psychology underpin her focus on trauma-informed, inclusive, and culturally responsive program design.