In Conversation with Zoe Daniel

In May 2022, community Independent Zoe Daniel became the first woman and first Independent elected to the federal seat of Goldstein, which is named after the internationally renowned suffragist, Vida Goldstein.

Dubbed by media as a ‘teal independent’, Ms Daniel is one of a group of representatives whose platforms became synonymous with driving strong climate action. Her policies centred on delivering effective environmental, social and health policies to her electorate.

Prior to politics, Zoe spent almost three decades on the front line of news and current events, in Australia and internationally as a three-time foreign correspondent and former ABC News United States Bureau chief.

In the wake of the May 2025 Federal election, Zoe speaks with fellow journalist, Jo Chandler of the University of Melbourne's Centre for Advancing Journalism, about the challenges and successes of her term as a federal parliamentary member, advocating for effective and transformative climate policies, and communicating and translating complex issues to community and policymakers.

Join us for this engaging discussion, followed by refreshments.

Moderated by Ms Jo Chandler

Jo Chandler is an award-winning freelance journalist, author, editor and journalism educator. Her focus is on explanatory, boots-on-the-ground reporting across a diverse range of topics: climate; science; environment; health; human rights; women's and children's issues; and aid and development.

She has filed from Africa, Australia, Antarctica, Afghanistan and, frequently over the past 15 years, Papua New Guinea. She has earned numerous distinctions including the Australia Museum  Eureka Prize for Science Journalism, Walkley and Quill awards and the UNSW Bragg Prize for Science Writing.

Formerly a long-time staffer at The Age, her work has featured in Nature, The Guardian, The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Monthly, Griffith Review, ABC Radio National among others. She is a Senior Lecturer and Academic Specialist at the Centre for Advancing Journalism, University of Melbourne. She is the author of a book on climate field science Feeling The Heat (2011 MUP).