Systemic change takes bold and courageous leadership. Leadership that brings people together, creates a shared vision and supports new ideas and people to take effective action.

Theme: From 6-18th November Leaders are gathering internationally at COP 27 in Egypt to address what we need to be doing globally to respond to the causes and impacts of Climate Change. But what does this mean for those of us working locally here in WA?

As all levels of Government and the Health System look to build strategic actions on both mitigation, and adaptation, we invite you to join us as we hear from leaders working at the intersections of health and climate about their experience in addressing the challenging area of climate, health and sustainability.

This online event will include a panel discussion, time for questions and answers and small group yarns to discuss the leadership we are all bringing and ideas for removing structural barriers to leadership and climate justice action.

The Climate and Health Community of Practice is co-hosted by the Department of Health and the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation. Participant members work across government and non-government organisations at the interface of climate and health. Regular meetings held every few months are focused on networking, collaboration, relationship building and thought leadership. We aim to build effectiveness and ambition for effective action for emission reductions and climate adaptation and resilience.

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Speakers include:

Ronda Clarke - Community Aboriginal Health Team, Child and Adolescent Health Service

Ronda is a Nyikina women, born and raised in Derby, which is situated in the West Kimberly region of WA. Ronda started working in the Aboriginal Health sector within her home town of Derby in 2010, running a pilot program called the ‘Young Women’s Centre’. When funding ran out, Ronda and her team linked their program with the Derby Aboriginal Health Service (DAHS) and sourced funding through St John of God to ensure the program had a future and sustainability.

After leaving the Young Women’s Centre, Ronda went into private enterprise, started a commercial cleaning business, and then ventured into the mining sector by being successful with a mining contract which entailed all the shipping of lead and zinc from the Derby Wharf. This then led to the purchase of an old closed down shopping centre with 10 shops, which became the hub of Derby. Through these opportunities Ronda was able to employ local Aboriginal people to work throughout the business. Ronda then moved to Perth for her children’s education, where she gained a Managers position in retail with the Speciality Fashion Group.

After a period of time Ronda felt the need to re-enter the health sector. In 2014 Ronda started working for the Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia (AHCWA), as the Corporate Governance Officer, leading some exciting times supporting the AHCWA Board, the PAMS Board and the CMSAC Board, continued her journey within AHCWA and became the Sector Engagement Officer, where she attended all 7 Aboriginal Regional Health Planning forums, engaging with AHCWA’s 24 Member Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services across WA. Ronda was engaged from a local, state and federal level, in helping to change health policy, supporting and advocating for Aboriginal people and their communities across WA. Ronda then moved within AHCWA to become the Mappa Project Manager, Mappa is a free-to-use online mapping platform developed to address the lack of clarity (at all levels) regarding health care services being delivered across rural, remote, very remote and metro regions throughout WA.

Ronda has now taken on a new journey but is still working within the Aboriginal health sector. Ronda now works for Child and Adolescent Health Services (CAHS) and is the Senior Project Officer for the Community Health Aboriginal Health Team (CH/AHT) within CAHS, overseeing the 2019 Aboriginal Health Review and Recommendations.

Dave Jones - Chief Sustainability Officer, Department of Communities

David Jones is Chief Sustainability Officer at the Department of Communities and is responsible for managing the Department’s Climate Action and Sustainability Team. This team leads the Department’s work towards achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions and focuses on reducing utility costs while achieving better comfort outcomes for tenants. Dave is an urban planner and urban designer, with a Masters in Development Studies and has over 25 years of experience working in government and the development industry in Western Australia, the Middle East and Asia.

Dr Emma-Leigh Synnott - Sustainable Development Unit, Department of Health

Dr Emma-Leigh Synnott is a Consultant Physician in Rehabilitation Medicine working in the Spinal Rehabilitation Unit, Fiona Stanley Hospital Perth. She is also the current clinical advisor for the Sustainable Development Unit.

The Sustainable Development Unit (SDU) was established in late 2021 to lead and coordinate a systemwide response on climate action and sustainability. The unit reflects the WA health system’s commitment to reducing its emissions, energy and water use – while preparing our health system and communities for the impacts of climate change.

The health system is recognised as a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and has an important role to play in promoting a climate resilient environment and addressing its own environmental footprint.

The SDU works closely with Health Service Providers, other State Government agencies, the public health sector and broader stakeholders to: provide strategic and operational direction for the health system to reduce its emissions, operate more sustainably and implement adaptation measures, lead the development and promotion of mitigation and adaptation initiatives and programs to respond to the health impacts and risks of climate change, facilitate the implementation of environmentally sustainable work practices across the health system, develop strong partnerships with key stakeholders across government, industry and the community, and demonstrate leadership, advocacy and innovation on climate action and sustainability.

Emma is the current Chair of the WA Committee of Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA) and a member of the steering committee for the WA Climate and Health Community of Practice (CoP). Completing a Masters in Environment and Sustainability, Emma is interested in understanding the role of health in shifting global value narratives to facilitate transformative, holistic, and regenerative, approaches to Sustainable Development.

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