Nature on the Board: What's possible?

A growing number of organisations and companies around the world are creating ways for "nature" to be represented in their governance structures and decision making.

Why are companies using this approach, and what difference does it make to their operations? Does bringing a voice for nature into the board room have any impact on an organisation's culture or environmental performance?

Join the Australian Earth Laws Alliance (AELA) and Lawyers for Nature (UK), as we host a discussion about 'nature on the board', and hear from pioneers introducing and implementing this approach in practice.

ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS

BRONTIE ANSELL - Lawyers for Nature

Named one of Vogue Business’ 100 Innovators of 2024 for her work as a sustainability thought leader, Brontie is the managing director of Lawyers for Nature. Initially focussing on public law and judicial review, she then moved into Rights of Nature work. She was a lead legal architect of the 2022 Faith in Nature, Nature on the Board intervention. Later, she became the first person to sit as the legal guardian for Nature on the board of Faith in Nature and she held this position for two years. Brontie now sits on a number of corporate and non-profit boards as both a non-executive expert and as 'Nature'. Brontie is the managing director of Lawyers for Nature.

JESSIE MOND WEDD - Lawyers for Nature

Jessie is a director at Lawyers for Nature. She has practiced criminal, family, and regulatory law and today she advocates for the recognition of Nature’s rights within legal and governance systems. Her work encourages a fundamental shift in how people and organisations approach decision-making, urging them to act as though Nature has rights and deserves a seat at the table. Jessie is also interested in the intersection of Indigenous rights, seeking to integrate Indigenous knowledge and perspectives into legal frameworks. Jessie is dedicated to fostering a deeper awareness of our interconnectedness with the environment, aiming to move society away from an anthropocentric worldview towards a more biocentric model that acknowledges the intrinsic value of all living beings and ecosystems.

KELLIE DALTON - Head of Regeneration - House of Hackney

Kellie is a leading sustainability expert in fashion and luxury, currently serving as Head of Regenerative Business at House of Hackney and as an advisor to the Vivienne Westwood team. Her work is dedicated to using the creativity and beauty of Mother Nature to champion connection, protection and restoration, safeguarding our common home for generations to come.

LAURA FORD - Faith in Nature

Laura is Director of Sustainability at 'Faith in Nature', Faith in Nature was one of the first companies in the world to introduce 'nature on the board'. The company sells a range of vegan and cruelty-free personal care products, including shampoos, conditioners, body washes, hand washes, soap bars, and household cleaning products like washing-up and laundry liquids. The brand focuses on using natural ingredients and sustainable practices, offering refillable options and packaging made from recycled materials to reduce waste.

HOST - DR MICHELLE MALONEY - Australian Earth Laws Alliance (AELA)

Dr Michelle Maloney (PhD) is an Earth lawyer recognised internationally and in Australia for her work advocating for Earth centred law and governance, including Indigenous First Laws and the Rights of Nature. Michelle is Co-Founder and Director of the Australian Earth Laws Alliance (AELA), and Co-Founder and Director of Future Dreaming, an Indigenous led organisation that works to share Indigenous ecological and governance knowledge with non-Indigenous people and organisations in Australia. Michelle lives in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. For more information about Michelle's work, publications and international affiliations, please visit: www.michellemaloney.au 

ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN EARTH LAWS ALLIANCE (AELA)

AELA is a not-for-profit organisation working to increase the understanding and practical implementation of Earth-centred (ecocentric) governance, with a focus on systems change across law, economics, education, ethics and community participation in Australia. AELA's vision is an Australian society that embraces an ecocentric or ‘life-centred’ culture, with governance systems that enable human communities to thrive within ecological boundaries, while nurturing biodiversity and ecosystem health. AELA's work includes education programs and project support for people, communities and organisations working to create ecocentric systems change.

For more information, visit our website: www.earthlaws.org.au
or email us anytime: aela@earthlaws.org.au