Shaping Urban Futures for Climate Action: Young People Leading Climate Action

Join us for Shaping Urban Futures for Climate Action: Young People Leading Climate Action on World Cities Day, 31 October 2024. Bringing together young thought leaders with researchers and industry experts, this event explores the critical role of research in transforming cities toward a more climate-just future. 

Stay tuned to hear from inspiring youth-led climate activists and a dynamic host who brings passion and strategic insight to the movement.

Aligned with this year’s theme, “Youth leading climate and local action for cities,” World Cities Day marks the conclusion of Urban October, a global initiative by UN-Habitat focusing on the opportunities and challenges of urbanisation.

The event is hosted by the Centre for Urban Research at RMIT University, a leading knowledge and impact hub for urban action toward more climate-just futures. Established in 2012, CUR has grown into a large and dynamic hub of transdisciplinary research dedicated to shaping more sustainable, just, and vibrant cities. More than a decade later, we're excited to re-launch CUR with a renewed mission and purpose, unveiling cutting-edge research themes and introducing our new leadership.

Spotlight on our MC: 

Ingrid Ngoorlak Cumming iis a proud Whadjuk Balardong Noongar woman from Fremantle, Western Australia.  

Ingrid was given the name “Ngoorlak” by her Elders which is the name for the Carnarby Cockatoo, the bringer of rains, healing and change. 

Ingrid Cumming is a 100% owned and operated First Nations business certified by Supply Nation and member of the Whadjuk Corporation and Noongar Chamber of Commerce. With over 15 years of experience working across Government, Aboriginal Controlled organisations, Corporate and the not for profit sectors, Ingrid is a recognised young leader within not only the First Nations community but across many sectors for her work in community engagement, strategic development and leadership, policy and program development, training and education. 

Ingrid also is an entertaining and engaging facilitator, performer and speaker, as she has travelled the world presenting her research, publications and appearing as a guest on national and local tv programs such as ABCs The Drum and even stand up comedy. 

Ingrid is a proud Murdoch University and Melbourne Business School Alumnus and has been honoured to serve on many boards including SEDA WA, Aboriginal Women in Business and even served as a Commissioner for Conservation for the WA state government and recipient and finalist of multiple awards in her career. 

Ingrids work is driven by her passion for change and reconciliation, and to make a positive and authentic impact to ensure the journey of truth-telling, reconciliation and empowering First Nations people and allies keep going. 

Meet our panelists: 

Ashleigh Stokes is a researcher exploring how public policies and governance can serve as catalysts for transformative and equitable social change, particularly in response to ecological degradation and the climate crisis. Her work focuses on uncovering how well-crafted and community-engaged policies can enable societies to transition toward a just and sustainable future. Her PhD delves into the transformative potential of climate adaptation strategies in Victoria, aiming to identify pathways that foster systemic change while addressing the complexities of climate justice. 

Ivy Sheng is a high school student and aspiring economist passionate about behavioural economics, evolutionary psychology, the Green Economy and the Political Economy. As a Youth leader at the Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC), Ivy has an ardent passion for climate activism and the intersection between education and climate justice. She firmly believes that young people not only deserve a seat at the table but can and should lead the discussions that shape our future.

Jas Walker is the Campaigns Lead at Tomorrow Movement, an unstoppable movement of young people fighting for good jobs, great public services and a safe climate for all. Jas currently leads campaigning work for a Climate Jobs Guarantee, a transformative plan that will create millions of good jobs in every sector, rapidly decarbonise all industries and rebuild vital community services, securing a safer future for all of us. She has previously worked as an environmental engineer and as an organiser at Trades Hall. She started her journey organising campaigning for divestment from fossil fuels on her university campus.

Netta Maiava is a graduate student (Bachelor of International Studies, Development major) and the coordinator for the Pacific Climate Warriors Kulin Nations team. Netta is currently working as a research associate at Deakin University for the Australia Research Council-funded project— Striking Voices: Australian school-aged students' Climate Justice activism.

Flynn Wallace-Farell began volunteering in the community at the age of 14 in various social and community roles – this experience sparked their passion for building sustainable communities that are both safe and accessible. Flynn joined Bendigo Foodshare at the end of 2023 as part of a 12-month role and is excited to be working towards local food security with the Grow Cook Share food hub project. Before Flynn joined our team they worked at the Bendigo Bowling Centre for over 4 years, during this time they picked up many skills, including – incredible customer service, basic mechanics and food handling.  Flynn is an avid cook and one of the things they love the most about being in the kitchen is using their own homegrown or locally sourced fruit and veg when preparing meals. Flynn’s passion for community wellbeing, low food milage and all things food is what makes them a perfect fit at Bendigo Foodshare.

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Facilitator - Rebecca Olive is Associate Director at the Centre for Urban Research and a Vice Chancellor’s Senior Research Fellow. Her work focuses on everyday nature-based sports and leisure practices in terms of climate resilience, including how they shape relationships of care for ecologies. With a particular interest in swimming and surfing, her work has focused on coasts and oceans but has included other waterways such as rivers and pools. Rebecca also examines how sport and leisure encounters and experiences are represented by participants on social media, and how these act to shape narratives and literacies within the activities.

Join us in amplifying the voices of young people and advancing the bold actions needed to tackle the climate crisis in our cities.

This event is supported by RMIT's College of Design and Social Context and the Urban Futures Enabling Impact Platform.