So you care. What now? A panel night for networking and advocacy

You care.

What needs to change?

Who has the power to change it?

How do advocates influence them?

What actually works?

Where do professionals fit?

Where do the rest of us fit?

So — what now?

Effective Altruism: Melbourne & University of Melbourne in collaboration with AMPLIFY for animals invites you to a Thursday evening of conversation and networking on advocacy, social change, and the many ways we can turn concern into action.

Join three advocates working across climate change and animal welfare as they share their pathways into advocacy, what their work actually looks like, and what they’ve learned about creating change.

Lena Herrera Piekarski is the Lead Organiser for the Australian Conservation Foundation. She has 20 years' experience supporting communities across Australia to campaign on nature and climate, including working for Climate for Change (former co-CEO), Environment Victoria and Oxfam in Australia.

Dr. Jed Goodfellow is the Co-Founder and Director of Policy at the Australian Alliance for Animals. He has over 20 years experience in animal welfare law, policy, and advocacy, having previously worked in senior policy, prosecutorial, and enforcement roles with the RSPCA across Australia. Jed completed his PhD in animal welfare law at Macquarie University in 2015.

Shatha Hamade is Animals Australia’s Legal Counsel. Previously the National coordinator of the Barristers Animal Welfare Panel, Legal Counsel for RSPCA SA, and Associate to the most senior Judge of the Federal Court of Australia, she also conducts in-country global investigations into the live animal export industry, and engages in legal advocacy across multiple court jurisdictions to give stronger representation and protection to animals who suffer within factory farms and other industries.

Through a moderated panel, an audience Q&A, then a catered networking segment, audience members will engage directly in a discussion of the biggest questions: does advocacy work? How truly vital is it in our current social landscape? How could we pursue advocacy as a career? And for the rest of us – how are we still challenged to be advocates?

We’ll explore questions like:

• What makes advocacy effective?

• How important are ordinary citizens to successful advocacy?

• What career pathways exist for people who want to work in this space?

• And if advocacy isn’t your career, what can you realistically do to help?

The event will be held at the Fritz Loewe Theatre (L2 McCoy Building) and will follow the following format:

Introduction (5:30 - 5:45)

Moderated Panel Discussion (5:45 - 6:15)

Audience Q&A (6:15 - 6:30)

Networking (6:30 - 7:00)

Food will be served after the Q&A as the evening transitions to more informal social conversation and a chance to network with the panelists and like-minded individuals.

Come for the career insights. Stay for the bigger question:

If you care – what now?