Jonathan Kneebone
Director of Policy and Engagement at First Nations Clean Energy NetworkJonathan Kneebone is an experienced lawyer, advocate, strategist and systems entrepreneur with a deep understanding of policy, legal, financial and economic systems. Jonathan has over 20 years’ experience establishing and enabling collaborations, fixing entrenched and extractive systems, and advocating for an inclusive and regenerative economy that privileges and incorporates First Nations people, knowledge, views and experiences. Jonathan has worked in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-controlled organisations and alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities across Australia. Jonathan has led an array of significant commercial negotiations, major projects, and test cases on behalf of Traditional Owners, and has worked closely on economic development and economic inclusion policies and projects. Jonathan is a Senior Fellow with the Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity, holds an Arts and Honours degree in Law from the University of Melbourne, a Masters of Laws from the University of Dundee (and was awarded the Laszlo Gombos Prize as the top-ranking LLM student), and is a board member of several organisations working respectively in the fields of mental health, the arts and community economic development. Prior to joining the First Nations Clean Energy Network Jonathan worked in the private sector with an organisation pioneering the growth of a circular and regenerative cleantech business.
Will Leak
Co-Chair of RIAA's First Nations Peoples' Rights Working Group & Senior Sustainable Investment Analyst at MercerAt Mercer I am the Senior Sustainable Investment Analyst for the Mercer Australia's Investment business. In this role I am focused on implementing Mercer Australia's approach to climate change as well as the integration of ESG considerations into investment decision making. I have a passion for the intersection of First Nations Peoples and traditional investment markets and am involved in a number of First Nations industry bodies, including the Responsible Investment Association Australasia's (RIAA) First Nations Peoples Working Group, the Australian Sustainable Finance Initiatives First Nations Reference Group, and also the RIAA Reconciliation Action Plan Taskforce.
Phil Vernon
Co-Chair at RIAA's First Nations Peoples' Rights Working Group and Director (Various)Phil is a professional Director, Adviser and private investor with sector experience covering sustainable finance and impact investing, credit markets, education, health, the not-for-profits and early stage investing.
He is currently a Director of Futurity Investment Group, the Stroke Foundation, Environmental Defender’s Office and B Lab ANZ. He also works with numerous early-stage companies in the renewable, clean tech and fintech sectors as an investor and mentor.
Phil was previously CEO and Managing Director of Australian Ethical Investment and Group Executive with Perpetual Limited in charge of their Corporate Trust and Securitisation business.
He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and of the Australian Superannuation Funds Association.