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Lucy Friend
Environment Manager at Cairns AirportLucy grew up exploring the mangroves of Far North Queensland and went on to study Environmental Science and Data Science at James Cook University. As North Queensland Airport’s Environment Manager, Lucy leads the company’s initiatives to reduce carbon emissions and build climate change resilience, reduce waste and water use, enhance biodiversity, and prevent pollution across the airport campuses. Lucy is also a Non-executive Director on the board of Terrain NRM, a crisis support volunteer with Lifeline Australia, a foster care support worker, and a wildlife carer with FNQ Wildlife Rescue.
Ashlyn Skeene
Yirrganydji RangerMy name is Ashlyn Skeene, I’m a 21 year old, Yirrganydji woman from Cairns and I have been in the environment and science industry for almost 4 years now doing what I love. Growing up in Cairns you learn to love the environment, you really have no choice as you are surrounding by the Beaty of both both the land and sea. I think that’s what drove me in the beginning to carrying on in the industry I’m with now. I’m currently doing biodiversity work with Cairns Airport, along with Lucy friend and fellow Yirrganydji family and colleagues. The work we have been doing allows us as traditional owners to have the opportunity to work on country and help make the decision both on ground and administrative. The work we are doing is actively healing the land and as an Aboriginal person, that is one of the biggest things we aspire to do. Heal Country.
Anthony Bennie
Division Head (Acting) for the Nature Finance and Markets Division at Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and WaterAnthony is the Division Head (Acting) for the Nature Finance and Markets Division at the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. The Division is responsible for the development of the Nature Repair Market, supporting private sector investment in nature (including through the Taskforce for Nature-related Financial Disclosures) and delivering the world first Global Nature Positive Summit in October 2024. Anthony has worked across a range of portfolios including the Department of Agriculture, Prime Minister & Cabinet, Department of Industry, Department of Climate Change and also as a ministerial advisor.
Anthony’s experience spans across on a range of policy and programs areas including development of new financial markets, climate change, Australian aid projects in South-East Asia, Africa and the pacific, and national security.
Gareth Catt
Desert Partnerships Manager at Indigenous Desert AllianceGareth has more than a decade’s experience working closely with Traditional Owners and Indigenous desert rangers looking after country and culture, including seven years with Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa (KJ). Working with Martu people, he was able to experience and learn from their expertise of caring for country, with fire as their primary tool for promoting biodiversity.
Gareth is the IDA's Desert Partnerships Manager and has overseen the 10 Deserts Project which has been globally recognised for its collaborative, landscape scale programs between leading Indigenous land management organisations.
Drew Lanyon
Executive Director Sustainable Finance & ESG of CBADrew is an Executive Director in CBA’s Sustainable Finance and ESG team, responsible for leading the origination and execution of sustainable finance transactions for the Institutional Bank’s client base. This includes structuring Green, Social and Sustainability and sustainability-linked instruments across the Bank’s product suite. Drew was also a member of the Australian Sustainable Finance Taxonomy Technical Advisory Group, which provided input into the key design principles of Australia’s proposed Sustainable Finance taxonomy.
Drew has 14+ years’ experience in institutional banking with CBA, working across sustainable finance, as well as the renewables, energy, utilities and infrastructure sectors, in both its Sydney and London offices. In his roles he has been responsible for originating, structuring and executing financing solutions across project finance, corporate lending, capital markets, trade finance and transaction banking.
Alex Banks
Partner, Climate Change & Sustainability Services at EYAlexandra is focused on sustainability and ESG strategy and transformation, particularly in relation to sustainable supply chains and responsible sourcing.
Alexandra has worked at the interface of business and sustainability her entire career and is driven to support business to meet the challenge and opportunity of sustainable transformation. Alexandra has a particular passion for understanding and managing social and environmental impacts in complex value chains, particularly for forest impact commodities.
A qualified lawyer, Alexandra worked for an international environmental non-profit and the Australian Government prior to joining EY. Alexandra has lived and worked in northern Europe and across Southeast Asia and Oceania, spending much time in forests and communities at the frontline of sustainability.
She has Bachelor’s degree in Arts (Political Science) and Law, as well as postgraduate qualifications in legal practice and public administration.
Radha Kuppalli
Business and Investment LeaderAs a business and investment leader, Radha Kuppalli has been developing innovative finance and commercial solutions to addressing climate change and restoring and protecting nature for over 20 years. Her career has spanned executive leadership in the asset management industry, investment in real assets and private equity, business development and growth execution, and board roles in the finance, manufacturing, and environmental sectors. For 17 years, Radha was an integral staff member and executive of New Forests—building the world’s leading asset manager in sustainable forestry and natural capital. She is currently on the boards of Accounting for Nature, Greening Australia, and Nobrac (Australia). Radha began her career on the ground floor of the carbon markets, advising corporates and governments on opportunities and risks of climate change and energy policies around the world. She holds graduate degrees from Yale University in business and environmental management.
Sarah Kwon
Assistant Director at Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and WaterSarah Kwon is an Assistant Director in the Financing Solutions for Nature team at the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. She has been leading the TNFD Pilot testing project for the department and is working on the practical architecture needed for nature-related reporting and increasing private sector’s engagement with nature. Sarah is passionate about sustainable finance and evidence-based public policy.
Prior to this, she worked in the Climate Change and Energy divisions of the department and has an extensive financial markets experience working at a large asset manager, as an ESG analyst and a business development manager for Australasian financial markets. She also worked as a consultant environmental engineer.
Estelle Parker
Executive Manager at RIAAEstelle Parker leads RIAA’s research, certification, policy, standards and working group programs. She brings 20 years’ experience leading strategic initiatives as a diplomat, policy analyst, stakeholder manager and strategic planner with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Estelle served, inter alia, as Acting Ambassador and Deputy Ambassador to Mexico, Central America and Cuba; Deputy State Director (Victoria); Policy Adviser to the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands; and as Director overseeing the development and management of bilateral relationships.
Estelle also worked for five years at the University of Melbourne, where she lectured in the Master of Public Policy and Management and Master of International Relations, and has experience on boards and committees. She is currently a member of the Principles for Responsible Investment’s Global Policy Reference Group and the Australian Government’s Natural Capital Working Group, as well as Convenor of the Taskforce on Nature-Related Financial Disclosures official Consultation Group for Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
Estelle holds a Master of Public Policy and Management (First Class Honours), Master of Communications (With Distinction), Bachelor of Arts (av. First Class Honours) and Certificate in Business Sustainability Strategy.
Dr Libby Pinkard
Research Director of csiroLibby is the Research Director for the Living Landscapes Program in CSIRO Environment. She has extensive experience in science and people leadership across broad disciplines. Her background as a systems scientist has enabled her to address issues related to resource supply and security in the forest industry, including climate change impacts and adaptation, and to apply this knowledge to promote environmentally sustainable land management including through natural capital assessment and accounting.
Liam Walsh
Food, Land and Oceans System Lead at Climateworks CentreLiam currently leads ClimateWorks’ efforts to reduce emissions and enhance the capacity of nature to meet climate goals within the Food, Land & Ocean system. Liam has worked on issues relating to agriculture, nature conservation and business for over 10 years in Australia, Vietnam, Kenya, Liberia and the UK. He has worked for a number of high profile Not-For-Profits and research institutes including the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership where he worked with leading companies to develop and embed natural capital approaches into day-to-day business operations and decision-making.
Guy Williams
Executive Director of Pollination Capital Partners Pty LimitedGuy Williams joins Pollination as an Executive Director in our advisory team. Guy brings over 20 years’ experience at the leading edge of industry innovation and strategy in biodiversity and natural capital. Prior to joining Pollination, Guy held global roles at some of the largest consulting and advisory firms, as well as being an integral part in the development of many nature-related frameworks and standards such as the TNFD and SBTN. Guy possesses a deep interest in primate conservation, and the use of digital media and community-led storytelling to support effective conservation strategies.