Rachel is a proud Tagalaka and Erub woman from Far North Queensland. Her work is grounded in strong cultural foundations shaped by her upbringing and a commitment to community‑led decision making. She works across partnerships and capacity building, supporting mob and communities first, while also working with organisations to operate in ways that are culturally informed, accountable, and aligned with community priorities. Rachel brings experience in HR and recruitment, focusing on building culturally safe systems, strengthening Indigenous leadership pathways, and supporting workplaces to embed practices that reflect and uphold Indigenous leadership. Her drive is centred on advancing Indigenous‑led leadership across all sectors — ensuring strategy, governance, and organisational practice reflect the knowledge and aspirations of First Nations peoples. Her approach is practical, relational, and grounded in the belief that strong culture and strong partnerships create stronger outcomes for community.

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Harriet has served as Mannifera's Executive Officer since 2020. With over two decades of experience, she has led multi-disciplinary teams, fostered cross-sector collaborations, and driven forward advocacy projects across the public health, local government, philanthropy and NGO sectors in Australia and South East Asia. Harriet transitioned into the philanthropic sector out of recognition for the pivotal role philanthropy plays in supporting civil society and convening diverse collaborators for systemic change. Prior to joining Mannifera, Harriet led community resilience initiatives at the Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation, pioneering long-term, multi-sector efforts addressing health disparities worsened by climate change.

Corey Tutt is a Kamilaroi man from Nowra on the New South Wales south coast. As a kid, he dreamed of becoming a zookeeper and in high school he developed a love of STEM subjects. But unlike the arts and sport, he found there was little encouragement for Aboriginal people to pursue careers in STEM. In 2018, while working as a research assistant for the University of Sydney, Corey founded DeadlyScience, a not-for-profit organisation that aims to provide science books and telescopes to remote schools in Australia, and connects young Indigenous people with mentors to encourage their participation in STEM subjects. n 2020, Corey was named the NSW Young Australian of the Year, and a Human Rights Hero by the Australian Human Rights Commission. He continues to work tirelessly to send STEM resources to Indigenous communities, and show First Nations kids that STEM is for them. The organisation has even attracted international attention, with Corey presenting at Harvard and Oxford universities.

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Brooke Collard is a Ballardong/Whadjuk Noongar film producer dedicated to telling bold, culturally grounded stories across screen, VR, and games. Based in Broome, Western Australia, Brooke is a multidisciplinary artist of Noongar storytelling and contemporary screen practices, building platforms for community voices to be heard both locally and internationally. She is the founder of Goguljar Yok, a First Nations-led production company, and has produced award-winning short films including Marlu Man and Anangu Way. With a slate spanning webseries, documentary, and VR projects, Brooke champions First Nations creatives and fosters new pathways into the industry. Their work reflects a commitment to truth-telling, cultural preservation, and challenging the industry’s status quo through a lens of care, accountability, and innovation. Brooke has participated in national and international development labs, including Netflix’s Broad Horizons, SPA Ones To Watch 2021, and Docs By The Sea, and is actively forging relationships with global partners. Her work is not just about representation—it's about authorship, First Nations story agency, and transforming the screen landscape from the inside out.

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Hasmukh has over fifteen years of experience working in the environmental movement on a diverse range of national and global campaigns. He holds a degree in Environmental Science (with Honours) as well as a degree in International and National Politics and volunteers as a frontline responder assisting communities affected by disasters. He draws on his professional, tertiary and volunteering experiences in his work as CANA's Climate Energy Policy and Politics strategist, helping to coordinate movement-wide policy advocacy to lift Federal Government ambition on climate change and renewable energy. When not working or volunteering, Hasmukh spends his time reading, writing and doing nature and wildlife photography. Hasmukh lives and works on the lands of the Gadigal people.

Dr Rebecca Huntley is one of Australia's foremost researchers on social trends. She holds degrees in law and film studies and a PhD in Gender Studies. She has led research at Essential Media and Vox Populi and was a director at Ipsos Australia. For a number of years, she ran her own research and consultancy firm working closely with climate and environment NGOs, government and business on climate change strategy and communication. She is now Director of Research at the agency 89DegreesEast. She is the author of numerous books including How to Talk About Climate Change in a Way that Makes a Difference (Murdoch books, 2020). Rebecca was a broadcaster with ABC RN and presented The History Listen and Drive on a Friday. She writes regularly for The Monthly, Australian Traveller Magazine, The Guardian and the SMH. She is a member of the Advisory Group for the Climate Solutions Centre at the Australian Museum and a board member of the Dusseldorp Forum.

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Louis is a Djugun man from the West Kimberley living on Wurundjeri Country (Melbourne). He has a background in architecture and campaigning, working at the intersections of philanthropy, movement building and community-led impact. He is the Co-Founder and Director at First Nations Futures, an economic justice organisation that builds power and redistributes wealth to First Nations community organisations, and was previously First Nations Advisory Committee Member at the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA), and Director at Indigenous Architecture and Design Victoria (IADV).

Caleb, a proud Wulli Wulli man, is a Portfolio Manager at an institutional asset owner, focused on embedding environmental, social and governance principles into investment strategy and capital allocation. He has prior experience in private wealth management, funds management, corporate sustainability, and Indigenous affairs, spanning E&P Financial Group, Lendlease Group, and AMP Capital. Caleb holds governance roles across the for-purpose sector, including as a member of the Foundation for Young Australians Investment Committee, a member of the Value Australia Advisory Board, and a non-voting member of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation Audit and Risk Committee. He served as a Non-Executive Director of Climate Action Network Australia and held advisory roles with RIAA, ASFI, Philanthropy Australia, NEXUS Australia, and Ormond College.

Rachel Ball is the CEO of the Reichstein Foundation, which backs the people and organisations that drive social, economic and environmental justice in Australia. She's also a director of Australian Progress and Mannifera. Before joining the Reichstein Foundation, Rachel worked as a lawyer, policy expert and advocate at the Human Rights Law Centre, Oxfam Australia and the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria, where she supported Members to negotiate the foundations for Australia’s first Treaty. Rachel lives on Wadawurrung Country on Victoria’s Surf Coast. When she’s not working you’ll usually find her swimming, surfing or bobbing about in the ocean with family and friends.

Victoria McKenzie-McHarg is the CEO of Women's Environmental Leadership Australia and one of Australia’s most respected and compelling voices on the critical intersection of climate action and gender equity. With nearly twenty years’ experience in climate campaigning and strategy, she has led efforts to make Australia’s response to the climate crisis more effective, inclusive, and just. Former Chair of the Climate Action Network Australia and current CEO of Women’s Environmental Leadership Australia (WELA), Victoria combines sharp strategic insight with deep experience supporting grassroots and community leaders. Her work reveals how advancing gender equity and climate justice go hand in hand, and how the leadership of women and gender-diverse people is driving the bold, collective action our planet urgently needs.

WELA is an independent not-for-profit organisation that is empowering, supporting and funding diverse women’s leadership for our environment and climate, in order to transform Australia’s response to these crises.

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Blair is Director of Philanthropy at Ethinvest, overseeing both the Ethinvest Foundation and the company’s Community Impact Foundation, established to support the charitable giving of their clients. In 2023 and 2004, Blair was named an Australia’s Top 100 Green Energy Player by the AFR. She has more than 30 years’ experience in the charitable sector in Australia, the US and globally. Blair co-founded 350.org Australia in 2009 and was CEO for 10 years. She has been on the boards of and worked with numerous charities, government agencies and companies, including as director of communications for Greenpeace International, and as an advisor to Google X’s climate moonshot team, the C40 Cities for Climate Action, Green Building Council and the Australian Museum’s climate solutions project. Blair is also the founder and director of the Climate Capital Forum, bringing together leading thinkers and key policy makers to address critical issues on decarbonisation and renewable energy.

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Naomi is the Deputy Director of the Gas Exports Program at The Sunrise Project Australia, bringing insights from across the Sunrise network to Groundswell. She has been involved in the Australian climate movement since the mid 2000s, as a facilitator and trainer, including co-facilitating the Melbourne Campaigners Network and consulting on the intersection between digital tools and community organising. Prior to Sunrise, Naomi worked with the Victorian Greens, using community organising principles to scale up and lead their statewide candidate and volunteer network to become a third political force in the state. Naomi lives and works on Wurundjeri Land in Melbourne with her partner, son and two cats.

Angel is a proud Butchulla and Woppaburra woman and mother of three. She was one of five incredible young mob who originally supported the launch of Seed in 2014. Originally beginning her journey with See

d as a volunteer, Angel soon stepped up to become a Community Organiser, Director of Organising and Campaigns, and is now Seed’s National Director. Angel works tirelessly to inspire, empower and mentor First Nations young people to protect their Country, culture and communities from the causes and impacts of climate change. Angel deeply believes in the power and leadership of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the fight for climate justice and community led campaigns and solutions.

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Wollie Gela is a proud Darnley Island, Boigu Island, Angkamuthi, Kabi Kabi, Butchulla and Kaurareg man. He began his journey with Seed Indigenous Climate Youth Network in 2019 as a volunteer on the beautiful island of the Quandamooka peoples, North Stradbroke Island. Since then, Wollie has continued to grow in his leadership, returning to Seed as a Community Organiser and Campaigner. Wollie has been involved in many social justice spaces and has returned to the climate justice movement knowing that caring for Country is crucial. Without Country, we are nothing because we are of it, it is not of us. As an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander man, Wollie stands within a culture that has carried the responsibility of caring for Country through countless generations sustaining it not just for today, but for those yet to come. This is an inherited obligation grounded in Lore, kinship, and continuity.

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Laura Mannix (she/her) is the Philanthropy & Community Lead at the Australian Communities Foundation, where she leads donor education and organising, and collective giving initiatives, including ACF's Impact Fund and National Crisis Response Fund. She works at the intersections of philanthropy, social justice and community power. Laura holds 20 years’ experience across migrant justice, community development, and non‑profit leadership in Australia and internationally. As a bi-racial person working within philanthropy, Laura is particularly focused on dismantling colonised structures within the sector and shifting resources toward equity‑led, community‑driven change. She holds a BA in International Studies, a Graduate Diploma in Social Innovation, and serves on the Board of the Racial Justice Center.

Brooke is passionate about building people-powered movements for climate justice. With over a decade of experience in the non-profit sector, she brings experience in community organising, campaign strategy, stakeholder engagement and program management. As Network Coordinator at Climate Action Network Australia (CANA), Brooke works behind the scenes to connect and strengthen a network of 180 member organisations, from major environment groups to grassroots and First Nations-led organisations, helping them collaborate for greater collective impact. She leads member engagement, communications, network gatherings and the CANA Small Grants Program, which supports grassroots leadership across the climate movement. Before joining CANA, Brooke held roles at Amnesty International Australia and Cancer Council Victoria, building a strong foundation across human rights, campaigning and fundraising. She lives on Dja Dja Wurrung Country, where she enjoys spending time in her community with her young family and friends.

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