Climate Warriors

The climate crisis is vast, complex and often feels both imminent and frustratingly out of our control. With global systems slow to change and the scale of the challenge immense, it’s easy to wonder if individual action could ever be enough.

On World Environment Day, Climate Warriors brings together four transformative voices; renewable energy expert and former Biden administration advisor Saul Griffith, Solar Citizen CEO Heidi Lee Douglas, climate activist Grace Vegesana along with host and journalist Craig Reucassel, to unpack the power and limitations of grassroots action, climate innovation and community-driven change.

From local initiatives to systemic shifts, they’ll discuss what’s working, what isn’t, and where real impact is being made. While no single effort can solve the climate crisis, collective action has the potential to tip the balance.

Hope is not passive. It’s built, fought for and sustained. So, in a time that demands action and an urgent transition to a sustainable society, how do we rise to the challenge?

Presented by the UNSW Centre for Ideas and UNSW Engineering, in association with the Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit.

Live Event & Venue Information

Leighton Hall is located inside the John Niland Scientia Building at UNSW Sydney’s Kensington campus (G19). Please note this is a live event only, and will not be available via livestream.

Access

Wheelchair Access

The closest accessible drop off point to Leighton Hall is via Gate 11, Botany Street. More information on getting there can be found via our interactive accessibility map available here.

Assisted Listening

Leighton Hall utilises hearing assistive technology available. Patrons wishing to use this service must collect a Roger™ inductive neck loop receiver from the venue staff, and this system can be used with a hearing aid or cochlear implant with a T-coil, or with headphones.

Auslan & Captioning

Auslan interpreting services can be provided for selected talks upon request.

Contact

To book and discuss access services, please call the Centre for Ideas on 02 9065 0485 or email [email protected].

Public Transport & Parking

Leighton Hall (John Niland Scientia Building) is easily accessible via public transport. The closest light rail stop is the UNSW High Street (L2 line) and the closest bus stop is UNSW Gate 14, Barker Street (303). For more information please call the Transport Infoline on 131 500 or visit transportnsw.info.

Free parking is also available in the Botany St Car Park (Gate 11) from 5.30pm. For access to free parking, event patrons must park in the UNSW Permit Holder bays, available on all levels. The Botany St Car Park (Gate 11) parking station is located here.

Paid casual and visitor parking is offered via the CellOPark App and ‘pay by plate meters’ in all other UNSW car parks. For more information head here.

Contact

For all enquiries please email [email protected] or call the Centre for Ideas on 02 9065 0485.

The Centre for Ideas is happy to receive phone calls via the National Relay Service. TTY users, phone 133 677, then ask for 02 9065 0485. Speak and Listen users, phone 1300 555 727 then ask for 02 9065 0485. Internet relay users, visit relayservice.gov.au, then ask for 02 9065 0485.

Speakers

Saul Griffith
Saul is an engineer and entrepreneur specialising in clean and renewable energy technologies. Saul has founded a dozen technology companies across 20 years in Silicon Valley. Saul is the author of three books including Electrify, and `The Big Switch. Saul has recently turned his attention from Otherlab, his independent Research and Development lab, to policy work and writing, including founding Rewiring America, Rewiring Australia and Rewiring Aotearoa, non-partisan organisations dedicated to electrification and decarbonisation. Saul is an Honorary Professor of Practice with the School of Mechanical, Materials, Mechatronic and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Wollongong.

Heidi Lee Douglas
Heidi Lee Douglas’ work across advocacy, government, and filmmaking focuses on giving power to the people. As the CEO of Solar Citizens, she’s led successful campaigns for state and federal home battery rebates, New Vehicle Emissions Standards, and solar for social housing, renters and apartments. Heidi believes that enabling a plurality of home power generation will create a fairer Australian economy, greater energy security and drive down carbon emissions.

Heidi is also Deputy Mayor of Bayside Council, and an award-winning film and television Writer/Director whose work across documentary and feminist horror specialises in moving the dial. Living in one of the most diverse areas of Sydney, Heidi is constantly reminded of the challenges and opportunities to find common ground, build bridges and create a better tomorrow.

Grace Vegesana
Grace Vegesana (she/they) is the National Director of the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, and a 25 year old woman-of-colour who has been building youth power to end fossil fuel expansion since she was 17. Her legacy includes co-founding the People of Colour Climate Network, pioneering climate justice organising on Dharug Country in Western Sydney with AYCC, and mobilising 3000 Australian businesses to join the Climate Strikes. At the heart of Grace’s work is a fierce belief in a better, brighter, and more climate-resilient world for young people to inherit and thrive in – and a reminder that hope is not just a feeling, but a call to action.

Grace’s commitment to justice extends beyond activism to governance, and she sits on the Boards of the Foundation for Young Australians, Sweltering Cities, and Cricket for Climate. She believes that we should not just advocate for change, but shape the institutions that drive it.

Craig Reucassel
Craig Reucassel is an Australian writer, director and comedian who is best known for his work with The Chaser and for going through your bins on The War on Waste. He is currently the host of breakfast for ABC Radio Sydney. He and some friends started the satirical newspaper The Chaser which went on to TV shows like CNNNN and The Chaser’s War on Everything.

Dani Alexander
Dani Alexander is a passionate advocate for reshaping our energy system to be clean, affordable, reliable and equitable. Her experience in the energy sector is broad having held roles in universities, government including the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, and industrial co-operative research centres. Her background is multi-disciplinary in science and business, reflecting the nature of her work bridging the gap between new technology and transitioning markets.

Dani has a deep and broad knowledge of the energy transition, including energy system flexibility, renewable energy generation, clean fuels, energy storage, grid integration and energy consumers and markets. Her own research focuses on mainstreaming energy innovation across the value chain, accelerating the technology and commercial maturity of new technologies.