Our best chance to shape an ambitious climate agenda.

Day 1 | Tuesday 6 September 2022 | Opportunities of climate action at all levels

Day 2 | Wednesday 7 September 2022 | Strengthening our climate ambition

An exciting mix of interactive plenary sessions, lightning talks, workshops, roundtable dialogues, exhibits and entertainment. The program will kick off in the morning with keynote speeches from global and subnational leaders, with discussions centred on commitments to cut emissions and work together to deliver prosperous, zero emissions futures. Afternoon breakout sessions will feature leaders in energy, business, finance, health, nature-based solutions, transport, local and state government, unions and First Nations communities to showcase plans and achievements and publicly launch a collective commitment to ambitious national climate action. 

Note: This program is subject to change. Thank you for your patience as we finalise arrangements.

Day 1 | Tuesday 6 September | Opportunities of Climate Action at all Levels

Hear about actions being taken by businesses, investors, communities, government and others and exchange ideas for how we can work together to create better futures for us all.

8:30am - 9:00am

REGISTRATION

9:00am - 9:20am

OPEN & WELCOME: Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country

Forum MCs: Dan Ilic & Dan Bourchier

• Aunty Matilda House

9:20am - 9:30am

OPENING KEYNOTES: Rewiring the Nation & Powering Australia

• ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr 

9:30am - 10:25am

PANEL DISCUSSION: Unleashing Renewable Energy Storage

Moderator: John Grimes, CEO at Smart Energy Council

• ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr
• Lara Panjkov, Fluence
• Luke Osborne, Stride Renewables
• Carla Stocks, EPC Solar
• Francis Wedin, Managing Director at Vulcan Energy Resources
  

10:25am - 10:30am

COMING UP & MORNING TEA

10:30am - 11:00am

MORNING TEA & ENTERTAINMENT

• Nidala Barker, Singer Song-writer

11:00am - 11:45am

PANEL DISCUSSION: Future-proofing Australia's Climate Agenda

Moderator: Dan Bourchier, ABC Journalist

• Dr Janine Mohamed, CEO of the Lowitja Institute
• Brynn O’Brien, Executive Director ACCR
• Anjali Sharma, Student Climate Activist
• Nuatali Nelmes, Newcastle Lord Mayor
• David Pocock, Independent ACT Senator

11:45pm - 12:20pm

KEYNOTES: Opportunities for Australia in the new energy economy

• Lord Adair Turner, Chair of the Energy Transitions Commission
• Ban Ki-moon, Former UN Secretary General
• Janaline Oh, Diplomats for Climate Action Now

12:20pm - 12:30pm

• Nidala Barker, Singer Song-writer

12:30pm - 1:30pm

LUNCH BREAK & EXPOS

• Together We Can, Claire O’Rourke
• Fonz Moto, Michelle Nazzari
• Fossil Ad Ban, Matt Bray & Belinda Noble

2:20 -2:30pm

• Nidala Barker, Singer Song-writer

1:30pm - 2:30pm

KEYNOTES: International Policy Frameworks

• Laurence Tubiana, CEO European Climate Foundation
• Cathryn Eatock, Co-Chair Indigenous Peoples' Organisation Australia & Pacific representative to the Facilitative Working Group of the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform of the UNFCCC
• Dr Ian Fry, UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change
• Brianna Fruean, Global Citizen Prize Winner & Pioneering Climate Activist Fighting for Justice in the Pacific
• Rev. Dr (Hon) (Uncle) Raymond Minniecon, Co-Chair Indigenous Peoples' Organisation Australia & Director of Bunji Consultancies

2:30pm - 3:30pm

KEYNOTE & PANEL DISCUSSION: Decarbonising Sectors to Achieve Australia's Climate Agenda Together

Moderator: Claire O'Rourke, Author of Together We Can

• Scientia Professor Deo Prasad AO
• Dr Virginia Marshall, ANU Institute of Climate, Energy & Disaster Solutions Co-Chair Indigenous Cluster 
• Akaash Sachdeva, Manager Responsible Investment at HESTA
• Michael Wheatland, Manager, Sustainable Processing Calix Limited
• Louise-Marlena Tarrier, CEO at Carbon Positive Australia
  

3:30pm - 4:00pm

AFTERNOON TEA

4:00pm - 5:15pm

SECTOR WORKSHOPS: Submissions

The hands-on sessions provide space for participants to interact with and learn from peers and experts across the Better Futures Australia community.

• A renewable energy export strategy
• Unleashing Renewable Energy Storage
• Making zero emissions transport accessible to all
• Industrial decarbonisation is a good news story
• How businesses are reducing emissions and decarbonising supply chains
• Transitioning Heavy Industry Regions - Justice for Workers and Communities
• Advancing the national climate and health strategy and building a sustainable and climate resilient healthcare system
• Partnering with local government to transition and build climate resilience
• No Net Zero without Nature: How to plan land-use and scale up nature based solutions to help meet our Net Zero targets

The main ambitions, ideas, challenges and outcomes will be captured, providing a summary of the submissions and commitments made by attendees. This will form a record of commitments to work with the new government in over-delivering on Australia's climate commitments.

5:15pm - 5:30pm

CLOSING REMARKS

5:30pm - 7:30pm

RECEPTION: Networking, Live Music & Fireside Chat

Jess Green - Jazz Trio

• Simon Currie, Energy Estate
• Simon Corbell, Energy Estate
• Monica Tan, Beyond Zero Emissions

With support from

• Dan Watters, Capital Brewing Co. 
• Mitchell Taylor, Taylor Wines

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Day 2 | Wednesday 7 September | Strengthening our Climate Ambition

Engage policymakers of Australia's new government to support ambitious, society and economy-wide action on climate change.  

7:30am - 8:30am

BETTER FUTURES BREAKFAST: With Minister Chris Bowen

8:30am - 9:00am

REGISTRATION

9:00am - 9:20am

OPEN & WELCOME

9:20am - 10:25am

PANEL: Renewable Export Opportunities

• Moderator: Emma Herd
• Michele O'Neil, President at ACTU
• Karrina Nolan, Executive Director at Original Power & a key architect of the First Nations Clean Energy Network
• Kelly O’Shanassy, CEO at ACF
• Dermot O’Gorman, CEO at WWF
• Clark Butler, Director at Zero Industrials

10:25am - 11:00am

COMING UP & MORNING TEA

11:00am - 12:00pm

KEYNOTE & PANEL DISCUSSION: Preparing Australia for Climate Impacts in communities across the Asia Pacific

Moderator: Associate Professor Fengshi Wu

• Professor Anthony Burke, Deputy Head of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at UNSW Canberra
• Dr Elizabeth Boulton, Independent Researcher at Destination Safe Earth
• Dr. Pichamon Yeophantong, Political Scientist & China Specialist
• Mr Ian Cumming, experienced climate and security advisor
• Willy Missak, Vanuatu Climate Action Network
• Jane McAdam AO, Scientia Professor of Law & Director of the Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law at UNSW Sydney
  

12:00pm - 1:00pm

PANEL DISCUSSION: How can we strengthen the resilience of local governments to protect communities from the impacts of climate change

• Dr Paul Barnes, Judith Neilson Research Fellow (Disaster Resilience) & Coordinator: Resilient Futures Collective: UNSW
• Professor Jason Sharples, Professor of Bushfire Dynamics in the School of Science, UNSW Canberra
• Dr Sophie Lewis, ACT Commissioner for Sustainability & the Environment
• Cr HY William Chan, Independent Councillor with City of Sydney
• Prof Mary O’Kane AC, inaugural NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer

1:00pm - 2:00pm

LUNCH & EXPOS

• Fonz Moto, Michelle Nazzari
• Fossil Ad Ban, Matt Bray & Belinda Noble

2:00pm - 3:00pm

PANEL DISCUSSION: Do we need a Business Manifesto to advance accelerated action on Australia's Climate Recovery?

• Hudson Worsley, Chair of the MECLA
• Brynn O'brien, Executive Director at ACCCR
• Brett Shoemaker, CSO at Microsoft A&NZ
• Skye Blair at KPMG

3:00pm - 4:00pm

POLICY SUBMISSION ROUNDTABLES

Representatives of new Federal Departments in Canberra are invited to join these discussions, allowing participants to connect and build partnerships towards agreeing on and activating plans together.

4:00pm - 3:30pm

AFTERNOON TEA

4:30pm - 5:15pm

BETTER FUTURES ASSEMBLY

Representatives of breakout discussions share commitments and action plans coming out of the Forum to support over-delivery of the new government’s climate commitments.

5:15pm - 5:30pm

CLOSING REMARKS

• MC & Digital Scribe share reflections
• Closing statement from Bishop Philip Huggins

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