19 March 2025

The first of the Pathways to Politics for Women non-partisan policy briefing series for our alum community.

In this 30-minute recording, Amanda McKenzie, CEO of the Climate Council, breaks down:

• The key facts on climate change and climate policy
• Global and local trends
• How to communicate on climate and energy issues effectively

Watch the recording

Links and resources

Further reading and resources recommended by Amanda Mckenzie:

• Amanda’s presentation slides (PDF)
• Cyclone Alfred report: Eye of the storm: How Climate Pollution Fuels More Intense and Destructive Cyclones, Climate Council.
• Extreme weather communications guide and multilingual social media tiles: Climate Council’s communication guide and downloadable multilingual social media tiles to help you accurately explain the link between extreme weather events and climate change.
• Seize the Decade: Climate Council’s plan to empower Australian communities and cut climate pollution by 75 percent this decade
• 10 popular policies: Climate Council’s ten practical policy recommendations to help the next Australian Government deliver cuts to climate pollution while building a cleaner and stronger economy.

About the speaker

Amanda McKenzie, CEO, Climate Council

Amanda is a prominent Australian environmental leader and one of the best known public commentators on the climate crisis in Australia.

Back in 2013, she worked with Professor Tim Flannery at the Climate Commission. With support from some of Australia’s leading scientists, she co-founded the 100% independent and people-backed Climate Council. It was Australia’s largest crowdfunding campaign at the time. Amanda has led the organisation as its CEO for the last 10 years. She also co-founded the Australian Youth Climate Coalition and has served on renewable energy expert panels for the Queensland and Northern Territory Governments. 

Amanda was the founding Chair of the Centre for Australian Progress and is a former Board Director at Plan International Australia and the Whitlam Institute. She holds an Honours degree in Law from Monash University and an Arts Degree from Melbourne University.