Impact Talks at UTS

What stories does America tell itself - and who do they serve? In this episode of Impact Talks, we launch the 2025 Vice-Chancellor’s Democracy Forum with acclaimed historian, author and cultural critic Sarah Churchwell. In her thought-provoking lecture, Sarah explores the national myths that have shaped the United States. She examines how narratives of freedom and opportunity often conceal histories of exclusion, inequality, and disinformation.Following her address, Sarah is joined in conversation by celebrated author Anna Funder and economist Roy Green. Together, they reflect on the fragile state of democracy around the world and the urgent need to reimagine civic discourse, media and education in an age of misinformation.Guests:Sarah ChurchwellProfessor of American Literature and Public Understanding of the Humanities, University of London. A leading voice on American cultural and political identity, Sarah Churchwell is the author of Behold, America and The Wrath to Come. Her work examines the myths that shape national consciousness, particularly around democracy, freedom and populism.Anna FunderAuthor of Stasiland and Wifedom. Anna Funder is an award-winning writer known for her powerful investigations into truth, memory, and authoritarianism. Her latest book, Wifedom, reframes the story of George Orwell through the lens of his first wife, Eileen O’Shaughnessy, shining new light on women’s erasure from political and cultural history.Roy GreenEmeritus Professor, UTS; Chair, Port of Newcastle. An economist and innovation expert, Roy Green has advised governments, businesses, and universities on productivity, industry policy, and economic transformation. He is a passionate advocate for inclusive, sustainable growth and the role of knowledge institutions in democratic renewal.Presented as part of the Vice-Chancellor’s Democracy Forum at the University of Technology Sydney.CreditsThis episode has been lightly edited.Impact Talks at UTS is produced by UTS Impact Studios, with sound engineering by Alison Zhuang. 

What’s in a name? In a vibrant, multicultural society like Australia, names hold deep personal, cultural, and historical meaning. Yet too often, non-Anglo names are mispronounced, altered, or avoided—reflecting lingering colonial legacies and contributing to the marginalisation of diverse identities in workplaces, schools, and community life.In this panel discussion, community voices, academics, and thought leaders explore how respectful name recognition can foster deeper inclusion.Panel facilitatorsThe event was MCed by Susana Ng, City of Sydney Multicultural Development Officer, Sand the panel was facilitated by Dr Elaine Laforteza and Dr Zozan Balci from UTSDr Elaine Laforteza has a PhD in Cultural Studies. She is the Equity and Diversity Project Officer (Cultural Diversity) at the UTS Centre for Social Justice & Inclusion. She has held academic positions at Macquarie University, Charles Sturt University, and most recently in the School of Communication at UTS. Her work has been published in peer-reviewed academic journals and community media, and her book ‘The Somatechnics of Whiteness and Race’ is available through Routledge. Elaine hosts SBS’s award-winning podcast, ‘My Bilingual Family’, and is also an emerging playwright, producing plays for various festivals in Sydney.Dr Zozan Balci is an academic and sociolinguist in the School of Communications. An expert in life history interviewing, she excels at transforming research into powerful storytelling that resonates with a broad range of audiences. As a passionate social justice advocate, she connects researchers and students with real-world issues for social change, earning multiple awards for her work with not-for-profits and community organisations through the Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion. Her new book, ‘Erased Voices and Unspoken Heritage’ is available through Routledge.SpeakersJie Pittman is a proud First Nations cultural educator, entrepreneur, and storyteller from the Gadigal-Darug, Murramurang/Budawang Dhurga-Yuin, Kooma, Wiradjuri, and Ngemba nations. As CEO of Jie Pittman Pty Ltd, he leads nationally recognised programs such as the 10 Elements Cultural Exchange and the Liven Deadly Program, which embed Aboriginal cultural identity and healing into education, government, and corporate spaces. Jie brings lived experience and a deep understanding of the power of names as anchors of belonging, resilience, and intergenerational strength. His contribution to Say Our Name offers a decolonised lens on how name recognition can restore dignity, strengthen community identity, and create culturally safe spaces across schools, workplaces, and society.Koon Lai is an executive coach and leadership facilitator with over two decades of experience with PwC. A seasoned executive, she brings deep lived...

What do you need to know to prosper as a people for 65,000 years or more?Alison Page is really obsessed with training up a new generation of Aboriginal designers and that’s been a driving force behind her book, Design and Building on Country: First Knowledges for Younger Readers, co-authored with anthropologist and architect Paul Memmott.It’s a rework of Design and Building on Country, published in 2021 as part of Thames & Hudson’s First Knowledges series.In this short talk, hear...How did lego get Alison into design?What does it mean to design with Country?How can design be used as a form of storytelling and knowledge-keeping?What does 'form follows Country' mean in the context of design education?What is 'biomimicry' and how did First Nations people use it in design?How can traditional Aboriginal design principles be applied in contemporary Australian architecture and urban planning?How can design reconnect people with a sense of belonging and community?Alison then talks Dillon Kombumerri, a principal architect and co-creator of the 'Connecting with Country' framework. They discuss the growth of Indigenous presence in design, the challenges of integrating cultural principles into urban settings, and the importance of designing for both cultural expression and environmental sustainability.SpeakersAlison Page is a First Nations artist, designer and filmmaker who co-creates with Aboriginal communities, organisations and cultural practitioners, to bring the power of Indigenous storytelling to public spaces primarily to awaken the memory of Country.Hailing from Yugambeh and Quandamooka Country, Dillon Kombumerri is a Professor of Practice at the Cities Institute. He is also Principal Architect for the Government Architect NSW and has over 30 years of experience bringing his own unique indigenous perspective to re-imaging the built environment. CreditsThis episode was recorded at UTS House as part of SXSW Sydney 2024.UTS House at SXSW Sydney 2024 explored future trends and emerging technology from leading academics and industry experts in a series of interviews and panel discussions across the week.Impact Talks at UTS is produced by UTS Impact Studios, with sound engineering by Alison Zhuang. 

How do you build successful businesses while creating meaningful impact? How can companies foster inclusive cultures during periods of growth? Panelists share their journeys and offer insights on navigating the complexities of entrepreneurship, advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion and responding to current societal shifts.SpeakersFamey Williams (Githabul), Chief Executive, Aboriginal Housing Office. Famey has over 18 years’ experience working with Aboriginal communities across NSW Government and non-profit sectors, her community and culture serve as a barometer in her roles and she looks to bring that lens to all her interactions professionally.Gunjan Wadhwa, Co-founder of Astra Health AI. Gunjan has over 10 years of experience across the Technology, Financial Services, Consulting, and Healthcare industries. At Astra Health AI, their mission is to transform the healthcare experience with the power of AI for the better. They are passionate about making it more streamlined and centred around patients.Heather Thomson, Chief Operating Officer, Global Sisters. Heather’s 25-year professional career has been dedicated to social and economic justice for women. At Global Sisters, she works to scale impact, supporting thousands of women to reach their full economic potential & create a ripple effect of change in their family, community and society.Adama Kamara, Founder of Just Shea, a skincare brand that uses African botanicals in its formulations and draws deeply from her West African heritage. She has a social background in social services and is a member of the organizing committee for the Africultures Festival, Australia's largest African arts and cultural festival. She is also the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Refugee Council of Australia. Gabriella Maselli McGrail, Director & Producer, Maselli Film. Gabriella's filmmaking approach empowers creatives through collaboration, reflecting her dynamic career and commitment to championing women.The panel is chaired by Dr Claire Wright, lecturer and business historian at the UTS Business School teaching and researching Australian corporate networks, governance and diversity in leadership.CreditsImpact Talks at UTS is produced by UTS Impact Studios, with sound engineering by Alison Zhuang. 

Kidfluencers are social media influencers with accounts managed by adults.This global trend casts children as brand ambassadors but with their ‘everyday life’ as the show.  What's the risk of harm to kid influencers?Can children consent to their private life being readily available online?How do we draw the line between play and labour?What is 'playbour'?When a guardian controls the 'talent', how do children access income?If you're a guardian of a kidfluencer, or a parent sharing content about your kids, what practical things can protect their privacy on social media?Speakers Dr Genevieve Wilkinson, senior lecturer in the Faculty of Law, University of Technology Sydney. Kate Delmo, Head of Discipline for Strategic Communication in the School of Communication, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Technology Sydney. Stephanie Scicchitano, PR expert from Born Bred TalentChantel Mila Ibbotson, content creator This episode was recorded at UTS House as part of SXSW Sydney 2024.UTS House at SXSW Sydney 2024 explored future trends and emerging technology from leading academics and industry experts in a series of interviews and panel discussions across the week.Impact Talks at UTS is produced by UTS Impact Studios, with sound engineering by Alison Zhuang. 

For the first time, a new report quantifies the employment and educational impacts of domestic violence on Australian women.Professor Anne Summers AO’s new report, The Cost of domestic violence to women’s employment and education, quantifies the financial impact on women for the first time.This report builds on her groundbreaking previous report, The Choice: Violence or Poverty.Professor Summers presented the grim findings that show the experience of domestic violence is responsible for women’s lower labour force participation rate, and for students dropping out of university without completing their degrees. Both have significant implications for women’s longer-term financial well-being.In this session, Professor Summers and Jess Hill discussed the implications of these findings for women’s progress towards full equality, and what they mean for our continuing struggle to reduce domestic violence.This event was hosted by the UTS Business School and Centre for Social Justice & Inclusion.  Watch a video recording of the event.SpeakersAnne Summers AO is currently Professor of Domestic and Family Violence at the University of Technology of Sydney Business School. She has been awarded substantial funding by the Paul Ramsay Foundation and UTS to continue her innovative data-based research into domestic violence in Australia. Her report, The Choice: Violence or Poverty (2022), used previously unpublished ABS data to reveal the far greater prevalence of domestic violence than was previously known, and especially the shockingly high incidence among women who have become single mothers as a result. The report influenced the federal government to make changes in the 2023 federal budget to the payment system for single mothers, enabling these mothers to remain on the Parenting Payment until their youngest child reaches the age of 14.Previously, Anne has advised Prime Ministers Bob Hawke and Paul Keating, run the Office of the Status of Women, been Canberra Bureau Chief for the Australian Financial Review newspaper, been editor-in-chief of America’s leading feminist magazine Ms., editor of Good Weekend, chair of the Board of Greenpeace International and a Trustee of the Powerhouse Museum. She was appointed an officer of the Order of Australia for her services to journalism and to women in 1989; had her image on a postage stamp as an Australian Legend in 2011 and in 2017 was inducted into the Australian Media Hall of Fame.Jess Hill has become one of Australia's most recognised and respected thinkers on gendered violence. In addition to her broadcast work - two highly acclaimed docuseries on SBS, a Quarterly Essay titled The Reckoning, and a podcast series on coercive control titled The Trap - she has spoken at almost 400 events to diverse audiences across the country. Her work has received multiple...

Australians must change how we consume goods and services to reduce our environmental impact, but what can businesses do when consumers resist change? How can companies encourage more sustainable behavior while decarbonizing supply chains?In this episode of Impact Talks at UTS, a panel of experts explores the challenges organizations face in driving this shift.SpeakersCatherine King is the Chief Strategy Officer at Leo Burnett with over 20 years of advertising experience that focuses on the intersection of brand building, human behaviour, culture and influence. To develop this perspective, Catherine has held leadership positions with creative, consulting, strategic, PR and digital teams across both multinational and independent agencies in partnership with a broad range of brands that include Suncorp, Destination NSW, Diageo, Royal Caribbean, Sony, Microsoft and Nestle. In her role at Leo Burnett, Catherine leads an ongoing research study called "What good is doing good", affectionately known as the "Good Study", which aims to better understand the role that brands should and could play in the areas of public interest, encompassing human, social, environmental and financial impact.Nicky Sparshott is an experienced CEO, Board Director, and Change Agent with 30 years of global experience working in leading blue-chip organizations such as Unilever, Coca-Cola, and Procter & Gamble. Most recently, she was the Global Chief Transformation at Unilever, designing and deliver value creating change initiatives across the enterprise with a focus on organisational design, performance culture & portfolio optimisation. Prior to this appointment, Nicky was CEO of Unilever Australia & New Zealand and Global CEO of luxury retailer, T2 Tea.Nicky also serves on a few Boards - Chair of the University of Technology’s Industry Advisory Board; Chair of Global Sisters, Non-Executive Director for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and NED on Moose Toys Advisory Board. She is known for building competitive advantage in business by being a force for good; simultaneously delivering economic, environmental and social outcomes and in 2022 was awarded CEO of the Year by CEO Magazine for consistent delivery of business outcomes whilst spearheading transformative ESG programs - bringing together profit & purpose.Siobhan Toohill is a Sustainability advisor having established and led sustainability functions in listed finance and property over the past 20 years. As the first chief sustainability officer at a major Australian bank, she was responsible for Westpac’s sustainability strategy, as well as policy and action on climate change including net zero transition planning, natural capital and human rights. Siobhan has led a wide range of initiatives, including customer vulnerability (including problem gambling), Indigenous engagement, child safeguarding, strategic philanthropy and social impact and is currently a trusted advisor to business and government through a range of governance roles.John Lydon is Co-Chair of Australian Climate Leaders’ Coalition, a member of the NSW Net Zero and Clean Economy Board, Chair of Generation Australia, and serves as an Industry Professor at the University of Technology, Sydney Business School. Previously he was the Managing Partner of McKinsey Australia & New Zealand, holding several roles across the global Firm. John also served as Economic Commissioner of Greater Cities Commission from 2021-2023.Professor Martina Linnenluecke is an internationally recognised scholar who conducts research on the strategic and financial implications of corporate adaptation and resilience to global environmental change, with a specific focus on the impacts of...

Change for Good at UTS means a transdisciplinary, strategic, systems-thinking approach, combining critical, participatory, and multi-level strategies to create practical solutions for addressing complex health and social issues.In this episode of Impact Talks at UTS, the UTS Business School launches its new centre Change for Good with an expert panel discussion addressing the question:What are the biggest behaviour and social change challenges facing Australia now and into the future?SpeakersHost and moderator, Professor Ross Gordon, Director of Change for Good at UTS - a Research Centre focused on transdisciplinary behaviour and social change for social good.   Ross is an interdisciplinary behaviour and social change activist with degree qualifications in marketing, public policy, and politics and history. He researches social issues and behaviour and social change, through a critical, reflexive, and multi-perspective lens. Ross served on the inaugural WHO Technical Advisory Group on Behavioural Insights and Sciences for Health from 2000-2024 and is currently serves as an observer for the group. He works on various behaviour and social change issues including gambling, non-communicable diseases, Covid-19, energy hardship and energy efficiency, climate action and environmental sustainability, alcohol, tobacco control, mental health, childhood obesity, workplace bullying, and power and politics in the neoliberal university. Ross has been a principal or named investigator on projects attracting over $9.2m in research funds. He has published over 120 academic journals, book chapters and conference papers and a leading book: Strategic Social Marketing: For Behaviour and Social Change published by SAGE.Professor Maria Raciti, Co-Director, Indigenous and Transcultural Research Centre at University of Sunshine Coast. Professor Maria Raciti (Kalkadoon-Thaniquith-Bwgcolman) is a social marketer who uses marketing tools and techniques to bring about social justice and behaviour change. Professor Raciti is co-founder and co-director of the UniSC Indigenous and Transcultural Research Centre, co-leader of the education and economies theme in the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Indigenous Futures, a member of the executive of the Australian Association of Social Marketing, board member of International Social Marketing Association, the 2018 Research Fellow with the National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education and was part of an Australian Government departmental task force assisting with the 2019 National Regional Rural and Remote Tertiary Education Strategy.Estelle Grech, Policy Manager at the Committee for SydneyEstelle is an urban planner, passionate about improving social equity in cities. With experience in local government, consulting, and as a senior advisor in the NSW Government, she now leads planning and housing policy at the Committee for Sydney. A Churchill Fellowship recipient, Estelle recently travelled to over 13 cities across Europe and the US to research how to design...

Anna Funder, award-winning writer and author of Wifedom: Mrs Orwell's Invisible Life, unpacks how the patriarchy continues to maintain the status quo – using the extraordinary lives of Eileen O’Shaughnessy and George Orwell, and her thoughts on the 2023 hit movie Barbie.In a patriarchal system, women’s relationships transform into a role – Mother. Wife. – that erases their individuality and signs them up to a motherload of unpaid labour.In Australia, women do more than nine hours more unpaid work and care each week than men, and do more unpaid housework than men even when they are the primary breadwinner.Nowhere in the world is this trend reversed.Women’s domestic labour upholds households and economies but is too often devalued and unacknowledged.It’s a bargain few people, including men, want to be part of. Yet it stubbornly persists.The event will also feature panel discussion with A/Prof Ramona Vijeyarasa and Prof Peter Siminski, where our speakers will share insights and expertise on how we can move towards more equitable models.This event is co-hosted by the UTS Centre for Social Justice & Inclusion and the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Keynote speakerDr Anna Funder is one of Australia’s most acclaimed and awarded writers. Her books Stasiland and All That I Am are prize-winning international bestsellers and translated into many languages. Her book, Wifedom, is hailed as a ‘masterpiece’ and was chosen as a Notable Book of 2023 by the New York Times and a Book of the Year by The Times, The Economist, the Financial Times, the Daily Telegraph (UK) and The Telegraph (UK). Anna’s signature works tell stories of courage, resistance, conscience and love, illuminating the human condition in times of tyranny and surveillance. Anna is a University of Technology Sydney Luminary and Ambassador.PanellistsAssociate Professor Ramona Vijeyarasa is a legal academic and women’s rights activist. She is the Chief Investigator behind the Gender Legislative Index, a tool designed to promote the enactment of legislation that works more effectively to improve women’s lives. Ramona’s academic career as a scholar of gender and the law follows ten years in international human rights activism, which has informed her impact-driven approach to research.Professor Peter Siminski is an applied microeconomist. He has over 20 years of policy-oriented research experience and is the Head of the Economics Department at UTS. Peter’s work applies modern impact evaluation techniques to estimate the effects of Australian Government policies and programs on people’s lives. The measurement of inequality and intergenerational economic mobility is a key theme of his work.Amy Persson (MC and moderator) is the interim Pro Vice-Chancellor (Social Justice and Inclusion) at UTS. Amy is a public policy specialist who has worked across the private, public and not for profit sectors and was Head of Government Affairs and External Engagement at UTS. Previously, she held Senior Executive roles in the NSW Department...

How do organisations identify and enact purpose?How can we drive connection between personal and organisational purpose, meaning and values?And how important are these issues in navigating an increasingly complex world?Dr Suzy Green and Dr Rosemary Sainty pose these questions and more to Professor Emeritus Robert E. Quinn, Professor Carl Rhodes and Corene Strauss in a conversation about purpose, meaning and values to inspire positive change.CreditsRobert E. Quinn is Co-Founder and Faculty Advisory Board, Center for Positive Organizations and Margaret Elliot Tracy Professor Emeritus at the University of Michigan, Ross School of Business is in the top 1% of professors cited in organizational behavior textbooks. He is the author of 18 books including Deep Change, a long-term best seller. Bob has one of the highest rates of repeat invitations in the speaking industry and his recent talk on purpose has been viewed by over 15 million people.Professor Carl Rhodes is Dean of UTS Business School, University of Technology Sydney. In this role, Carl is responsible for the academic and strategic leadership of the School, in pursuit of its vision to be a socially-committed business school. Prior to his academic career, Carl worked in professional and senior management positions in change management and organisational development. As a scholar, Carl researches the relationship between business and society in the nexus between liberal democracy and contemporary capitalism. Corene Strauss is a cause related CEO, leading the Australian Disability Network since July 2021. Passionate about improving the lives of others and building communities for good, Corene has led the transformation of multiple organisations including CEO of Special Olympics Australia, part of the world’s largest disability sports organisation and prior to that the first female CEO appointed to the NRL’s Men of League Foundation responsible for the welfare of the rugby league community. Corene was appointed to the Board of Directors of Invictus Australia in June 2024.Dr Suzy Green is a Clinical and Coaching Psychologist (MAPS) and Founder & CEO of The Positivity Institute, a positively deviant business, dedicated to the promotion of wellbeing in workplaces and schools. Suzy is a leader in the complementary fields of Coaching Psychology and Positive Psychology. and currently holds Honorary Academic positions in the UTS Business School, the Centre for Wellbeing Science, University of Melbourne, the School of Psychology, University of East London.  Dr Rosemary Sainty is a thought leader bridging organisational psychology, corporate responsibility, sustainability, and governance. Rosemary is the founding Australian representative to the UN Global Compact having headed up the federally funded National Responsible Business Practice Project. She currently coordinates the positive psychology / positive organisational scholarship teaching programs at UTS Business School, with a research interest in responsible, sustainable and flourishing organisations. Sound engineering by Alison...

This year, Australia is set to establish the role of a Poet Laureate, as part of the federal government’s Revive national cultural policy.What is the relationship between poetry and the public realm—from bards to court poets to laureates?How will a poet laureateship help shape the reception of Australian poetry at home and abroad?Professor Holland-Batt talks to these questions, followed by a Q&A session led by Dr Delia Falconer. CreditsProfessor Sarah Holland-Batt is an award-winning poet, editor and critic. Her books have received a number of Australia’s leading literary awards, including the Stella Prize for her most recent book, The Jaguar, and the Prime Minister’s Literary Award for Poetry for her second volume, The Hazards. She is also the author of a book of essays on contemporary Australian poetry, Fishing for Lightning, collecting her poetry columns written for The Australian. She is currently a cohost of Julia Gillard’s Book Club on A Podcast of One’s Own, and Professor of Creative Writing at QUT.Dr Delia Falconer is the author of two novels (The Service of Clouds and The Lost Thoughts of Soldiers) and two works of nonfiction (Sydney and Signs and Wonders: Dispatches from a time of beauty and loss), which have been shortlisted for national and international awards across the categories of fiction, nonfiction, innovation, biography, history and research. She is the Head of Discipline in Creative Writing at UTS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.Sound engineering by Alison Zhuang.Impact Talks at UTS is produced by Impact Studios.

What does it mean to belong in the water?How can we get more women surfing? How can we create more inclusive line-ups? What challenges do Australian women surfers still face? Hear how surfing is changing in Australia - from the rise of women’s participation to equal pay, and find out why barriers like intimidation, unequal access, and outdated norms persist. How has media representation shaped these changes? What role does sponsorship play in supporting or sidelining women surfers? How can women's surfing competitions grow in Australia?HostsDr Ece Kaya: is the Associate Head of Engagement of the Management Department and Senior Lecturer in Management at the UTS Business School.Dr Leila Khanjaninejad: Lecturer in Creative Intelligence and Innovation in Transdisciplinary (TD) School, UTS.PanelistsTyler Wright: Australian Surfing Royalty, two times World Champion and Paris 2024 Australian Olympian.Rebecca Olive: Vice Chancellor's Senior Research Fellow in the School of Global, Urban and Social Studies at RMIT University.Ashika Kanhai: Senior lawyer who leads the Climate Justice Legal Project  and Chair of the Surf Coast Women's Boardriders Club.Impact Talks at UTS is produced by UTS Impact Studios, a podcast studio that unlocks academic research through engaging and accessible podcasts.Sound engineering is by Alison Zhuang. Episode image photo of surfer Tyler Wright from her Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tylerwright/

With the advent of generative AI, manipulation of information and data is taking a new turn. Deepfakes and AI generated and propagated misinformation and disinformation are proliferating online.These trends are already undermining the reliability of news, disrupting elections, challenging democratic processes, and infringing rights globally. As automation rapidly expands the reach and scale of this phenomenon, policy and regulation are often held back by a lack of agreed principles and priorities.HostHamish Macdonald: Australian broadcaster and journalist. He is co-host of Global Roaming on ABC Radio National and ‘The Project’ on Channel Ten.PanelistsMonica Attard: Australian journalist and Director of the UTS Centre for Media Transition, best known for hosting ABC’s PM, The World Today, and Media Watch.Creina Chapman: Former Deputy Chair and CEO of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) charged with powers to combat online misinformation and disinformation. Creina has held senior executive and strategic adviser roles at Southern Cross Austereo, News Corp, Publishing and Broadcasting Limited, and the Nine Network.Michael Davis: UTS research expert on information integrity, generative AI, and the news based in the UTS Centre for Media Transition.Cullen Jennings: Chief Technology Officer of American multinational digital communications giant, Cisco Systems Sophie Farthing: Head of Policy Lab at the Human Technology Institute, UTS.About Global GamechangersGlobal Gamechangers is presented by the UTS Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building, as a series of public conversations about the issues that matter. Find out more at uts.edu.au/partners-and-community/events/global-game-changersWatch the video recording of this talk on YouTube.Impact Talks at UTS is produced by UTS Impact Studios, a podcast studio that unlocks academic research through engaging and accessible podcasts.Sound engineering is by Alison Zhuang. 

How can carbon be remade into stuff that we want and use every day?Imagine a world where all the products we want and interact with become 'carbon sinks' and reduce atmospheric carbon emissions. In this world, when you buy a product, you'd decarbonise the atmosphere, make sure that the carbon stays out of the atmosphere and is repurposed in innovative ways. Production and consumption would be sustainable and have a positive impact.How can carbon help us fight climate change?Host Craig Reucassel: Australian writer, comedian, and TV presenter, best known for his work on the Australian TV programs, The Chaser and The War on Waste, televised on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (the ABC). (Australia)Introduction: How can we rethink carbon?Alex Thomson: Marine ecologist, Science and Technology Australia ‘Superstar of STEM’, leading science communicator and industry engagement manager in the UTS Faculty of Science, and a big fan of algae and how it can change our planet! (Australia) PanelistsGunter Beitinger: Industrial engineering and project leader at multinational technology company Siemens – striving towards net zero with SVP Manufacturing, Factory Digitisation, and Decarbonisation Platform SiGREEN. (Germany)Julia Reisser: co-founder of innovative climate-positive Australian company Uluu, leading production of a natural material derived from oceans able to replace plastics at scale. (Australia)Peter Ralph: Leading international researcher in the fields of algae bio-systems and biotechnology, seagrasses, and the adaption of aquatic plants to warming and acidifying oceans; and Executive Director of the UTS Climate Change Cluster in the Faculty of Science. (Australia)Amy Low: Director of brand and marketing for iconic Australian surf-wear company, Piping Hot, delivering sustainable and affordable material and product production for clothing, swimwear, footwear, and accessories. (Australia)About Global GamechangersGlobal Gamechangers is presented by the UTS Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building, as a series of public conversations about the issues that matter. Find out more at uts.edu.au/partners-and-community/events/global-game-changersWatch the video recording of this talk on YouTube.Impact Talks at UTS is produced by UTS Impact Studios, a podcast studio that unlocks academic research through engaging and accessible podcasts.Sound engineering is by...

World cities are home to the vast bulk of humanity.Urban environments are also responsible for 75% of global emissions. In this international discussion, experts explore the transformative power of Green Infrastructure (GI) in urban landscapes and examine innovative ways to make cities smarter, greener, and more communal - places where people can live for generations to come.   The transformation of 'concrete jungles' into liveable green hubs does not happen overnight nor by accident.  It needs tremendous imagination, willpower, and collective effort. How can we do this?How can we deeply rethink resources, their value, and the concepts of ‘scarcity’ and ‘abundance’ to make a sustainable, habitable world?How can we integrate nature, infrastructure, and technology?  What are some of the most innovative green tech solutions leading to change for the better? Host Anthony Bourke: Professor of Architecture at the University of Technology Sydney and TV Presenter; Australian host of the popular TV series Grand Designs Transformations, Restoration Australia, and Grand Designs Australia (all on ABC TV)PanellistsRemy Sietchiping: Internationally recognised expert and UN strategist on Urban Planning and Geographic Information Systems; Chief of Policy at UN-HABITAT, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, Nairobi, Kenya.Germain Briand: Owner and director of the internationally acclaimed company, The Urban Canopee, on a bold mission to accelerate our cities’ greening through innovation to fight climate change and re-connect people with nature.Jua Cilliers: Recognised global leader in urban planning and green infrastructure solutions, 'A Defender of the Future', Head of the School of the Built Environment, University of Technology Sydney.Rob Stokes: Leading Australian spokesperson on city planning and the importance of Net Zero Cities; former New South Wales Minister for Planning and Public Spaces.About Global GamechangersGlobal Gamechangers is presented by the UTS Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building, as a series of public conversations about the issues that matter. Find out more at uts.edu.au/partners-and-community/events/global-game-changersWatch the video recording of this talk on YouTube.Impact Talks at UTS is produced by UTS Impact Studios, a podcast studio that unlocks academic research through engaging and accessible podcasts.Sound engineering is by Alison Zhuang.