About Anne Souvertjis:

Anne is a Professor of Marketing and senior researcher at the Ehrenberg-Bass Institute. Much of Anne's work has the common theme of applying marketing science knowledge to sustainable marketing. Her work has covered the impact of retail bans on single use plastics, householder waste and recycling behaviour, householder food waste, developing measures for repairing, reusing and waste avoidance, and the sharing economy. Anne helps organisations understand human behaviour around sustainability so they can develop and market better products, ideas, campaigns and engagement strategies. Anne has published over 50 academic papers, with her work appearing in respected journals such as the European Journal of Marketing and the International Journal of Research in Marketing (twice). The Institute’s strong industry-partnering in its research has seen Anne work with a wide range of government, regulatory bodies and industry. She has been a full member of the The Research Society for over 20 years and teaches Market Research at both the undergraduate and postgraduate level and serves as a university ethics chair and advisor.

Jody's talk:

Rethinking Marketing for Change

Marketing has often been demonised as being responsible for creating many of the sustainability challenges we face today. Yet increasingly marketing is also being seen as part of the solution. In this talk, Anne will share six key marketing principles that are known by few and ignored by many. When used in the development of a change campaign, these six principles will substantially increase your campaign’s likelihood of success. Anne will provide evidence supporting each of the principles and illustrate nd their success use in behaviour change campaigns.

About Andrew Butow:

Andrew Butow is the co-founder of Earth2Mars, a change consultancy redefining the way organisations transform and adapt. With over 20 years of global experience, Andrew has helped businesses, governments, and not-for-profits unlock the full potential of their teams through human-centred design, behavioural science, and cutting-edge technology, including AI. His expertise spans high-tech innovation to large-scale organisational shifts, always with a people-first approach.

Through Earth2Mars, Andrew and his team don’t just lead change, they educate and empower. Their global community, Space for Change™, brings together 1,600+ change leaders committed to learning, collaboration, and impact-driven transformation Andrew and his team at Earth2Mars have partnered with industry leaders like Allianz, Coles, Transport NSW, MYOB, and CBA. They uplift their leader's and teams' change capability skills through training and drive effective change and transformation through consulting to help them tackle today’s business challenges and prepare for the future.

Andrew's talk:

Details coming soon

Coming soon.

About Mark Paterson:

Mark’s first job was milking cows. He left farm life for a scholarship to study journalism. After 10 years as an award-winning journalist and editor, he went into consulting. Mark works at the nexus of people, planet and progress. He helps people and communities look forward and choose a better way to live.

Mark's talk:

Change ripples through a community beyond your work

Imagine a stone dropped into a pond. Do you see the circular ripples on the water surface, slowly expanding beyond the splash point? This is The Ripple Effect. The stone is your intervention. The ripples are your impact. Ripples are a constant in a changemaker’s life.

Change ripples through a community beyond your work and lessons from one behaviour change project have a habit of rippling into the next. Mark reveals how an intervention targeting plastic waste collection in a community fostered positive changes in social behaviours, and set the scene for new energy generation and eco-tourism initiatives. Further, find out how the outcomes from this project in Indonesia rippled into an award-winning social marketing campaign with recreational fishers in Queensland. More humanist than scientist, Mark will share insights and observations from his time working with multi-disciplinary behavioural science teams in Indonesia and Australia.

About Dr Romane Cristescu:

Dr Romane Cristescu is a conservation ecologist with a wide range of research areas - all centred around investigating how we can best help wildlife in a world dominated by humans? Romane have a strong focus on innovations to maximise conservation outcomes. In particular Romane has developed, tested and deploy: 1/ new survey methodologies including detection (sniffer) dogs and drone-mounted thermal imaging, 2/ non-invasive molecular analyses (genetic, pathogens and hormones measured in scats) and 3/ innovative technologies to monitor movement - both ear tag and collar based. Romane endeavours to work with varied partners and stakeholders to test and apply these innovations in on-the-ground management to maximise limited funding and accelerate implementation e.g. comparison of detection rates of methods, genetic measures for conservation genetics, using mass produced technology and adapting it for conservation.

Dr Romane's talk:

Talk title coming soon

Details coming soon

Luke is a purpose driven social entrepreneur and internationally respected expert in social marketing and community behaviour change. For almost three decades he has delivered health and sustainability related behaviour change programs, training and advice to domestic and international governments, NGOs, and charities. Luke is a former director of The National Social Marketing Centre (UK) and is an adjunct research fellow at Curtin University (Public Health), and Griffith University (Social Marketing). He is committed to reducing health inequalities and amplifying the voice of lived experience in health-related policy and practice.

Allison is an experienced researcher, with twenty years-experience in market and social research. She has worked for clients in both the public and private sectors, and across a range of areas, including health, mental health, road safety, education, alcohol and drugs, tourism, employment, domestic violence, environment, and sustainability. She has particular experience in the development and execution of behaviour change interventions and communications (formative, concept testing and evaluation research), community attitude tracking, community and consumer segmentation, stakeholder consultation, corporate reputation, community engagement and brand guidance research. Allison is committed to using research to help make positive impacts in people’s lives.

Associate Professor Jody Evans has worked in marketing, brand, and social purpose areas for over 25 years and has been a member of the Faculty at Melbourne Business School since 2002. She has extensive experience as an academic, consultant and executive educator working with clients across a diverse range of sectors. Jody is a marketing specialist passionate about working with organisations and leaders to craft relevant and engaging impact narratives – stories about impact and stories with impact. Clients and partner organisations include Australia Post, Australian Red Cross, BP Australia, Creative Australia, Melbourne Recital Centre, National Gallery of Victoria, Royal Melbourne Hospital, and Shepparton Art Museum. Jody is Program Director of Melbourne Business School’s women in leadership programs and the For-Purpose Executive Leadership Program. She is a member of the Melbourne Recital Centre Board and former board member of the Shepparton Art Museum Foundation and Public Galleries Association of Victoria.

Nick is one of New Zealand’s leading behaviour change / affirmation practitioners. He has been on both client and comms agency sides of research, strategy and implementation – leading marketing and communications initiatives in family and sexual violence, road safety, travel and response biosecurity, alcohol moderation, smoking cessation, disaster preparedness and injury prevention. He is a NZ Social Marketing Network committee member (and past Chair) and contributes to the NZ Behavioural Insights Community of Practice committee. His work underpins university course content and NZ Marketing Association resources.

About Stephen Hill:

After a career in retail and becoming concerned with the role he played in people stretching their financial limits to buy things, Stephen jumped at an opportunity to work in community services and found energy helping people transition from crisis into safe and stable futures. He joined the accommodation team at Launceston City Mission in 2005 and currently manages the organisation’s crisis housing and emergency relief teams. These services provide over 50 beds each night for people in Launceston and provide food and material support for over 200 families across the state’s north and northwest regions each month. Stephen currently is a life member of Shelter Tas, the housing and homelessness peak body in Tasmania and participates in a number of regional steering committees and action groups.

Stephen's talk:

The best way to help people is with people

In the midst of crisis, a person’s ability to manage day to day activities become compressed, sometimes to the point of neglect and what can appear to be an unwillingness to engage and take steps to improve their circumstances. This presentation will attempt to demonstrate that in the face of growing demand for housing solutions, with people reporting increasingly complex range of challenges and a raft of systems and processes designed to help, the best way to support people out of crisis into improved capacity, capability and positive futures, is with people.

About Jo Taranto:

Jo Taranto is a Sydney-based educator and founder of Good for the Hood who work with communities around Australia. Her superpower is dissecting sustainability trends and unpacking the lessons from research on nature and behavioural science. Jo is the co-host of Channel 10's Planet Shapers, a series sharing sustainability and environmental science stories. Jo creates a comfortable space for conversations and connections to begin and urges us to consider everyone's role in swift and decisive science-based climate action.

Jo's talk:

The not-so-secret recipe for community: how to bake up change

Are you curious about the ingredients of a changemaker? Do you wish you could whip up a few more ‘doers’ to help tackle the big issues in your area or organisation? Join Jo Taranto from Good for the Hood and explore the stories of everyday action from communities around Australia. Discover how hungry community changemakers bake up their own initiatives and what it takes to get it just right. But be careful! This talk may have you grabbing your apron and getting cooking!

About Joanne Smethurst:

Jo Smethurst has been immersed in creating and sustaining health consumer partnerships for almost 20 years. She started this work as a consumer representative/advocate wanting to work with the health system to improve maternity care for women and families across Australia. During this she and a group of other consumers, initiated training and action research that supported more people to do this work. At the time consumer-led research wasn’t even a concept.

Her lived experience has fed into the work she’s done for the last decade, in partnering with health consumers and community as meaningful partners in shaping the health system. Jo believes the health system cannot provide consumer-centred healthcare unless consumers have been active partners in all things that have led to that care being provided – from the regulation of healthcare providers, researchers that develop the evidence, to co-designing models of healthcare, and monitoring and evaluating it from the perspective of the people receiving the care – looking at both their experiences of care as well as their outcomes. Jo has a strong interest in social equity and justice, and works in collaborative and respectful partnerships with all people. - everyone has a story that can help make the system better – which in turn can make another person’s life better.

Session 4: Discussion panel plus Q&A

Empathy and Inclusion

Details coming soon

About Luke van der Beeke:

Luke is a purpose-driven social entrepreneur and expert in social marketing and behaviour change. He is committed to reducing health inequalities and amplifying the voice of lived experience in policy and practice. Luke is a Co-Founder and Managing Director of The Behaviour Change Collaborative and is the Chair of The BCC Impact. Throughout his career, he has advised organisations such as the World Health Organisation, the European Commission, and the Australian, British, US and Scottish governments. Luke served as a director of the National Social Marketing Centre (UK) and as a technical advisor to the Strategic Review on Health Inequalities in England.

Recent projects include improving youth mental health, climate change, addressing gender inequality and violence against women, teen vaping, road safety and early childhood development. He is a Fellow of the Australian Marketing Institute and an Adjunct Research Fellow at Curtin and Griffith Universities.

Luke's talk:

Talk Title coming soon

Details coming soon

About Rebecca Ahern:

Rebecca Ahern is the Executive Manager of Social Marketing and Communications at VicHealth and an AASM Committee Member. With over 20 years of experience in PR, advertising, and behaviour change marketing, she excels in collaboration and building strategic partnerships to drive positive change. Since joining VicHealth in 2022, Bec has used her global experience from top international creative agencies to innovate marketing and communications strategies that promote health and social change. As the media spokesperson for This Girl Can – Victoria, she leads a campaign that supports women in embracing physical activity, inspired by their powerful stories. Committed to reinforcing VicHealth’s leadership in health promotion, Bec explores initiatives like the Community Champion program to combat misinformation and engage priority populations.

Session 4: Discussion panel plus Q&A

Empathy and Inclusion

Details coming soon

About Tess Palmyre:

Tess spearheads inclusive brand strategies for purpose-led organisations, centring diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in their marketing and communications. A respected brand strategist and founder of Brandable, an agency that champions inclusion in brand strategy, communications and design, Tess has supported national clients and agencies across education, health, First Nations, and not for profit sectors. Drawing from her initial career as an educator, Tess recognises the essential role of community and a clear purpose in brand success. Proudly Seychelles-born and a woman of colour, Tess lives on Noongar Country in Western Australia, and is a foster mum to two girls.

Session 4: Discussion panel plus Q&A

Empathy and Inclusion

Details coming soon

Associate Professor Lukas Parker is a leading social marketing and advertising scholar whose research sits at the nexus of behaviour change, communicating health and digital advertising. Leading teams of researchers, his research addresses pressing social problems related to health and sustainability. He has over fifty peer-reviewed publications including influential co-authored books Social Marketing and Advertising in the Age of Social Media (2020) and Social Marketing and Behaviour Change: Models, theory and applications (2014) which guide social marketing practitioners and scholars. His recent government and industry partners include VicHealth, Football Victoria, Sustainability Victoria, Woolworths and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).

Jennifer Tabanico is the President and owner of Action Research, a firm that specializes in changing behavior for good by applying behavioral and social science research to outreach programs that promote safe, healthy, and sustainable communities. Jennifer has a Master of Arts in Experimental Psychology and over 21 years of experience developing behavior-change programs using community-based social marketing. Her clients have included dozens of federal, state, and local government agencies, private companies, and community organizations. Jennifer’s work has been published in peer-reviewed journals including the Journal of Environmental Psychology, Social Influence, and Social Marketing Quarterly. She also contributed a book chapter to the Handbook on Persuasion and Social Marketing. Jennifer is an Editorial Board member for Social Marketing Quarterly and an instructor for the Behavior Change and Sustainability and the Sustainable Business Practices Certificate Programs at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) Extended Studies.

About Gauri Laud:

Gauri Laud is a services marketing scholar, her research contributes to areas of transformative service research, service management and technology, value co-creation processes in service ecosystems and consumer and community well-being. She has successfully delivered research projects in collaboration with several industry and community organisations that includes health service providers such as – Taiwan Public Hospital, Aged and Community Care Service providers in Australia. Dr Laud's research has been published in topmost marketing journals such as the Journal of Marketing, the European Journal of Marketing, the Journal of Service Management, and the Journal of Service Theory and Practice, Journal of Services Marketing, and Marketing Theory, among others.

Session 4: Discussion panel plus Q&A

Empathy and Inclusion

Details coming soon

About Kim McDonnell:

Kim McDonnell is the CEO and founder of Thankful, Thankful4Farmers and Saveful. Through her dedication to unifying influencers, thought leaders, brands, and organisations, Kim McDonnell has made a significant impact not only in Australia but across the globe. Her collaborations with the UN Foundation to Eliminate Violence Against Women and the UN World Food Program to reduce food waste have furthered her mission of creating positive change. With more than 25 years of experience advertising, digital, and data-driven marketing industry, Kim has worked with international agencies such as Leo Burne9 and Publicis Worldwide. Kim has also served as a member of the Professional Business Council Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center and an Honorary Adviser to the NGO Commi9ee on Sustainable Development NY.

Kim's talk:

The Role of Technology to drive behaviour change at Home to Reduce Food Waste

Globally, 61% of food waste occurs at the household level. In Australia, households discard one in five shopping bags of food, costing an estimated $2,700 to $3,000 annually. Despite the current cost of living crisis, where 80% of families are struggling, 70% of the food we throw away is still perfectly edible. Kim McDonnell will discuss how technology is helping Australian families reduce food waste, save money, and put more food on their tables.

About Tim Brown:

As the CEO of Gander, Tim Brown leads a revolution in combating food waste with innovative technology. With over two decades of experience in the FMCG industry, Tim and the global Gander app team are on a pursuit of solutions to pressing global challenges.

Having worked for some of the biggest brands in the industry, the volume of perfectly good food being thrown away was always apparent, however few were willing to do anything about it.

Having a background in marketing, sales, management, Tim’s focus is to turn concepts and ‘good ideas’ into reality – believing in a ‘roll your sleeves up’ mentality in business and in life. Currently working on several ventures across Australia, Asia & the Middle East in the circular economy and FMCG space - also undertaking post-graduate studies at Griffith University – Tim believes there are always more hours in the day if you look hard enough.

Tim's talk:

Profitability with Purpose: How Sustainable Entrepreneurship Can Drive Positive Change

Exploring the intersection of profitability and sustainability in entrepreneurship. As CEO of the Gander app, a pioneering anti-food waste platform, I'll delve into how businesses can thrive financially while making a positive impact on the planet. Through innovative strategies, we're demonstrating that sustainability isn't just a cost—it's a source of profitability and societal benefit. By connecting consumers to retailers' markdowns, we're not only saving money for individuals but also reducing food waste and enhancing environmental sustainability. I'll share insights on how businesses can embrace sustainability as a core principle, driving profitability while creating lasting social and environmental value.

About Michaela Windsor:

Michaela has always loved feeding people and solving problems. After more than 10 years in business development and marketing, the opportunity to join OzHarvest in 2018 brought these passions together.

Michaela now leads OzHarvest Queensland across Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, Cairns, and Townsville, with 18 food rescue vehicles on the road delivering goodness. OzHarvest’s engagement and educational programs combine to ease food insecurity, increase community resilience, and protect our planet from harmful food waste.

Michaela believes that most problems can be solved with the right team, plan and budget, and delights in bringing together like-minded stakeholders to create solutions that deliver positive outcomes for today and for tomorrow. Equal parts enthusiastic and calm, Michaela revels in finding pragmatic solutions in the face of challenges.When not at work, Michaela spends her time cooking, reading, renovating, and learning how to parent her loud, hungry, and very speedy toddler.

Michaela's talk:

Nourishing Our Country

Michaela Windsor, QLD State Manager, will present OzHarvest’s mission - “Nourishing Our Country,” as Australia’s leading food rescue organization. Food is at our core, saving surplus food from ending up in landfill and delivering it to charities that help feed people in need. We are committed to halving food waste by 2030, inspiring and influencing others to do the same, and transforming lives through education. Michaela will spotlight the Use It Up Campaign, which helps households reduce their food waste by up to 40% using the Use It Up™ tape—a simple yet impactful habit that saves food, money, and the planet.

Dr Wiebke Finkler is a creative marketing researcher, award winning filmmaker, author and science communicator. With a background in marine biology Wiebke has a special interest in how filmmaking combined with community-based social marketing can be used as a tool for sustainable development, environmental conservation and social good. Wiebke is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Marketing, University of Otago, New Zealand. She is also the author of the book The Science of Hope: Eye to Eye with our World's Wildlife, published internationally by Exisle Publishing (2021).

About Lukas Parker:

Associate Professor Lukas Parker is a leading social marketing and advertising scholar whose research sits at the nexus of behaviour change, communicating health and digital advertising. Leading teams of researchers, his research addresses pressing social problems related to health and sustainability. He has over fifty peer-reviewed publications including influential co-authored books Social Marketing and Advertising in the Age of Social Media (2020) and Social Marketing and Behaviour Change: Models, theory and applications (2014) which guide social marketing practitioners and scholars. His recent government and industry partners include VicHealth, Football Victoria, Sustainability Victoria, Woolworths and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).

Lukas's Talk

Details coming soon

About Allison Grainger:

Allison is an experienced researcher, with twenty years-experience in market and social research. She has worked for clients in both the public and private sectors, and across a range of areas, including health, mental health, road safety, education, alcohol and drugs, tourism, employment, domestic violence, environment, and sustainability.

She has particular experience in the development and execution of behaviour change interventions and communications (formative, concept testing and evaluation research), community attitude tracking, community and consumer segmentation, stakeholder consultation, corporate reputation, community engagement and brand guidance research. Allison is committed to using research to help make positive impacts in people’s lives.

Allisons talk

Details coming soon

About Katie Kelly:

Katie Kelly OAM PLY is a Diversity and Inclusion Advocate and, a 2x Paralympian who was the first Australian to win a Gold medal in the sport of Paratriathlon at the Rio Paralympics in 2016. She was also the World Champion in 2015 and 2017 and retired after the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

In 2017, Katie established, Sport Access Foundation, which provides sporting grants to young Australians living with a disability.

Katie’s career includes marketing and communications with organisations such as the NRL, ANZ Stadium, NT Government and Tabcorp. She sits on a number of committees and board, including as an Industry Fellow with Griffith University’s Inclusive Council. She is an Ambassador the National Sporting Alliance for People with a Disability and works in a Social Inclusion role for a ASX listed company.

Katie's journey of living with a genetic condition, Usher Syndrome, is one of tenacity and grit. Katie speaks to the significant and confronting challenges of this condition which results in hearing and eyesight loss.

Katie has a BA from Griffith University and Masters of Business from University of Technology, Sydney.

Change 2023 topic:

Details coming soon.

About Kelsey Chapman:

Kelsey is the research lead and PhD candidate of The Dignity Project at Griffith University. She specialises in disability research, inclusive research methods, and dignity theory. Kelsey and her team were nominated for a Eureka Prize for Innovation in Citizen Science in 2022.

Session 4: Discussion panel plus Q&A

Nothing About Us Without Us

Learn about the challenges change makers have experienced in their decades of fighting for inclusion. This panel will share the barriers they’ve faced in physical access, sport, education, and work. They will show how storytelling and breaking down silos have enabled inclusion but will remind us there is a long way to go.

About Kevin Cocks:

In his role leading the Accessible Transport Network (ATN), Kevin will actively advise and support TMR and partners to deliver our vision of 'a single integrated transport network accessible to everyone.'

Kevin Cocks AM is a well-respected champion of human rights and until recently he was the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Commissioner. After sustaining a spinal injury as a young person, Kevin has made it his business to ensure no one is left behind.

He brings a wealth of experience to this role, with his expertise focused on protecting the principles of dignity and equality for everyone and striving towards a more inclusive society for all. He has dedicated his life to fighting for an inclusive, accessible and diverse Queensland through legislative and policy reform and State-wide advocacy.

Amongst his plentiful awards, standouts include the Order of Australia (AM) 2010, Australian Human Rights Medal 2005 and the Centenary Medal 'for distinguished service to disability services in Queensland' in 2003.

Session 4: Discussion panel plus Q&A

Nothing About Us Without Us

Learn about the challenges change makers have experienced in their decades of fighting for inclusion. This panel will share the barriers they’ve faced in physical access, sport, education, and work. They will show how storytelling and breaking down silos have enabled inclusion but will remind us there is a long way to go.

About Dr Jeawon Kim:

Jeawon is the Capacity Building and Network Engagement Specialist at UN Climate Technology Centre & Network (CTCN) and former Post-doc research fellow at National Institute of Green Technology (NIGT) and Social Marketing Program Manager of Waste Not Want Not campaign. Centring individuals on societal issues, she focuses on creating self-sustaining behaviour change solutions for climate mitigation, adaptation, and recovery. As an applied social behaviour change pracademic, she holds a track record of enhancing co-creation efforts to guide the future practice of social marketing research with the aim to achieve long-lasting behavioural change in climate and environment, public health, and social equality fields. Currently, she takes co-creation in developing and implementing capacity building and partnership programs to allow the identification of system-penetrating behaviour-technology-policy-finance solutions, to enhance the efficiency of climate technology and finance mechanisms established under the UNFCCC, thus supporting developing counties to meet the Paris Agreement. Originally from South Korea, Jeawon travels (by aeroplane, unfortunately!) regions to empower individuals, who are experts in their own experiences, make decisions and actions that benefit themselves and us as a whole.

Jeawon's talk:

Forging Social Marketing for Global Crisis

In the era of humanity walking towards failure to limit the global temperature rise by 1.5 degrees, Jeawon will share her viewpoints and lessons gained by working with the global stakeholders. The talk will include the unique role that social marketing can play in leading the creation of system-cutting solutions for impact as well as key pathways to facilitate the collaboration of all.

About Renae McBrien:

Renae McBrien is the Environment Consultant for Children’s Health Queensland. She also works as a radiographer, with over 25 years of clinical health experience. Renae McBrien is passionate about building sustainability into our health care system and has worked across many Brisbane hospitals to design waste out of health. Her work to value waste as a resource has converted waste into a revenue stream for Qld Health.

Renae’s work has recently been featured on the ABC War on Waste TV series which captured over 4 million views worldwide. She has been awarded the 2019 and 2020 Brisbane City Council Waste Innovation Award and the 2021 Brisbane City Council Waste Champion Award.

Session 5: Discussion panel plus Q&A

No Time To Waste

For too long, our planet has been taken for granted. Join us for an extension of Plastics Oceans Australasia’s ‘No Time To Waste’ series, where experts from government, construction, and health sectors discuss successful behaviour change programs, challenges, and lessons learned. Engage in the Q&A to discuss how Australia is reducing waste and creating a sustainable future.

About Luke van der Beeke:

Luke is a purpose driven social entrepreneur and internationally respected expert in social marketing and community behaviour change. For almost three decades he has delivered health and sustainability related behaviour change programs, training and advice to domestic and international governments, NGOs, and charities. Luke is a former director of The National Social Marketing Centre (UK) and is an adjunct research fellow at Curtin University (Public Health), and Griffith University (Social Marketing). He is committed to reducing health inequalities and amplifying the voice of lived experience in health-related policy and practice.

About Prof Sharyn Rundle-Thiele:

Professor Sharyn Rundle-Thiele applies marketing to improve people’s health and wellbeing and to protect the planet. She founded Social Marketing @ Griffith and co-founded the Journal of Social Marketing. She is Vice President of the International Social Marketing Association (ISMA). Sharyn has co-created behaviour change programs. Her projects deliver outcomes and impact including removing leaves from waterways, improved social connections for adolescents, reduced koala deaths from dog attacks by 40%, reduced koala deaths from car strikes by 83% and more. She has published more than 240 books, book chapters and journal papers. Awards and appointments including The Philip Kotler Social Marketing Distinguished Service Award and the Australian New Zealand Marketing Academy Fellow acknowledge her innovative, high-quality practice and science and her leadership.

About Ryan Collins:

After nearly a decade working in the banking and finance industry, Ryan was drawn to a career in environmental conservation that saw him work in Sydney, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Fiji in diverse roles such as operations, monitoring and evaluation, threatened species and sustainable agriculture. With a background in psychology and environmental management, Ryan’s role at Planet Ark since 2012 has been focused on developing engaging and positive environmental behaviour change programs to help individuals, businesses, government and schools transition to a circular economy. This suite of initiatives includes the Australian Circular Economy Hub, Australasian Recycling Label, Cartridges 4 Planet Ark, RecyclingNearYou, and National Recycling Week.

Ryan's talk:

Information does not equal behaviour

Studies have found that having the knowledge and ability, and even the intention to recycle doesn’t mean that an individual will recycle. Recycling is a low involvement decision, and habits and inertia may block behaviour change. This presentation will showcase examples of generic and trialled behaviour change tools and draw on Planet Ark’s work with BehaviourWorks Australia. This presentation will also explore how as we transition to a circular economy, it will become more important for governments, industries, and educators to be aware of what drives a circular and other not-so-circular citizens and businesses in the choices they make.

About Dr Liz Foote:

Dr Liz Foote is a Research Fellow at Social Marketing @ Griffith. She has a background in marine science, environmental education, communications, and public engagement. Liz spent nearly two decades working as a conservation practitioner before discovering social marketing, which inspired her to focus her doctoral research on the uptake and diffusion of social marketing as an innovative practice within environmental contexts. She situates herself somewhere between the practitioner and academic worlds within the “pracademic” realm. As an early career researcher with practitioner expertise, she’s keen to support all forms of academic/practitioner partnerships in social marketing.

Liz's talk:

How can Academics and Practitioners Collaborate to Solve Wicked Problems?

Sameer and Liz’s thought-provoking talk delves into the realm of academia and practice, exploring the powerful synergy that emerges when these two worlds unite. In an era marked by formidable social challenges and limited resources, their presentation underscores the potential for academic/practitioner cooperation to amplify the impact of behaviour change initiatives. In their interactive presentation, they will share and seek feedback on a checklist of best practices to guide effective partnerships.

About Cr Fiona Cunningham:

Fiona Cunningham is proud to work with residents, charities, small businesses, clubs, schools, environment, and community groups in her role, representing more than 45,000 people in the Ward of Coorparoo. Fiona is the Civic Cabinet Chair of Finance and City Governance as well as a Director for the Small Steps for Hannah Foundation. She has become an advocate alongside local residents Sue and Lloyd Clarke, who have fought for the criminalisation of coercive control and promoting healthy and respectful family relationships. Fiona has been a finalist in the Australia-wide McKinnon Prize, which recognises outstanding political leadership and inspires leaders to deliver a positive impact to their communities. With two young boys keeping her focused on a better Brisbane for tomorrow, Fiona is passionate about striking a balance between affordability and livability.

Fiona's talk:

Small steps towards a big impact

What happened to Hannah Clarke and her three beautiful children on a suburban leafy street in Camp Hill hit a nerve with all Australians. Coercive control is now something that most of us are aware of, thanks to the efforts of her parents through the Small Steps for Hannah Foundation.

Cr Cunningham will talk about the foundation and its achievements to date. She will also share the journey that Brisbane City Council is on, in their role as a major employer and in supporting our community.

About Dr Yannick Van Hierden

Dr Yannick van Hierden is a behavioural scientist turned executive coach. He’s the founder of an impact coaching and training company called Impaktr. Yannick combines ancient wisdom with modern behavioural science to help high achievers reach peak performance in a healthy, sustainable way.

Yannick specialises in behavioural intelligence, emotional intelligence, and mindset. His novel approach empowers impact makers to reclaim 20+ hours/week and double their impact – while halving their stress.

Yannick has trained hundreds of professionals, delivered high-impact workshops, presented at international conferences, and published research in leading scientific journals. His mission is to transform how leaders approach performance and well-being, ensuring they make a meaningful impact without sacrificing health or happiness.

Yannick's talk:

How to build unshakeable resilience

Today, 1 in 2 workers feel exhausted. Burnout is a major threat to change agents. Without resilience, your impact fades.

Resilience isn't innate—it's a skill you can master. But managing stress isn't enough. You need a holistic approach.Enter the MCP method: a framework blending ancient wisdom with modern science. It equips you to thrive under pressure and stay calm in the face of challenges

Liz Foote is a Research Fellow at Social Marketing @ Griffith, where she works on environmental social marketing projects. She has a background in marine ecology, citizen science, environmental education, communications, and public engagement. Liz spent nearly two decades working as a conservation practitioner in Hawai‘i before “discovering” social marketing, which inspired her to return to grad school mid-career to complete a PhD in interdisciplinary environmental sciences and studies. She focused her doctoral research on the uptake and diffusion of social marketing as an innovative practice within environmental contexts. She also holds a B.S. degree in Ecology, Behaviour, and Evolution and an M.S. degree in Science Education. With her diverse experience in multiple settings, she situates herself somewhere between the practitioner and academic worlds within the “pracademic” realm. And as an early career researcher with practitioner expertise, she’s keen to support all forms of academic/practitioner collaboration in social marketing and behavioural science.

Dr Yannick van Hierden is a behavioural scientist turned executive coach. He’s the founder of an impact coaching and training company called Impaktr. Yannick combines ancient wisdom with modern behavioural science to help high achievers reach peak performance in a healthy, sustainable way. Yannick specialises in behavioural intelligence, emotional intelligence, and mindset. His novel approach empowers impact makers to reclaim 20+ hours/week and double their impact – while halving their stress. Yannick has trained hundreds of professionals, delivered high-impact workshops, presented at international conferences, and published research in leading scientific journals. His mission is to transform how leaders approach performance and well-being, ensuring they make a meaningful impact without sacrificing health or happiness