Blanche Verlie | Chair - Subcommittees: Fundraising, Grants & Income; People & Nominations; Strategy

Blanche is a Lecturer in Gender and Cultural Studies at the University of Sydney whose work focuses on how everyday people understand, experience and respond to climate change. She is the author of Learning to Live with Climate Change: From Anxiety to Transformation and is recognised as a global leader in climate change education and emotions research. Blanche also has over a decade of experience in community climate change engagement roles. At Climate for Change, she was part of the first team of trainee facilitators in 2016, and helped develop early versions of the facilitator training and mentoring programs.

Joanna Cary | Secretary - Subcommittees: Risk & Governance

Joanna is a lawyer with 25 years experience in environmental law and policy. Currently a Principal Solicitor at the Victorian Environment Protection Authority, she has worked in a diverse range of organisations including government, leading Australian law firms, large corporates and small business. Joanna has a long history of volunteering in the not for profit sector as a legal adviser, mentor, Australian Youth Ambassador, Board member and Executive Committee member. She is a founding member and current Secretary of Lawyers for Forests Inc, an association of legal professionals advocating for the protection of native forests for over 20 years.

Joanna Zhang | Treasurer - Subcommittee: Finance

Joanna is a Senior Manager at PwC in Melbourne, with over 10 years of experience in external audits and risk and regulatory assurance services across a diverse range of industries in Australia and overseas. She is both a Chartered Accountant and a CPA accredited accountant. Recently, Joanna completed her role as a Board Observer through the 2024 Observership Program. She is passionate about social justice and environmental protection and is eager to continue contributing to not-for-profit organisations.

Zey Basarin - Subcommittees: Finance; People & Nominations; Strategy

Zey is a purpose-driven General Manager and team leader with over 15 years of experience in the private and not-for-profit sectors on issues spanning climate change, financial literacy, mental health, civic participation, and human rights. Zey deeply cares about community-led responses to climate change and was C4C’s first Climate Conversations National Program Manager, growing the organisation’s flagship program from pilot phase through to successful interstate expansion. Zey recently set up a registered Australian charity, The Information Rights Project, and currently works in the EdTech space supporting the achievement of SOC2 certification. Zey recently completed the AICD Governance Foundations for Not-for-Profit Directors Program.

Peter Cook - Subcommittees: Programs & Volunteer Support; Strategy

Peter is a clinical psychologist who worked in psychiatric services, as a senior manager and planner. He helped develop a number of community-based services and was Executive Officer to a Ministerial advisory committee. He is currently in private practice and sits on AHPRA panels. He has 10 years experience on the Victorian Psychology Registration Board (including time as President and Vice President). He has been involved in climate related activities since the 1970s and is passionate about social change and community empowerment. He coordinates C4C’s MPEG briefings and is a leader with a local ACF group and an MPEG organiser.

Jeremy Dore - Subcommittees: Fundraising, Grants & Income; Programs & Volunteer Support

Jeremy is a lawyer and rambler by training and leads Climate Friendly's legal and governance team, helping to develop projects to regenerate our land. Jeremy has tended to take the lessor road, taking side trips to work on a peace mission in Bouganville and as a land council lawyer in Alice Springs, but always returning to his passions of land and environment. Jeremy was an early volunteer at C4C, helping with admin and the books, before training as a facilitator. Jeremy stills find inspiration in the climate conversation program because it goes to the heart of the matter: it reaches new people not connected to the movement and breaks down the climate silence around us.

Lesley Head - Subcommittees: Strategy

Lesley is a geographer whose research and writing examine the cultural dimensions of environmental issues, including climate change. In that research she has enjoyed working with communities in many parts of Australia. Lesley is Emeritus Professor at the University of Melbourne, and farms berries and alpacas in western Victoria with members of her extended family. Her board experience comes through serving as President and Chair of Council of the Australian Academy of Humanities.

Clara Kiefel Johnson - Subcommittees: Communications; Finance

Clara is a strategic marketing and communications leader, with experience working for not-for-profits and purpose-led organisations. Clara is passionate about sustainability, social and climate justice, and does pro-bono work for not-for-profit organisations within these areas. Clara brings a global perspective, having worked in Lisbon and Seattle. She sits on COBA’s Emerging Leaders Committee and is Chair of Run for Climate, an employee resource group dedicated to raising awareness of and funds for climate action through running. Clara believes great teams result from sharing a clear purpose, embracing diversity and valuing individual strengths.

Liam McNally - Subcommittees: Communications; People & Nominations

Liam has worked in HR for over 14 years, leading People & Talent teams within tech companies and working across the full employee experience. Liam currently leads Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging at GitLab where he marries his broad HR experience to ensure the organisation becomes more inclusive through various programming. In his free time he enjoys writing, reading, ocean swims and playing weird and wonderful sports such as dodgeball, as well as working on volunteer opportunities that align to his values.

John Tran - Subcommittees: Fundraising, Grants & Income; Risk & Governance

John is a risk manager with over a decade of experience in enterprise risk management and operational resilience across various public and private organisations. He specialises in establishing standards for accountability and transparency, helping organisations make key decisions that are sufficiently risk-based throughout different business
cycles and strategic change programs. A former member of the Risk Management Institute of Australasia’s Victorian Chapter, John currently serves on the boards of multiple not-for-profit organisations, ensuring they are well-governed and effectively serve their members and their supporters.