The AdaptNSW 2020 webinar series is presented by the NSW Department of Planning, Industry & Environment and our partners, to showcase the leading work on climate change adaptation being delivered across New South Wales.
The COVID-19 restrictions led to us running the AdaptNSW Forum as an online webinar series in 2020. This allowed us to continue to bring together like-minded people from across NSW to share and discuss the practical actions being taken to build resilience to climate change in NSW.
Access the webinar resources to learn how Aboriginal cultural practices are teaching us about caring for country under climate change, how complementary net zero emissions and climate adaptation action can benefit communities, industry and government, motivators for addressing climate risk in the board room, how climate challenges are affecting our health and wellbeing, and approaches to managing climate impacts to our natural ecosystems.
Webinar 2 - Where adaptation and net zero meet
Come and hear three different perspectives from speakers in government, industry and community who will describe their place-based approach to building climate resilient, low emissions communities.
Webinar resources
Agenda
2.00 pm Welcome & Acknowledgement of Country: Claire Berecry - Chairperson, Senior Team Leader, Net Zero Implementation, NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
2.05 pm Opening Address: The Hon. Matt Kean, NSW Minister for Energy and Environment
2.10 pm Overview of NSW Government Action: Dr Stephen Bygrave, Director, Climate Resilience and Net Zero Emissions Branch, NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
2.15 pm Presentation 1 - Cobargo: Dairy farms, epic metal bands and our clean energy future: Zena Armstrong, President, Cobargo Community Bushfire Recovery Fund Inc
2.35 pm Presentation 2 - Green Star – A collaboration to address emissions and resilience in building and construction: Sandra Qian, Senior Manager - Policy and Government Relations, Green Building Council of Australia
2.55 pm Presentation 3 - Perspectives from the Randwick Collaboration Area: Duncan Read, Director, Connell Griffin & Program Director, Randwick Collaboration Area Group
3.15 pm Q&A - Slido: Audience Q&A using Slido.
3.25 pm Close and thank you: Claire Berecry - Chairperson
Speakers
Matt Kean is the NSW Minister for Energy and Environment, a portfolio that was first combined after the Berejiklian Government’s re-election in March 2019.
Minister Kean was elected as the member for Hornsby in 2011 at the age of 29. Prior to entering politics, the Minister, a chartered accountant, worked at Price Waterhouse Coopers. In January 2017, Mr Kean was elevated to cabinet as the Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation, where he led the nation on consumer protection reforms.
In his role as Energy and Environment Minister, Mr Kean released the State’s first electricity strategy to improve the reliability, affordability and sustainability of the State’s electricity system. He also negotiated an energy and emissions deal between NSW and the Commonwealth which is the largest single financial commitment to state-based emissions reduction in Australia’s history.
The Minister is a strong advocate for a science and economics led approach to climate change. Mr Kean has called out the link between climate change and this summer’s unprecedented bushfire season. He sees reducing our emissions as not only necessary to protect our environment but key to our future prosperity
Claire leads the Net Zero Emissions Implementation team, working on a suite projects with state government, local councils and precincts to transition to a net zero emissions future. Prior to this she was the Policy and Engagement Manager at NABERS, leading the development and adoption of the program’s five-year strategic plan.
Through working in government and consulting over the past decade, Claire has watched the momentum build within business, government and communities acting on climate change and the challenges that it presents. She understands that broad scale change mixed with complex stakeholder environments can present ‘wicked problems’ but is passionate about bringing about the change that is needed. Claire understands the importance of teamwork and in her current role particularly enjoys collaborating to deliver projects and inspiring others to meet their potential.
Claire holds a Bachelor of Liberal Studies (Hons) from the University of Sydney.
Website: https://www.greater.sydney/project/collaboration-areas
Email address: [email protected]
Duncan is a strategic advisor to industry, government and not-for-profit sector on property development, precinct governance and community development. Duncan has worked for UrbanGrowth on the Central to Eveleigh program and Bays Precinct, as General Manager of the Australian Technology Park in Redfern and as advisor to the Sydney Startup Hub at Jobs for NSW. In 2019 Duncan was engaged as Program Director for the Randwick Collaboration Area: a joint program to implement and accelerate the Randwick Place Strategy on behalf of UNSW, Randwick City Council, Australian Turf Club and NSW Health. Duncan is also Director at advisory firm ConnellGriffin Pty Ltd and a non-Executive Director of 107 Projects Inc: a registered charity that activates community spaces.
Website: www.gbca.org.au
Email address: [email protected]
As Senior Manager Policy and Government Relations, Sandra is responsible for driving positive outcomes through the public policy process and accelerating the transition to more liveable, productive and sustainable buildings, cities and communities. Working across three tiers of government, Sandra is responsible for delivering the GBCA’s advocacy agenda and affecting policy change across the areas of the built environment decarbonisation, government leadership, cities development, public procurement and sustainable housing.
Website: www.cobargorecoveryfund.com
Email address: [email protected]
Zena Armstrong is President of the Cobargo Community Bushfire Recovery Fund and Director of the Cobargo Folk Festival. Zena is working with others in her community in Cobargo to rebuild infrastructure and homes following the destructive bushfires late last year and early this year that swept through the valley. Zena has a professional background in government and advisory services.
Stephen is Director Climate Resilience and Net Zero Emissions in the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.
Dr Stephen Bygrave has worked on climate change and environment issues at the international, national and local levels for over 25 years across government, academia, the private and not for profit sectors. Stephen spent three years as CEO of national think tank Beyond Zero Emissions and two years at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and International Energy Agency (IEA) in Paris.
Stephen has spent more than ten years with the Senior Executive Service in various government agencies at the state and federal level including the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Department of Climate Change, Department of Environment and Heritage, Department of Agriculture, as well as Executive Director Climate Change and Sustainability in the ACT Government and Director Climate Resilience and Net Zero Emissions in the NSW Government.
Stephen has worked on a number of significant environmental reforms including development of the carbon pricing mechanism (2007-12), the national renewable energy target (1997-2020), the 100% renewables strategy in ACT Government and net zero emissions strategies in NSW and ACT Governments. He has been Adjunct Professor at UNSW and UQ and has a PhD in Resource and Environmental Management from the Australian National University, focused on village scale renewable energy projects in Fiji, Kiribati and Solomon Islands.
Recent events
In 2023, AdaptNSW hosted an immersive 2-day adaptation event in Sydney.
The Climate Adaptation Conference is Australia's foremost gathering dedicated to exploring climate vulnerability, impacts, and adaptation.