Speaker biographies

Ms Louise Upton

Editor of Vive Magazine

Louise Upton has been a significant name in Australian publishing since 1990. She was the founding Managing Editor of Harper's Bazaar magazine and has been instrumental in shaping Australia's position as a major player in international prestige publishing. She has more than 20 years experience as a writer and editor - much of that at management level.

From 1995 to 1997 Louise worked in the promotions and marketing department of the NSW Department of Community Services, specialising in developing and implementing community awareness programs. Louise has also worked as a school teacher in English and History departments.

She is deeply committed to sustainable housing, and has an informal working relationship with her brother, Martin Upton, on his sustainable housing business, SmartShax.  Louise also stood as a candidate for the Legislative Council in the 2007 NSW Election with the Climate Change Coalition.

Professor Will Steffen

Director, Fenner School of Environment and Society, ANU

Dr Will Steffen is one of Australia's foremost experts on Earth System scence. His research interests place special emphasis on terrestrial ecosystem interactions with global change, the global carbon cycle, incorporation of human processes in Earth System modelling and analysis, and sustainability and the Earth System.

Following an early career as a chemical engineer and with the CSIRO Division of Environmental Mechanics in the roles of science management, editing and communication, Will moved overseas to the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP) in 1990 as executive officer for the Global Change and Terrestrial Ecosystems project. In 1998 he was apppointed Executive Director of the IGBP at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm, Sweden, overseeing a research effort involving about 10,000 scientists located in 80 countries around the world.

Will returned to Australia in mid-2004 to take up a visiting fellowship with the Bureau of Resource Sciences - Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. He also became science adviser to the Australian Greenhouse Office and, in October 2005, became director of the Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies (CRES) at ANU.

Will has given numerous presentations on climate change, global change and Earth System science to political and business leaders as well as community groups. He serves as chair of the International Advisory Board, QUEST (Quantifying and Understanding the Earth System) programme, UK, and has membership on the International Advisory Panel, Earth and Sun System Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), USA; the Advisory Panel of the Australian Bureau of Meteorology; and the National Committee for Earth System Science, Australian Academy of Science. He is a visiting researcher at the Stockholm Resilience Centre, Sweden.

Dr Karl Mallon

Director of Science and Systems at Climate Risk Pty Ltd and Climate Risk Europe Limited.

Dr Karl Mallon has worked in the field of climate change, carbon and energy since 199. He holds a first class honours in Physics from the University of Liverpool, a doctorate in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Melbourne and is a recipient of research scholarships from the British Council and European Centre for Nuclear Research (CERN).

Karl has worked as a technology and energy policy analyst for various international government and non-government organisations. He has served as a member of the CSIRO’s Energy Futures Forum which reported in 2006, as well as a director of the Australian Wind Energy Association between 2003 and 2005. Karl is the editor and co-author of ‘Renewable Energy Policy and Politics: A Handbook for Decision Making’ published by Earthscan (London). He currently provides specialist professional services to business and government in climate change risk, opportunity and adaptation.

Ms Jacki Johnson

Chief Executive Officer, Business Partnerships IAG

Jacki Johnson is a member of the IAG executive team and manages its Risk Management Services, which includes the NSW and Victorian workers compensation fee-based businesses, safety consulting and national employer services (including provision of self-insurance services). Jacki is also responsible for IAG's Third Party Distribution - business partners who distribute CGU and Swann branded products through financial institutions, affinity groups, motor dealers and motor manufacturers.

Jacki has more than 20 years' experience in financial services and injury management services. She has held senior positions in IAG in diverse areas including Risk management Services, Organisational Effectiveness, Group Strategy and led the integration of IAG and CGU's Workers Compensation business. Before joining the Group in 2001, Ms Johnson held senior positions with Allianz Insurance, HIH Insurance and IRS Total Injury Management.

Jacki is a former Director of the NSW WorkCover Authority and a current Director of Community First Credit Union.

Gavin Murray

Head of Sustainability – Institutional & Corporate at ANZ

Gavin reports to the Group Managing Director, Institutional and is responsible for ensuring the more effective integration of environmental, social and economic (sustainability) considerations into ANZ’s wholesale lending and investment banking businesses. He also retains a leadership role for ANZ’s overall environment strategy and policy framework. Gavin is currently a member of the Board of the Center for Science in Public Participation, based in the USA.

He was formerly the Director for Environment and Social Development at the International Finance Corporation (the private sector arm of the World Bank Group) based in Washington DC. Under Gavin’s leadership, IFC committed to an integrated business model embracing a sustainable development framework.

Prior to this role, he was Vice-President, Sustainability Leadership for Placer Dome Inc. (a multi-national mining company) based in Vancouver, Canada.

Gavin received the Dr Adrian Smith International Environmental Mining Award in 2004 for his global leadership in pursuing new approaches to solving complex environmental and social issues in the mining industry. Gavin has an agricultural background and now pursues responsible development through integrated strategies that enable the alignment of successful business outcomes with evolving societal expectations.

Ms Helen Wiseman

Partner KPMG

Helen Wiseman is a tax partner at accounting firm, KPMG, which specialises in power & utilities, government, industrial markets and pharmaceuticals. She sits on the company's diversity advisory board and is also on the board of the Sydney Community Foundation and the Chair of Shine for Kids.

Helen has 17 years experience as a chartered accountant  in Australia and the UK and sound knowledge of both the public and private sector, the requisite financial and business development skills, and an understanding of HR, people and welfare related issues. All environments in which she has been involved have necessitated skills in managing risk.