Co-Directors: Anna & Amanda

Anna Rose was born in Newcastle, the world’s biggest coal export port. Anna was National Environment Officer for the Australian National Union of Students in 2005 and is past National Convenor of the Australian Student Environment Network. In 2005 Anna was a youth representative to the United Nations Kyoto Protocol negotiations in Montreal and in 2007 was a youth delegate to the UN Secretary General’s Meeting on Climate Change in New York, and was one of the youngest delegates to the 2020 Summit. Anna spent seven months working with the progressive movement in the United States, including volunteering with the Energy Action Coalition and on the Obama campaign in the New Hampshire Primary. Anna is also a member of the Environment Minister’s Advisory Council on Environmental Education. She holds a Fellowship from the International Youth Foundation, is part of the Australian American Leadership Dialogue, and holds an Australian Leadership Award from Australian-Davos connection.

Amanda McKenzie established ASCENT, the Australian Climate Change Education Network in 2006, an independent non-profit organisation aiming to bring accurate information about climate change to the average person. She has also played a key role in the development of the international youth climate movement. Amanda attended the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali as a member of the Australian Government’s delegation as an official advisor and youth representative. She has represented Australian youth in discussions with Federal Ministers, State Government representatives, Professor Ross Garnaut and business and industry representatives from across the world. In 2007 Amanda completed an Arts/Law degree completing a law honours thesis on emissions trading with first class honours.

Ellen Sandell, Switched On Schools Director

Ellen Sandell is the Switched On Schools Coordinator for the Australian Youth Climate Coalition. In 2007 she was part of the first Australian Youth Delegation to the UNFCCC climate change negotiations in Bali, Indonesia, and she will be travelling to Poland for the next UN meeting this December. She was previously the Environment Officer in the University of Melbourne Student Union, helping the University to significantly reduce its environmental impact. Ellen is the founder of the award-winning Leadership in Environmental Action Program, an innovative environmental leadership conference for high school students, held each year in September. In November 2007, Ellen was selected as the keynote speaker at the Melbourne Walk Against Warming, where 50,000 people heard her speak about how young people can combat climate change. Ellen has helped re-introduce numbats and other mammals to the Australian bush, been a research scientist at the CSIRO and has two degrees (Science and Arts) from the University of Melbourne. Originally from Mildura, on the Murray River, Ellen is passionate about environmental issues and helping young people make change on climate change.

Nathan Elvery: Online Campaigns Director

Nathan Elvery founded a climate action group at his high-school, and attended the AYCC/ASEN “Switched On” Conference in 2007. He travelled to Bali in December 2007 as part of the Australian Youth Delegation to the UN Conference on Climate Change, where he contributed to the founding of a Global Youth Climate Coalition. Nathan believes strongly in the need for a national – high school led – youth climate movement. In Toowoomba he is currently involved in a group that is working towards building a youth movement with a strong focus on supporting groups or the creation of groups within schools. Along with schools group activities, he coordinates a core organizing collective in staging a regional climate change conference for high school aged young people, and volunteers at the Toowomba Regional Environment Council Hall. Recently graduated from high-school himself, Nathan sees the need and has the drive to help build a national schools movement.

Emily Lawrence

Emily Lois Lawrence, 20 years old, is AYCC’s fundraising Director. Em has been involved in Power Shift, Youth Decide, and organised the “Pedal Back to 350″ event in Melbourne for the Global 350 day of action.

Kirsty Albion: Volunteer Coordinator

Kirsty Albion, 21 years old, is one of AYCC’s National volunteer coordinators and also a team member of Project Survival Pacific.  Through Project Survival Pacific, she has had the opportunity to work with youth in Fiji, to help start a Pacific Youth Climate movement.   A strong believer that education and inspiration are key to creating the social change we require, Kirsty has been involved in many environmental education programs including AYCC’s Switched On Schools,  Parks and Wildlife’s Discovery Program, Melbourne Museum’s School Holidays Program and the online resource Ecomedia.  She is currently in her third year of Science at the University of Melbourne.