Grassroots Leaders

We have hundreds of volunteers across the country - this is just a few volunteer leaders! Wanna join them? Sign up here!

photo of Ava. She has brown hair and is taking a selife and smiling.

Ava (she/her)

Organiser

Geraldton (WA), Yamatji country

I help to organise and facilitate the local Geraldton AYCC group events and meetings.

Annabelle (she/her)

Organiser

Melbourne (VIC), Wurundjeri Country

I organise for the Naarm/Melbourne team, also supporting students to pursue climate justice through the Student Climate Leadership Program and working with schools.

Anna (she/her)

University of Wollongong AYCC President

Wollongong (NSW), Dharawal County

As president of the Wollongong branch of AYCC I take on the main role in facilitating meetings, organising activities, reaching out to new volunteers and keeping in contact with AYCC staff members

photo of Carlos wearing a dark blue tshirt that reads Climate Justice Now

Carlos (he/him)

Organiser

Adelaide (SA), Kaurna Yerta

I’m an organiser/facilitator for AYCC in the Adelaide metro areas. I help coordinate social and action-based events to advocate for climate justice, and share advocacy skills/knowledge with other young people.

Jazmin is smiling with two friends! She has long light brown hair and is wearing a green tshirt.

Jazmin (she/her)

Mount Gambier Group Leader

Mount Gambier (SA), Boandik Country | Gomeroi

I’m a Gomeroi woman based on Boandik lands, leading AYCC’s Mount Gambier group to empower young people in climate action. Passionate about climate justice and Indigenous rights, I work to ensure that First Nations voices are at the forefront of the fight for a just and sustainable future.

Isabella (she/her)

Local Group Leader

Magandjin / Brisbane, Yuggera and Turrbal Country

I help lead actions in the local Magandjin group, supporting fellow students through the Student Network, Schools Program and Student Climate Leadership Program to build the climate justice movement!

Luci (she/her)

Organiser/facilitator

Adelaide Hills (SA), Peramangk Country

I am the organiser and facilitator for the Adelaide Hills AYCC Group. As part of facilitating the Hills group I; organise events; market stalls; online meetings; and recruitment.

Maya is wearing a blue AYCC t-shirt and speaking into a microphone.

Maya (she/her)

Volunteer

Melbourne/Naarm (VIC), Wurundjeri Country

I volunteer with the Naarm AYCC group after having organised with the Coffs Harbour Youth Climate Alliance for the past few years.

photo of Mina. She is sitting in an ornate doorway and has long brown hair.

Mina (she/her)

Organiser

Geraldton (WA), Yamatji country

I am the organiser of the Geraldton group in action with AYCC. I help with running workshops, events, and getting climate awareness out to our community.

Natasha

Organiser/facilitator for the Adelaide and Adelaide Hills Groups

Adelaide Hills (SA), Kaurna Country/Peramangk Country

As a group leader for both the Adelaide and Hills groups, I help to co-ordinate events and meetings, onboard new members and run/create workshops for schools and our groups.

Owen (he/they)

Sydney team leader

Gadigal & Bidjigal Land / Sydney

I organise the Sydney Team as a Volunteer Grassroots Leader, and help with comms on the National and NSW accounts.

Photo of Rhea

Rhea (she/her)

Facilitator

Lockyer Valley (Uragapul and Kitabul) QLD

I help out with facilitating AYCC Meanjin and organising the Student Climate Leadership Program.

Photo of Peter

Peter (he/him)

Organiser/Facilitator

Canberra, Ngunnawal Country

I work alongside the other amazing Canberra crew to build our movement, empower local youth, organise events and demonstrations and advocate to those in power.

AYCC Staff

Grace is smiling and laughing while looking at the camera. She has shoulder length dark hair and is wearing a yellow and black sleevless shirt.

Grace (she/they)

National Director

Western Sydney / Warrang on Dharug & Dharawal Country

As National Director, Grace has a birds-eye view of what’s happening across AYCC and provides support to the wider staff team. Her work includes long-term movement strategy, risk management, fundraising and political engagement. Her work includes supporting the People of Colour Climate Network.

Sama has curly long hair and is standing on the beach in front of a sunset

Sama (she/her)

Organiser and Grassroots Mentor

Magandjin/Brisbane, Jagera and Turrbal Country

I support folks across QLD, WA and the ACT to have the skills and confidence to campaign for climate justice through mentorship and facilitation.!

James (he/him)

Fundraising Director

Naarm/Melbourne, Wurundjeri Country

James coordinates and supports the growth of AYCC’s fundraising program to build a powerful youth climate movement.

Sama has curly long hair and is standing on the beach in front of a sunset

Tuifa'asisina Tapenaga (TJ) Reupena Polataivao-Fatialofa II (he/him)

Operations Manager & Organiser

Magandjin (Brisbane), Yagera & Turrbal Country (QLD)

Talofa everyone! My name is TJ and I am your Finance & Ops Manager for AYCC. In my role, I help behind the scenes in the running of AYCC. If you imagine a va'a (traditional Samoan canoe) and how you would have your navigators who lead where the boat is going, your steerers who keep the boat going in the right direction, and your helpers who cook the food, clean the va'a, general maintenance of the va'a - that is me, one of the many helpers in AYCC, where my work might not be seen at the front, but it is integral to the running of AYCC and amplifying of the voices of our youth.

Tara is taking a selfie in a park. She has chin-length blonde hair and is wearing blue and white gingham top.

Tara (she/her)

Fundraising & Philanthropy Manager

Melbourne/Naarm, Wurundjeri land

I focus on driving grassroots climate action through donor engagement and fundraising. Passionate about building strong supporter relationships, I am committed to fuelling AYCC’s mission for climate justice and a sustainable future.

AYCC Board

Amelia van Ewijk (she/her)

Board director

Amelia joined the board in 2025. She is a native title lawyer who works with First Nations organisations in the areas of native title, agreement making, land management, and corporate governance and compliance. Amelia has been passionate about environmental protection and climate action from a young age, first joining AYCC as a volunteer when she was in high school.

Amy is speaking at a rally with her fist in the air. She is wearing a maroon tshirt that says DON'T FRACK Aboriginal Land Rights. She has dark hair tied back, and feather earrings.

Amy Gordon (she/her)

Board director

Amy is a Gooreng Gooreng woman and First Nations Justice Director at GetUp. She grew up in the AYCC, volunteering with AYCC NSW, joining the Walk for Solar, leading campaigns to get the big banks out of Adani’s coal mine and much more. She joined the board in December 2022.

Georgia Monaghan (she/her)

Board director

Georgia is a climate and nature lawyer and consultant, with seven years policy and strategy experience helping governments and companies transition towards a net zero, nature positive future. After experiencing climate anxiety and burnout firsthand, she founded ECOMIND, a climate mental health charity, to help young Australians process their climate emotions and channel them into climate action. She is passionate about building a resilient, collaborative and sustainable climate movement and sees emotional resilience as a pillar of climate resilience.

Heather Browett (she/her)

Board director

Heather works at Climateworks Centre as the Senior Adviser to the CEO, supporting strategic planning and delivery, governance and organisational effectiveness. She has experience working in philanthropy and government through previous roles with the Wellcome Trust (UK) and the Australian Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Kelly is standing in front of colourful street art. They have a buzzcut and are wearing teal dangly earrings, a bandana around their neck and a grey tshirt.

Kelly Albion (they/them)

Board chair

Naarm/Melbourne

Kelly has been a climate activist for 15 years, growing up in the youth climate movement in various roles at the AYCC including schools, communications and campaigns. Kelly ran campaigns at 350 Australia for 5 years including getting Australian banks out of gasfields, and stopping billions in public subsidies for new gas projects. They now convene the Climate Justice Coalition, building a powerful movement in the lead up to and beyond COP31 for a fast and fair fossil fuel phase out.

Nyah is standing in front of green plants and wearing a black shirt. She has long black hair.

Nyah Gutierrez (she/her)

Board director

Based in Sydney on Gadigal Country

Nyah Fouad serves as a Philanthropy Manager at Australia for UNHCR, where she engages with donors to understand their philanthropic objectives and establish valuable partnerships to bolster support for the UN Refugee Agency's global programs. She has extensive experience in fundraising and has volunteered for various organisations working to protect human rights. She is passionate about mentoring and empowering the youth to amplify their influence and drive impact to inspire climate action.

Photo of Joe

Joseph Lavelle Wilson (he/him)

Board director

Based in Melbourne, Wurundjeri Country

Joseph Lavelle Wilson is an experienced legal professional currently serving as a Program Manager at Westjustice since July 2023. Previously, Joseph held positions as an Associate at Hall Payne Lawyers and as a Coordinating Attorney at the New York Legal Assistance Group, where representation was provided to immigrant clients in various complex matters, alongside coordinating advocacy campaigns. Joseph also worked as a Legal Officer for the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, offering employment and industrial legal advice.

Photo of Alex

Alex Hill (she/her)

Board director

Based in Magan-djin on Yagera and Turrbal country

Alex Hill is an Brisbane/Magandjin based campaigner, communications manager and organisational change, known for her collaborative mindset and ability to bring people together around shared goals. She has expertise in youth movement building and campaigning, and was previously the National Director of the Australian Youth Climate Coalition prior to joining as a Board member. She excels in settings where strategy, impact and people intersect, as prior to being the Impact Manager at Common Threads, she was the Climate Justice Campaign Director at GetUp!, a Digital Campaigner for the Marriage Equality campaign, and Campaigns and Communications Director at Oaktree.