Speakers, panelists & workshop presenters

Anne Elvey
Anne Elvey is a poet, researcher and editor. She received a PhD in Women’s Studies from Monash University in 2000 for her research on an ecological feminist reading of the

Byron Smith
Byron Smith recently completed a PhD thesis in theological ethics through the University of Edinburgh on emotional responses to climate change, after receiving honours degrees from Moore College and Sydney

Catherine (Peps) Pepper
Catherine (Peps) Pepper, environmental engineer and sustainability nerd, joined Jane Tonks three years ago, and the backyard veggie patches went from strength to strength. Their journey into backyard sustainability now includes

Dianne Rayson
Di is a theologian interested in how theology can both support the church-community and equip it to engage in the public discourse. Her main areas of research are ecotheology and

Garry Derkenne
Garry Derkenne was a founding member of the Sydney Hills Interfaith Dialogue Group. In 2014 he co-chaired the Sydney Alliance Bridging Sydney Assembly which saw more than 1000 people representing

Jane Tonks
Jane Tonks gave life to her passion with backyard veggies 8 years ago upon inheriting her grandfather’s vegetable gardens and fruit trees. Home grown tomatoes, mangoes and avocados were particular

Jason John
Jason brings his studies in zoology, environment and theology to his role as Uniting Earth Ministry Consultant, and they form the basis for his own musings at ecofaith.org His PhD

Jessica Morthorpe
With qualifications in environmental science, marketing and theology, Jessica is passionate about advocating for the reconciliation and renewal of all creation. She is also the founder and director of the

Jon O’Brien
Jon O’Brien is the head of the Social Justice Forum (SJF) team for Uniting. The team implements the campaign priorities of the SJF as well as supporting Uniting Church members

Lawrie Hallinan
Lawrie Hallinan is a Social Worker by training and a community gardener in the making – little did he realise that would also involve letterbox drops, submission writing, and social

Lucinda Neave
Lucinda Neave is completing her diploma in Child Care and early education. Being a keen drama student and pianist since she was 5 years old, she is a much experienced

Mark Toohey
Mark Toohey is a visionary who spotted a vacant concrete slab behind the Tighes Hill Church and saw that it could be a community garden. Mark has worked with a

Mick Pope
Dr Mick Pope has a PhD in Meteorology from Monash University, and lectures in meteorology and climate. He is currently studying a masters degree in theology, looking at a hermeneutic

Neil Ormerod
Neil Ormerod is Professor of Theology at ACU and has worked professionally as a theology for over 30 years. He is widely published in Australia and internationally, including leading journals

Phil Glendenning
Phil Glendenning AM has been the Director of the Edmund Rice Centre since its inception in 1996 and is currently the President of the Refugee Council of Australia. With a

Rod Pattenden
Rev Dr Rod Pattenden is a curator, Theologian and Art Historian interested in the connection between spirituality and the arts. He has written widely contributing to key publications on the

Saretta Fielding
Saretta Fielding is a well known Aboriginal artist “My artworks are connected to country in style and design through the use of a sand based medium. The highly textured pieces

Stafford Sanders
Stafford Sanders is the Campaigns Coordinator for the Social Justice Forum team at Uniting where he works on campaigns in affordable housing, people seeking asylum and drug law reform. He

Tau’alofa Anga’aelangi
Tau’alofa Anga’aelangi grew up in the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga. In 1992, she migrated to Australia with her whole family. Tau’alofa is a candidate to the ministry of Deacons,

Tebeio Tamaton
Tebeio Tamaton is from Kiribati, and is studying for his Masters in Food Science at UNSW, and is involved in the Pacific Calling Partnership of the Edmund Rice Centre

Thea Ormerod
President of Australian Religious Response to Climate Change. Thea is a social worker and a parishioner at Our Lady of Fatima Church, Kingsgrove. She has been actively involved in peace,

Trish Watts
Trish Watts is a dynamic encourager of the playful heart, and has led workshops around the world in voice, movement, and improvised creativity. She is a composer and songwriter, performer,
Feature artists

Andrew Styan
Andrew Styan is a new media artist interested in developing strategies for shifting public engagement with the challenge of climate change. Using electronics, computer coding, interactivity and electromechanical devices to

Berias Masseque and the Afro Fusion Band
Born in a spirit of collaboration, Berias Masseque and the Afro Fusion Band are artists from two continents united in the belief that home is where the music is. With

Heather Price
Heather is a passionate singer-songwriter lending her voice to matters of the heart. A much-loved local musician and regular performer at Adamstown UCA, Heather is back at Expresso to perform

Luke Vassella
There aren’t many on the Far North Coast who have not heard Luke Vassella play – he’s widely known and loved throughout the district and beyond as an inspirational performer

Nardean
Nardean is an Egyptian-Australian spoken word artist, singer and songwriter. Her work is motivated by the unflinching pursuit of honesty, integrity and authentic feminine force. A warm presence, bubbly persona

Penny Dunstan
Dr Penny Dunstan completed a PhD in Fine Art, Wayfinding through Shadowlands: Making Minescapes Matter, where she studied rehabilitated lands of Rix’s Creek open-cut coal mine near Singleton NSW. Her
Film comp judges

Georgia
Georgia is 18 years old and after four years of being on YouTube gained an audience of 3–7 million views on average. Georgia has had a passion to make videos since her year 8 teacher insisted she share a video she made in front of the whole class. “I wanted to keep it to myself

Kris Smith
Kris Smith is a conjoint lecturer in the School of Creative Industries, Faculty of Education and Arts at the University of Newcastle. This role follows on from a professional career as a practicing artist in the fields of photography, multimedia, graphic design, painting, printmaking and project-based community arts practice. As an art practitioner his photographic

Rod Pattenden
Rev Dr Rod Pattenden is a curator, Theologian and Art Historian interested in the connection between spirituality and the arts. He has written widely contributing to key publications on the work of a number of leading Australian artists as well as developing a number of innovative exhibitions and installation projects. Rod is minister of Adamstown