Oceania
Regional Community Convenor (RCC)
The University of Queensland (UQ) is one of Australia’s leading research and teaching institutions, with three main campuses located in South East Queensland. Our core purpose is to deliver for the public good through excellence in education, research and engagement with our communities and partners: local, national and global. We are committed to providing knowledge leadership for a better world.
Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research (QCMHR) is Queensland’s premier mental health research centre, working to create new knowledge about mental health across thirteen research streams. QCMHR works in partnership with Queensland Health and its statewide Hospital Services, and the Schools of Public Health and Medicine at The University of Queensland, to provide new knowledge about mental health that can be applied in clinical care and in the design and delivery of health and community services.
Fiona Charlson, Associate Professor / Project Lead for Oceania RCC
A/Prof Fiona Charlson is a well-respected and experienced psychiatric epidemiologist and mental health services researcher who has dedicated her career to addressing challenging global mental health research questions. She leads UQ’s ‘Mental Health and Climate Change Research Network’ and is at the forefront of efforts to understand and address the mental health impacts of climate change.
Suhailah Ali, Project Manager for Oceania RCC
Suhailah is a mental health researcher who has been involved in research at the intersection of climate change and mental health since 2019. Her work is driven and informed by her lived experience of a mental disorder and passion for climate justice.
Ans Vercammen, Senior Research Fellow / Engagement Officer for Oceania RCC
Ans has a background in behavioural science and conservation. Her work focuses on the human wellbeing dimensions of environmental change.
Remy Shergill, Communications professional / Communications Lead for Oceania RCC
Remy is a climate communication specialist who has worked across science translation and environmental advocacy. Her work at Australia's Climate and Health Alliance focuses on how people can best communicate the health threats of climate change, and the health benefits of climate action.
Co-Convenors
Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland
Waipapa Taumata Rau, The University of Auckland is New Zealand’s largest and highest ranking university and its pre-eminent research-led institution. In 2020, the University of Auckland ranked Number 1 globally in the University Impact Rankings by Times Higher Education. The result recognised the university's performance against the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the university's commitment to sustainability and making positive social impacts.
Rebecca Patrick, Academic Convener and Senior Research Fellow - Climate and Health
Dr Patrick is an experienced climate change, nature and mental health researcher with expertise in community-based participatory and systems science methodologies. Dr Patrick is co-convener of the Planetary Health Alliance (Oceania Hub), Past President of the Climate and Health Alliance and Academic Convener of The University of Melbourne's Climate CATCH Lab.
The University of Melbourne is ranked number one in Australia and among the leading universities internationally – number 34 (THE) and number 35 (ARWU). In Australia, our research expenditure is second only to that of the CSIRO. With over 100 research centres and institutes, we bring together expertise from across the University and connect with thought leaders around the world to tackle society’s complex problems in innovative ways.
Zoltán Sarnyai, Professor and Head, Laboratory of Psychiatric Neuroscience
Professor Sarnyai is a medically trained neuroscientist with an internationally recognised expertise in the neurobiology of stress and mental health disorders. He trained at Harvard Medical School and at The Rockefeller University and was on the faculty of University of Cambridge. He studies how climate change related factors, including stress, trauma and infectious agents influence the vulnerability to develop mental illness
Jemaima Tiatia-Siau, Associate Professor in Pacific Studies, Pro Vice-Chancellor Pacific
Jemaima is a NZ-born Sāmoan and has a community and public health background. She was one of six panellists on the New Zealand Government’s 2018 Mental Health and Addiction Inquiry and is a Board Member for the nation’s inaugural Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission. She is leading a Health Research Counicl (NZ) study investigating the nexus between climate change and mental wellbeing and it's impacts on Pacific peoples. Her research interests include Pacific Studies, mental health, wellbeing, Pacific suicide prevention and postvention, youth development, climate change and mental health and wellbeing and health inequities.
As Australia’s only university established to focus on the issues of Northern Australia and the Tropics worldwide, JCU is dedicated to helping the world’s tropical regions to prosper. JCU was ranked within the top 300 academic universities worldwide; 29th of the world's universities aged 50 years or younger by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and No. 1 in the world for Marine & Freshwater Biology and No. 2 in the world for Biodiversity Conservation. In the Excellence in Research for Australia Report JCU research was rated world-class or above in 83% of research fields evaluated.
Youth Ambassadors
Lavetanalagi Seru
Pacific Islands Climate Action Network, Alliance for Future Generations (Fiji)
Lavetanalagi Seru is a I-Taukei (Fijian)/ Pacific activist with a background of working on crosscutting issues such as youth development, SOGIESC inclusion, gender and human rights, and on issues such as disaster risk reduction and climate change. He is currently the Regional Coordinator of the Pacific Islands Climate Action Network, and also the Co-Founder and Coordinator of the Alliance for Future Generations (Fiji).
Lived Experience Advisory Group
Grace Vegesana
Climate & Racial Justice Director @ Australian Youth Climate Coalition
Grace Vegesana (she/they) is a 23 year old woman-of-colour fighting for climate, economic & racial justice on stolen Dharug, Gundungurra and Tharawal land across Western Sydney, Australia. She is pioneering an intersectional movement through the People of Colour Climate Network, and working as the Climate & Racial Justice Director for the Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC). She also sits on the Boards of the Foundation for Young Australians, the Australian Conservation Foundation and Sweltering Cities.
Jama'l Talagi-Veidreyaki
350 Niue/Pacific, Niue Local Research & Consultant, Advocate for climate justice in Niue and the Pacific
Jama'l Talagi-Veidreyaki Indigenous Niuean (her/she), 37 years old, married to I-Taukei Fijian, living in Niue. Studied in Fiji (USP) and New Zealand (UoA), Masters in Public Policy, research interest land tenure in the context of climate change induced relocation, Research assistant to Pro Vice Chancellor Professor Jemaima Tiatia (UoA) on research project Mental Health and Wellbeing in the context of Climate Change, Member of the working group on developing a Pacific Region Framework to address climate mobility (IOM, PIFS & Partners), Research team on Climate Mobility (UoA), Implementing local community projects, awareness on climate justice, gendered approach to understanding impacts of climate change & GBV, DRR planning, adaptation, resillience and development in the context of climate change.
Daniel Angelo Di Fluri
Lived Experience Program Training Lead at batyr (Youth Mental Health Organisation)
Daniel Angelo (he/they) is a passionate mental health advocate, and works as the Lived Experience Training Lead for Batyr, an organisation that opens up the mental health conversation, shares real stories of overcoming tough times and supports young people and their communities to live mentally healthy and fulfilling lives.
Jessie Panazzolo
Founder, Lonely Conservationists
Jessie Panazzolo is a conservationist conservationist, meaning she works to empower, support and provide resources to the people at the frontline of global conservation efforts. Lonely Conservationists is an international community of budding and burnt out conservationists who come together to share their stories, normalise experiences, and defy lonliness in the face of an often isolating career.
Tiana Jakicevich
Coming soon…