Changemakers Connect - Community Power in Action!
When passionate locals come together, extraordinary things happen!
Join Dr Agata Cabanek and community advocates Dr Jillian Horton, Susan Flis, Paula Samson, and Steve Douglas - representing the Melville City Climate Action Network (MCCAN) and Save Our Space (SOS) - for an inspiring and interactive panel conversation about what it truly means to create change from the ground up.
In this session they will share practical strategies, tools, and actions taken to secure design and funding for the protection and creation of public open spaces, and all in spite of Council objections and major pushback.
🌳 Here’s what to expect in this session:
⏰ 60 minutes of group discussion
⏰ 30-minute optional virtual networking to explore ideas and collaborate further.
In this session we’ll explore how ordinary citizens are:
📌 Influencing sustainability decisions
📌 Protecting local spaces
📌 Reshaping the future of their neighbourhoods
In Agata's words: “This conversation will provide a better understanding of how community voices can shape urban sustainability outcomes.”
🌳 About the Host and Panel 🌳
🌳 Dr Agata Cabanek is a researcher, lecturer, and practitioner specialising in nature-positive urban design.
Agata's work advances regenerative approaches to city-making through landscape architecture and urban design.
🌳 Dr Jillian Horton co-founded and is the Chairperson of the Melville City Climate Action Network (MCCAN), organising many community actions which reduce emissions in the City of Melville. Creating green spaces in the Canning Bridge precinct is just one example.
🌳 Paula Samson retired as a community pharmacist with a passion for sustainable living and supporting what benefits the community. She is a Community facilitator with the Melville City Climate Action Network.
🌳 Steve Douglas has always been a champion for the community, whether through his decades within the education system, regional development, or his many years as a Local Government Councillor. Now retired, he is an active member of the Melville City Climate Action Network.
🌳 Susan Flis' Tasmanian upbringing nurtured a deep appreciation for the environment. Susan is an active member of the Save Our Space community group, established in November 2024 to champion the protection and creation of public open spaces.
We look forward to seeing you there. Together, we’re creating healthier, more liveable communities