Business With Purpose: Short Talks by Climate Leaders
Short talks. Big impact. Real-world climate action inside business.
Step inside the Greenhouse Tech Hub for a fast-paced, TEDx-style showcase of how leading organisations are embedding climate action at the heart of what they do. In a series of short, engaging keynotes, speakers from across consulting, banking, food and workforce transformation will share the practical strategies, bold commitments and lessons learned from turning purpose into action - from climate-positive challenges and nature restoration to climate justice and mobilising talent for impact.
Featuring voices like Weston Lewis (KPMG), Camille Goldstone-Henry (Bank Australia), Hilary McAllister (Ben & Jerry’s), Maxx Silver (OzHarvest Ventures) and moderated by Alice Kendall (Pledge for the Planet), this 90-minute session is designed to inspire, challenge and equip you with ideas you can take back into your own organisation. The evening then opens into relaxed industry networking drinks with peers working at the intersection of business and climate.
Who should attend:
Professionals working in, or alongside, businesses with sustainability, ESG, climate or impact roles - as well as anyone curious about how different industries are taking meaningful climate action and looking for practical inspiration, connections and momentum.
EVENT AGENDA
Speaker: Hilary McAllister, Ben & Jerry's
Title: Championing Climate Justice Through Ice Cream and Beyond
Info: Hilary is based in Gadigal, Sydney, and is the Activism Manager at Ben & Jerry’s Australia. As Activism manager, Hilary leads the strategic development and execution of climate justice campaigns, supporting grassroots campaigners across the country. A dedicated environmentalist, Hilary is also the CEO and co-founder of For Wild Places, a not-for-profit dedicated to protecting wild places under threat. Hilary’s path to activism has been anything but ordinary, and she is eager to share and grow her understanding to foster lasting, planet-saving change.
Speaker: Camille Goldstone-Henry, Bank Australia
Title: Banking on Nature: Using Money as a Force for Climate & Biodiversity Action
Info: At Bank Australia, our purpose is to use money as a force for good, shaping a world that we and our customers want to live in.
We regularly consult our customers about the issues they care about and want to see us take action on – acting on climate and protecting nature are top concerns for our customers, and they’re ones we share.
Through our climate action strategy, we’re supporting communities to respond to climate change and build a fairer, more resilient future. We’re also deeply committed to protecting and restoring nature and biodiversity, including through our 2,000‑hectare nature reserve – a first for an Australian bank.
Join Nature & Biodiversity Manager Camille Goldstone-Henry, as she shares insights into how Bank Australia puts its purpose into practice in reducing emissions, supporting climate justice, and protecting nature and biodiversity.
Speaker: Weston Lewis, KPMG
Title: Backing Innovation for Impact: The KPMG Nature Positive Challenge
Info: What does nature positive innovation look like in practice? Weston Lewis will showcase the high impact ventures from the KPMG Nature Positive Challenge that are innovating their way to a nature positive future. From AI enabled solutions and circular economy models to First Nations led innovation, the session highlights how this purpose led initiative is designed to support scalable, high‑impact ventures through a combination of capital, capability, credibility, and networks.
Speaker: Maxx Silver, OzHarvest Ventures
Title: Lessons from the Front Lines
Info: In October 2023, Australia’s largest food rescue network launched a new profit-for-purpose social enterprise. Maxx Silver has been the Business Development Manager for OzHarvest Ventures since August 2024. In this talk, he’ll share how we went from a small liberal arts school outside of Portland, Oregon (USA) to helping one of Australia’s leading impact brands build a multi-million dollar business portfolio. You’ll gain insights on career (and life!) transitions, building community, and navigating the impact sector. Don't miss it!