Our Staff 

Elle Lawless

Executive Director

Elle has environmental and climate advocacy experience at both the local and national level. A diversity of experience including growing up in regional NSW has formed a deep passion for ecological justice which has seen Elle campaign on the frontlines and with not for profit organisations. While studying at the ANU she was introduced to the power of people to create change. This was through volunteering for the fossil free movement and separately 350.org Canberra. She has also spent time at front line action camps building alliances with diverse allies.

Elle previously worked at the Conservation Council of the ACT on campaigns to create a more sustainable city to mitigate the climate crisis. She was a founding member of Stop Adani Canberra and of Galilee Rising, Her favourite role in the movement for climate justice is mentoring school strikers and running trainings. Elle has organised in the coal port city of Newcastle as the Campaign Manager for the Wilderness Society NSW. In this role she led a campaign to successfully stop an offshore gas field, halted coal mine expansion in the Blue Mountains region, and continued the long standing effort to protect the Pilliga forest from unconventional gas mining. Elle then worked with the Sunrise Project Australian gas team on corporate campaign efforts to stop Woodside’s Scarborough gas project. 

Kirsten Duncan

Climate and Sustainability Campaigner

After completing her Masters of Climate Change at the Australian National University, Kirsten joined the Conservation Council in late 2019. She project managed and wrote Make the Switch and Make the Move websites and public engagement on going gas-free and active travel respectively.

Kirsten has previous experience in public and private sectors, most recently as a graphic designer specialising in communication on subjects from agriculture and environment to health and technology. Her focus now is on communicating climate change and other social–environmental issues to address the root causes and drive the systemic change needed for a sustainable future for people and planet.

Peta Bulling

Biodiversity Campaigner

Born and raised in Canberra, Peta has a deep connection with the local environment which has motivated her to work for its protection. With a background in advocacy and community-led law reform, Peta strongly believes in the power of community and ‘coming together’ to change the world.

While pursuing degrees in both Environmental Science and Law at the Australian National University, Peta was introduced to activism as a volunteer for the school strike movement.  During her time at university Peta volunteered for groups such as GreenLaw, the Environmental Defenders Office, and LandCare ACT cementing her love for working with and for the community. Peta is an advocate for respecting, honouring and protecting nature, and for environmental justice. She strongly believes that an ecologically sustainable future is only possible with the fair and equal treatment of all people.

Jahnavi Samprathi

Communications Manager

Jahnavi has lived in Canberra all her life and is currently completing a double Bachelor’s degree in Environment and Sustainability and International Relations at the ANU. She is a big believer in the benefit of community and collective action to address environment and sustainability issues. Jahnavi has been volunteering for environmental causes since school, including developing social media campaigns and dialogues about sustainability challenges within the community. 

She is undertaking a minor in science communication as part of her degree and her main passion is creating accessible communication about sustainability and the environment. As a Person of Colour, Jahnavi is working towards making the environmental activism space an inclusive movement that incorporates diverse perspectives. 

Brooke Farr

Fundraising and Events Manager

Brooke was born and raised in Newcastle, NSW before moving to Canberra in 2017. She is currently studying a Bachelor of Environment and Sustainability at the ANU, majoring in Biodiversity Conservation and Resource and Environmental Management. Brooke has a background in event management and education and is passionate about making environmentalism creative, exciting and accessible for all, and bringing communities together to champion sustainable living and environmental action. 

In her spare time, Brooke is an avid surfer, musician, all-round adrenaline junkie and people-person who loves any chance to share her love of nature and sustainability with her friends, family and community. 

Grit Schuster

Office Manager

Our Board