Online
Summary:An expert panel discusses the challenges of global environmental change, human health and their impacts on the economy and international affairs.
Presenter(s):
- Dr Ruth Adler, Faculty of Law
- Professor Sara Davies, Griffith University
- Dr Jess Melbourne-Thomas, CSIRO
- Hosted by Dr Steven Phipps, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies
The health of our planet has been one of the defining issues of 2020. So far this year, we have experienced record-breaking bushfires in Australia and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This panel will tackle the challenges of global environmental change, human health and their impacts on the economy and international affairs. How are our oceans, atmospheres and ecosystems changing? How can climate finance help us to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet the aims of the Paris Agreement? And how can we increase resistance to future pandemics in the Asia-Pacific region?
About the Panel
Dr Ruth Adler
PhD Candidate, Faculty of Law, University of Tasmania, Hobart
Dr Ruth Adler is a former senior career officer of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Ruth served as Australian Ambassador to Ireland (2013-16) and Australian High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam (2006-09), with earlier postings as Deputy Head of Mission at the Australian Embassy, Mexico City (1998-2000) and Second Secretary at the Australian Embassy, Manila (1991-94). Between 2009-11, Ruth was Assistant Secretary of DFAT’s Environment Branch. Ruth holds a PhD in Latin American politics and history from La Trobe University (1993), a Graduate Certificate of Law (International Law) from the Australian National University (2018), a Graduate Diploma in Foreign Affairs and Trade from the Australian National University (1992) and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Spanish and Latin American Studies from the University of New South Wales (1983). She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and is fluent in Spanish. Ruth commenced her PhD candidature in the Faculty of Law at the University of Tasmania in June 2019. Her research interests include international climate and environment law, climate finance, international relations and foreign and trade policy.
Professor Sara Davies
ARC Future Fellow and Professor, School of Government and International Relations, Griffith University, Brisbane
Professor Sara Davies is an International Relations scholar with a specific focus on Global Health Governance and the Woman, Peace and Security agenda. Sara has been an Australian Research Council Discovery Australian Postgraduate Award Scholar (2008-12) and an Australian Research Council Future Fellow (2014-18). She has published three sole-authored books on global and regional health issues and one co-authored book on women, peace and security.
Dr Jess Melbourne-Thomas
Transdisciplinary Researcher and Knowledge Broker, CSIRO Oceans & Atmosphere, Hobart
Dr Jess Melbourne-Thomas' research background is in mathematical modelling and Antarctic climate change science and she was a Lead Author for the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on the Oceans & Cryosphere in a Changing Climate. Jess co-founded the Homeward Bound project, which took the largest ever all female expedition on a leadership journey to Antarctica in 2016. She was one of Australia's first 30 Superstars of STEM and was named Tasmania's Young Tall Poppy of the Year in 2015 for her excellence in research, science communication and policy engagement. Jess is the 2020 Tasmanian Australian of the Year.
